When the temperature climbs, we all feel it, and your bike is no different. A proper heatwave puts extra strain on tyres, fluids and batteries, and a bit of care now saves you a headache later. Here is how to keep your Honda happy through the hottest weeks of the year, and when it is worth letting us take a look.
Keeping your bike cool when it is parked
Where you leave your bike matters more than you might think in this weather:
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Park in the shade wherever you can, and use a cover to keep the sun off the seat, tank and plastics
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Watch soft ground, as hot tarmac can go tacky and let a side stand sink. A side stand puck or a flat plate solves it
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Try not to leave it baking in full sun all day if you have a cooler, shadier spot available
On the road in the heat
Riding in high temperatures asks a bit more of the bike:
Tyres
Heat raises tyre pressures, so always check them cold, first thing, rather than after a ride. Correct pressures keep you safe and allow a more even wear of your tyres.
Cooling and traffic
Bikes run hottest when they are moving slowest, so stop-start traffic on a scorching day is the real test. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge, and if you are sitting in a queue for a long time, it does no harm to keep an ear out for the cooling fan doing its job.
And look after yourself too
Riding in the heat is tiring. Stay hydrated, take more breaks than usual, and remember that good airflow through your kit matters just as much as looking after the bike.
The bits worth a professional eye
Some things are hard to judge yourself, and a hot summer is a sensible time to have them checked: coolant level and strength, oil condition, and a general once-over to make sure nothing is being quietly cooked. If anything feels off, do not push on and hope.
Book a summer check with us
Here is our honest tip. Everyone wants their bike looked at the moment the good weather arrives, so the diary fills fast. Getting your service or health check booked in now means you spend the sunny weeks riding rather than waiting for a slot, and you get the reassurance of our team casting an expert eye over it.
Give us a call, pop in, or book online, and let us keep your Honda running sweet all summer.
