Nelson-Rigg CAS-355 Half Cover Review

[SpyderWolf]

When I got the tank bag, I also picked up one of the Half Covers to try out. I have the BRP Comfort Seat on my Spyder, and it has been known to allow water in between the stitching and hold it in the cushion. I figured this may just be the ticket to keeping the seat dry, along with keeping the sun and other people off the Spyder when I am not around.

The shipping box arrived with everything inside it:

Upon opening the shipping box I discovered the Half Cover box, which is very nicely designed. The box is just begging to be on a store shelf somewhere:

I opened the box and found the carrying bag inside, with the cover enclosed. It also included the warranty card and other product information:

I removed the cover from the bag for a quick inspection. It is constructed well, light weight, and includes this windscreen protection material inside as well:

Then came put it on the Spyder. I began by placing the front section over the windscreen as shown in the picture on the box:

You should notice the seam is a bit below the actual top of my windscreen.

I then covered the back of the Spyder, where I have the BRP Sport Rack and Back Rest installed. Here is what I ended up with:

You should notice the black strap hanging down. That is meant to hook around the foot peg, but there was no way it was happening in this scenario.

More to follow.....

 

[dltang]

When I got the tank bag, I also picked up one of the Half Covers to try out. I have the BRP Comfort Seat on my Spyder, and it has been known to allow water in between the stitching and hold it in the cushion. I figured this may just be the ticket to keeping the seat dry, along with keeping the sun and other people off the Spyder when I am not around.

The shipping box arrived with everything inside it:

Upon opening the shipping box I discovered the Half Cover box, which is very nicely designed. The box is just begging to be on a store shelf somewhere:

I opened the box and found the carrying bag inside, with the cover enclosed. It also included the warranty card and other product information:

I removed the cover from the bag for a quick inspection. It is constructed well, light weight, and includes this windscreen protection material inside as well:

Then came put it on the Spyder. I began by placing the front section over the windscreen as shown in the picture on the box:

You should notice the seam is a bit below the actual top of my windscreen.

I then covered the back of the Spyder, where I have the BRP Sport Rack and Back Rest installed. Here is what I ended up with:

You should notice the black strap hanging down. That is meant to hook around the foot peg, but there was no way it was happening in this scenario.

More to follow.....

Yup Teachbob had one at Spyderfest, very slick.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Working on the Fitment

I could not blame Nelson-Rigg for this fitment issue as they have to design around the common denominators. My Spyder set up may not be common at all, and with so many different windscreens and back rests how could they ever design for all of them.

My fitment issues stemmed from the 2 modifications I have on my Spyder. The first is my Givi windscreen, which is much taller than the stock windscreen:

The second was the BRP Back Rest:

My first thought was that it was obvious the tall windscreen was causing trouble. So I figured I would move the cover up higher on the cougar head:

That was a good fit for the front, and included the mirrors under the cover but still did not quite do the trick. Then I decided to see what would happen if I took the back rest off. Since we put the arm rests on my wife's Spyder our son usually rydes with her, and I don't carry any passengers. So, I removed the Back Rest and put the Sport Plate on instead. It was still very tight and wasn't the best fit.

Then I figured, why do the mirrors need to be covered? That is taking up quite a bit of space, and was actually where the cover seemed to be tight. So, I tried fitting it again without covering the mirrors this time. I also went a little higher with the cover so the seam would sit where it was meant to:

That was actually the ticket I needed as the cover fit over the Spyder after taking the mirrors out of the equation.

Here it is without the Back Rest installed:

Of course, the best news of all was that it now fit with the Back Rest installed as well:

The cover is very nicely made, seems like it will be very durable and long lasting, and should definitely serve the purpose of keeping the sun, water, and people off the Spyder when it is parked out somewhere.

I could have put my BRP Sport Touring windscreen back on and tested with that, and then the cover may have worked with the mirrors covered as well. However, I did not feel like doing that and, as I said earlier, why cover the mirrors in the first place.

If your Spyder is running the stock windscreen, this cover should fit perfectly right out of the box for you and you should be happy with it. I am still very happy with the cover, and it is currently a passenger in the frunk so I have it on hand whenever I want to use it.

The cover is a great product, and I have no complaints about it at all. As stated, Nelson-Rigg could not be expected to develop an individual cover for every windscreen and back rest combination on the market today. Hopefully the tip about not covering the mirrors will work for others who have aftermarket windscreens and want to give the half cover a try.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Yup Teachbob had one at Spyderfest, very slick.

As you can see, sometimes being patient, and playing with things a little, pays off in the end.

 

[vtrider]

I was looking at these covers on Newenough's site. They have good prices on the Spyder covers and the tank bag as well. I'm going to order the half cover to have especially on the days it rains while I'm at work. It would help keep the console area and seat dry and clean.

http://www.newenough.com/parts/accessories/covers

 

[Dochands]

Darn. I am taking off on a long trip Tuesday. This would be perfect for travelling.

Let's hope Second Day gets it to me. Thanks for reviewing it.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Darn. I am taking off on a long trip Tuesday. This would be perfect for travelling.

Let's hope Second Day gets it to me. Thanks for reviewing it.

I hope it gets to you in time as well. Best of luck!

 

[wyliec]

SpyderWolf,

I ordered one last night and then thought about something. Does it fold back up to the size that fits back into the bag? Somethings don't ever fold up as small as they were when shipped.

Thanks

 

[SpyderWolf]

SpyderWolf,

I ordered one last night and then thought about something. Does it fold back up to the size that fits back into the bag? Somethings don't ever fold up as small as they were when shipped.

Thanks

Yes, it folds back into the bag very easily. I have also experienced the once out of the bag, never back in deal, but mine is in the bag in my frunk right now. I did not even try to fold it back up the way it came out of the bag, and it still fit. :thumbup:

 

[NautiBrit]

How about extensions for the footpeg straps? NR provides them for their passenger rack bags when the backrest is too large.

 

[SpyderWolf]

How about extensions for the footpeg straps? NR provides them for their passenger rack bags when the backrest is too large.

Good idea. I probably could fix something up like that and then the cover would work the way it shows on the box as well. I may just look into what I have readily available to do such a thing. Thanks for the suggestion. :thumbup:

 

[NautiBrit]

Good idea. I probably could fix something up like that and then the cover would work the way it shows on the box as well. I may just look into what I have readily available to do such a thing. Thanks for the suggestion. :thumbup:

I took a closer look at your photos and I think that the exercise resistance bands that stores like WalMart and Target sell could be looped through and knotted. They're very strong, flexible and would probably last a long time in the elements.

 

[SpyderWolf]

I took a closer look at your photos and I think that the exercise resistance bands that stores like WalMart and Target sell could be looped through and knotted. They're very strong, flexible and would probably last a long time in the elements.

That would probably work, and look, much better than bungee cords. :thumbup:

 

[Questions]

The staps could easy be made longer .I have done this to different covers before.If you have a shoe repair shop near by they would be able to do this .

 

[SpyderWolf]

The staps could easy be made longer .I have done this to different covers before.If you have a shoe repair shop near by they would be able to do this .

Thanks for another great idea. :thumbup: