While the reactions to its name may bring a range of emotions, judges and bikers were excited about what the motorcycle product actually does at a recent Dealer Expo.

The BikeCondom (yes it is one word) is a new and unique type of cover designed to protect the top half of a motorcycle from sun, rain, snow, dirt, dust, and debris. The new motorcycle product not only won over powersport dealers at February's 43rd Annual Dealer Expo in Indianapolis but was also selected as a winner in the Dealer Expo's 2010 Kickstart New Product Competition.

The BikeCondom also received the coveted Dealer's Choice Award.

Reportedly, one of the features that caught the attention of dealers as well as a judges was the extremely lightweight and compact features of the motorcycle cover.

In their original packaging, BikeCondoms weigh less than half a pound and resemble a DVD case in size (approximately 8x6inches), which allow them to be balled up into a jacket pocket, seat compartment, or already packed saddlebag.

"[BikeCondoms] are not intended to replace the maximum protection offered from your full fabric cover," explains the owner and inventor of BikeCondoms, Jason Weaver, "Instead, [they] offer a fun, functional, and inexpensive alternative that you can keep on you at all times for when you want to travel as light as possible but still have protection."

The idea for the new product came to Weaver after one too many times of using paper towels out to wipe off his wet bike. He felt there was something missing in the motorcycle cover market, such as a cover a fraction of the size and a fraction of the price of other covers.
 
Given its price point, many were surprised at the Expo with the durability of the material and BikeCondoms come in a resealable bag to allow riders to reuse it multiple times. For riders who don't want to fold up the cover and repack it, the product is made from an eco-friendly alternative to plastic letting the environmentally biker throw it away guilt-free.

The BikeCondom material is PEVA or polyethylene vinyl acetate, which is a durable yet biodegradable, non-chlorine material often used as a PVC alternative in toy products and shower curtains.

The winning vote from the judges at the recent Dealer's Expo came from the Kickstart Program, created to acknowledge the year's most outstanding developments in new products for the powersport industry. A judging committee, made up of select powersport dealers, whittled down more than 150 submissions to select the 10 winners based on innovation, design and manufacturing quality, marketability, and distinction in the marketplace.

From those 10 winners, the BikeCondom was awarded the 2010 Dealer's Choice Award, which is the Kickstart competition's grand prize. Attendees at the Dealer Expo vote for which of the 10 products they think is the overall winner.

As for the name, "Love it or hate, you won't ignore it. Most riders assume, based on the name, its some sort of disposable cover," explains owner and inventor Jason Weaver.

"All I can say is the powersport community has had a much more favorable reaction than my father or the bank did when I told them I wanted to start a business called BikeCondoms in this economy," Weaver noted.