Leaving a motorcycle in the sun. Is it bad?
The weather is gorgeous and we enjoy it to the fullest. Riding a motorcycle with this sunny weather is quite a challenge. We do more stops to drink something and get some rest. We love to park the bikes in front of the terrace, so we can stare at them when sipping our cold drinks. There they are, shining in the sun. But leaving a motorcycle in the sun. Is that bad?
You don’t want your baby to discolour. Or for the sun to do any damage at all. Does it hurt your bike, when you leave a motorcycle in the sun? And how quickly does it get damaged? We did some digging.
LEAVING A MOTORCYCLE IN THE SUN
IS THAT BAD?
The short answer is; yes. Leaving a motorcycle in the sun is not the best thing to do for your bike. It doesn’t do any harm when it happens every now and then when you go for a ride. But do you always park it outside without any coverage? Then the sunlight will damage your bike. How it does that? Let us tell you a bit more about it.
UV RADIATION
IS NOT YOUR FRIEND
UV radiation hits the bike when leaving a motorcycle in the sun. This exposure – when it occurs for long periods or very often – will damage the paint, fairings and seat of your bike. This doesn’t happen overnight (or over day?!). It takes a long time. So no worries when you park your bike at the beach on a hot summer day.
SUNLIGHT DAMAGES YOUR MOTORCYCLE
KEEP AN EYE ON THE FAIRINGS AND PAINT
As we said, sunlight will damage a bike when leaving a motorcycle in the sun for a long period of time. Of when you park it outside practically every day. For example, when you park it at work when you commute on the bike. Damage that occurs due to exposure to sunlight is a slow proces. It can take a few months to years, depending on the quality of the paint. Slowly, the colour of the paint and fairings fades. Metal parts also can discolour due to sunlight, but that proces takes even longer.
Do you have the possibility to park your bike in the shade or under a canopy? Then you reduce the effect sunlight has on your bike. Do you have little to no options to park your bike away from the sunlight? Then a motorcycle cover could do the trick to protect your bike.
BYE BYE PETROL
WASTE OF MONEY
Leaving a motorcycle in the sun doesn’t only affect the colour of the paint and fairings. The heat that comes with that beloved sunshine also affects your bike. Petrol can evaporate if your bike gets too hot. The longer your motorcycle is left in the sun, the more heat is build up. Which will make the petrol evaporate quicker. You won’t get an empty tank all of a sudden. But still.. Petrol is far from cheap these days. So it is kind of a waste to burn it this way. Parking in the shade is best for your wallet.
LEAVING A MOTORCYCLE IN THE SUN
WATCH YOUR TIRES
Sunlight is no friend of your tires either. The pressure in your tires can rise when you leave your bike in the sun for a long time. A possible effect could be, that the tires deflate real slowly, due to the extra pressure. Do you get back on the bike before the tires start to deflate a bit? Then be mindful about that extra pressure that has been build up. You could lose a decent dose of grip. So be focussed when you left your bike in the sun for a long time and get on again.
CONCLUSION
The answer to the question “Leaving a motorcycle in the sun. Is that bad?” is quite simple. Yes, it hurts your bike to leave it in the sun. But we do have to add, that it can’t hurt to leave it in the sun for a short while. Do you park it outside at work everyday? Or at home? Then it will affect mainly the colour of your paint and fairings. Do you have the option to park it in the shade? Then be wise and do so. No shade available? Then a motorcycle cover can help you out.
