Hot Weather Motorcycle Maintenance
With the soaring temperatures, taking a ride on your motorcycle can get complicated. Luckily, there are many ways to take care of your bike and ensure the heat doesn’t damage it. Read on to learn about some tips and tricks for performing hot-weather motorcycle maintenance.
Pay Attention to the Fluids
It should be part of every rider’s pre-ride checklist to make sure the fluids are clean and topped up, but it becomes even more important to do so during the summer heat. The high temperatures along with the power of your motorcycle can end up producing a lot of engine heat. Overheating can be damaging for your bike’s engine – liquid-cooled engines especially depend on an effective cooling circulation.
Ensure that you’re using a good quality coolant recommended by the manufacturer. When riding in hot weather, you should top off the coolant to its optimal level to prevent any engine damage because of the excessive heat. Also, keep the air filters clean because they work with the bike’s fluids to keep it running clean and cool.
Protect Heat-Sensitive Components
The hoses, belts, and other rubber or plastic components of your motorcycle are more susceptible to damage in high heat. If you park your bike under the blazing sun, you may come back to find some melted mess. Plastic has the tendency to partially melt when left outside in high temperatures, while rubber will crack or split. This can lead to leaks, blowouts, or even accidents.
Some protective steps are simple and require a little bit of thought. When parking your motorcycle, choose a shaded spot, and don’t leave your bike out in the sun for hours. Pay attention to the plastic and rubber components when you use your bike to see how the hot weather is affecting them. Don’t ignore potential problems, like cracking, melting, or brittleness.
Another part of your motorcycle that can be adversely affected by high temperatures is the chain that transfers power from the engine to the wheels. This chain can get coated with dust and grime and dry up fast in the heat. Clean and lubricate it more often than you would in cooler months.
We hope these tips will make it easier to maintain your motorcycle during summer. Take a tour of our inventory and see if you’d like to ride home a new motorcycle. Mancuso Harley-Davidson® Central is conveniently located in Houston, TX, and we proudly serve Pasadena, Beaumont, and Galveston.