Bike owners generally shield their motorbikers by parking them in an indoor space, probably a shed or a garage. But there are times when you can't help but leave it outdoors. The reasons could be insufficient parking space in your building or uneven surfaces where your bike cannot go. But what happens when it rains? Is your two-wheeler able to contend with the rainy elements as you ride it? How long can you leave your bike out before its components begin to corrode or degrade?
Bikes parked in places with much rain (which we have) or are humid have more chances of rusting and need more maintenance. How do you protect your bike in the rain? And can a bike insurance policy cover maintenance costs? All these are important considerations to make. Let's read on to know all those.
Maintaining the Motorbike in the Rains
The rains don't damage your two-wheeler as much as lack of maintenance can. We have a list of tips to help you maintain your motorbike and keep it as good as new all through the rains.
Fine Tuning for Two Wheelers for Rainy Season
As discussed, rains can aggravate the wear and tear of bike components, and it is thus advisable to finetune the motorbike just before you expect it to start raining. During the service, the service mechanics may suggest minor repairs or preventive measures that will help keep your ride and rider safe throughout the rainy season and after.
Engine Maintenence Before Rains
A motorbike's engine is its primary component, and you should maintain it for the long life of your vehicle. An oil change just before the rains can reduce moisture in the engine and helps it run smoothly. Ensure to follow original equipment manufacture for this one.
Read more - How Two Wheeler Insurance Saves You During Heavy Rains?
Maintain MotorBike Brakes Before Rains
Wet roads reduce traction, causing skids which is why you need to have strong brakes with good bite to avoid a crash. The rainwater can affect the bike's friction mechanism causing it to slow down and reduce the reliability of the brakes. Ensure that the bike has more than enough brake fluid and ask the technicians to specially check the brake drums and pads for wear and tear.
Another essential requirement is to ride slowly. Sudden obstructions or potholes could make you break hard and fast, and heavy braking can make the rider lose balance and crash. If and when you are riding slowly, you only need to take your hand off the accelerator, and the bike will slow down further and is easy to manoeuvre.
Maintain Tyres During the Rains
Tyres are the two-wheeler's connection with the road, and poorly maintained tyres can affect their overall performance. Two-wheelers with worn-out tyres or inflated or deflated tyres are dangerous during the rains because wet and slippery roads decrease traction. The brakes may be in top condition, but they won't hold if they don't have the tyres to support them through sudden brakes across muddy roads. Replace tyres that have scuffles or blisters on their walls.
Read more - These 5 Tips Will Improve Your Motorcycle Tyres in No Time
Bike Insurance Policy Helps During Rains
Buy bike insurance online to protect your motorbike against damages resulting from floods, landslides and other rain-related calamities. Two-wheeler is more prone to accidents during rains, so it is advisable to buy add-ons to cover injuries or deaths of pillion riders and damage to bike components.
Consequences of Heavy Rains on Motorbikes if They are Not Maintained
Riding in the rain doesn't harm the bike as manufacturers design bikes for adverse weather conditions. But prolonged exposure to rain can damage your bike in numerous ways. We have listed some of the damage to the two-wheeler below:
- When the bike is wet and left to dry on its own, it can rust. Some parts, like the bike's chain and sprockets, deteriorate by rusting faster than the other components.
- Rust accumulates on the brake discs and the top fork making the metal corrode fast.
- Poodles on the roads are typical during the rains, but they can loosen, wear out and break down the bolts and bearings of your two-wheeler.
- Consistent rains dull the paint, and the motorbike will look old.
- The bike may have frequent breakdowns and need repairs as the clutch, brakes and kickstand pivots begin to rust. The surface rust on the brakes will not harm the bike, and you can get rid of it as you ride the bike, but if it eats into the metal, it may ruin the brakes.
- The water could enter the swingarm and cause rust resulting in a squeaking noise when you ride the bike.
- Prolonged rains cause faster rotting or wear out of rubber or plastic parts.
- Although the engine and other such components are well-sealed, water could enter and cause the engine to cease.
If a two-wheeler is left in the rain or not wiped to remove the moisture the rain leaves on it, it can reduce the bike's life and cause irreversible damage.
Conclusion
Despite best efforts, it will be hard to keep the bike dry all the time. The best bike rain maintenance is a thorough service before the rains as a precautionary measure and a regular service to keep your bike components free of water and mud.
Take time to check the two-wheeler insurance policy to ensure that it is due for renewal. Also, check if you have the relevant add-ons to widen the bike insurance coverage.
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