Tips to Protect Your Motorcycle from the Sun
As the Sunshine State, Florida receives plenty of sunshine for most parts of the year. While the bright sun is good for your health, it isn’t too great for your motorcycle. That’s why you must avoid keeping it outside for long periods at a time.
Our experts at Cycles of Jacksonville have created this guide, where we’ve highlighted the effects of sunlight on your bike and mentioned a few tips to help you protect your motorcycle. Keep reading to learn more, then visit us at our dealership to get more ideas from our friendly staff. You’ll find us in Jacksonville, FL, where we happily welcome our friends from Orlando and St. Augustine.
Effects of Sunlight on Your Motorcycle
It’s okay to leave your bike out in the sun occasionally. However, regularly leaving it out for long periods can harm your motorcycle in various ways, including damaging the paint and rubber parts and impacting the fuel inside it.
Color Degradation
One of the visible effects of sunlight on your bike is color degradation. If you frequently leave your bike in the sun, you’ll notice that its paint color has become a few shades lighter than what it was when it was new.
Fuel Evaporation
Prolonged exposure to the sun can increase the temperature inside your motorcycle’s fuel tank, causing the fuel to convert into a gaseous state and slowly escape from the tank’s lid. So, unless you want to refill your bike’s fuel tank more frequently than usual, you’ll want to store your motorcycle away from direct sunlight.
Tire Damage
The rubber on your motorcycle’s tires can heat up and expand when left in direct sunlight. This can cause cracks and punctures, and in some cases, it can even lead to tire blowouts.
Tips to Protect Your Bike
To minimize the effects of the sun on your bike, clean your motorcycle regularly and prevent dirt and grime from sitting on it for too long. Dirt can wear out your bike’s paint faster, making it more prone to sun damage.
You can also consider waxing and polishing your bike to reflect the sunshine away and give it the protection it needs. Additionally, you'll want to store your bike in a climate-controlled shelter like your garage or inside a shed. If you have to keep it outdoor for some time, remember to throw a well-fitted cover over it.
We hope these tips help you prevent sun damage to your motorcycle. If you have any questions or want to upgrade your bike to the latest model, visit Cycles of Jacksonville. Our experts can address your concerns and give a complete tour of the available options. We can suggest models for your budget and help you pick a bike that suits your riding style. We’re in Jacksonville, FL, where we proudly serve those from Orlando and St. Augustine, so stop by today.