How to Keep Your Two-Wheeler Safe from the Monsoons

Posted on: Jun 20, 2022 | 3 Min | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How to Keep Your Two-Wheeler Safe from the Monsoons

The onset of monsoon is never very rejoicing for the bikers. The monsoon season is highly detrimental to smooth bike driving, because of the deteriorating road conditions. The accidents become more common as the roads remain water-logged and slippery. Under such circumstances, bike insurance renewal remains one of the most crucial factors to ensure safety and security. However, by exercising proper care and following certain easy steps, you can manage to protect your endearing two-wheeler.

1. Apply for anti-rust protection

The moisture and dampness in the air may cause your two-wheeler to corrode prematurely. It can be very damaging for the vehicle. Although the maker of most of the bikes is rust-resistant fibres, however, the principal metal frames are quite prone to rust and corrosion. To ensure protection against water and moisture, coat it with an anti-rust protective layer.

2. Seek covered parking areas

Try to avoid exposure as much as possible in the rains. This is because rainwater may get accumulated in the internals of the vehicle and speeds up the process of corrosion. Make sure you park your bike under a shade, especially when it’s raining, and avoid riding it under such circumstances. Try to avoid parking under a tree during rains, as a sudden fall of a branch may damage it.

3. Use rain cover

It may seem difficult to find a covered spot for secured parking while travelling. To ensure proper protection, try to carry a befitting waterproof cover to cover your bike, in case you are parked in the open.

4. Oil chains, levers, and hinges

Water and rain may cause the levers, hinges, and chains to corrode and rust, hindering smooth movement. Frequent oiling will ensure free movement, keeping the bike in proper working condition. You can even use a coating of grease, preventing the entrance of water and moisture.

5. Brake service

Water and rains may affect the proper health of the brakes of two-wheelers. This significantly raises the risk of risks and accidents. When the brake pads get jammed, slippery, or rusty, it becomes considerably less responsive. While servicing your two-wheeler, make sure to check the current condition of the brake pads. Moreover, ensure try not to exercise the brakes too hard in the monsoons, as it may result in skidding on slippery roads. Such incidents may even become fatal. Depending on the make and model of the bike variant, it either consists of disc brakes or drum brakes. If it has drum brakes, ensure to clean the insides while cleaning the bike, maintaining a perfect alignment of the discs, and maintaining the optimum level of brake oil in case of disc brakes.

6. Check tyres

To prevent skidding, the tyre conditions of your two-wheeler must be healthy enough to ensure perfect grip on wet roads or standing water. If the treads have worn out, or are balding, try replacing the tyres without any further delay. The easiest way to check the treads is to insert a coin in them. If at least a quarter of it goes in, then the tyre can be considered healthy and gripping. The ideal depth should be at least 2-3 mm deep. The tyre pressure also affects the gripping power. It is best to maintain the PSI levels one or two notches below the recommended level under drier weather conditions.

7. Air filter cleaning

The rain and water may result in the blockage and tearing of the air filters. This restricts the clean airflow and causes your two-wheeler to stall or jerk while pulling on the accelerator. Frequent cleaning of the air filter can keep these issues at bay.

8. Check headlights

During rainfall, the visibility significantly reduces. However, proper lighting may alleviate the issue. If you are hitting the road amidst clouds and overcast sky, ensure proper working conditions of the headlights. Moreover, you can also install reflective stickers on your two-wheeler, for the benefit of the other drivers plying on the road.

9. Wax and wash amidst trips

Frequent washes and cleaning prevent the accumulation of muck and dirt, which can be damaging to the bike. Moreover, if you apply a layer of wax coating frequently post washing and cleaning, it will ensure effective prevention of corrosion and rusting, keeping the vehicle looking good and properly functioning.

10. Wear protective gear

Your personal safety is much more essential than the safety of your motorcycle. Your vehicle’s safety can be ensured only when you are fit and fine. Therefore, never forget to use a befitting helmet with clean visibility, and a waterproof garment, to prevent you from getting drenched and falling sick.

11. Choose comprehensive two-wheeler insurance

As per the current Motor Vehicles mandate, maintaining a basic insurance cover is mandatory for every two-wheeler. However, this kind of insurance exclusively covers the damage or loss of the life and property of the third party, caused by your vehicle. However, comprehensive two-wheeler insurance also ensures protective coverage of your vehicle too. It offers protection against natural disasters, theft, and other different risks, apart from accidental circumstances. Also, artificial based claim assistance has improved the entire claim experience with 50% of the claims being settled on the same day itself, as is the case with HDFC ERGO Comprehensive Bike Insurance Plans.

12. Get additional add-on covers

Apart from choosing comprehensive two-wheeler insurance, you can even opt for additional add-on covers, to ensure further enhanced protection of your two-wheeler. Some such add-ons include Zero Depreciation coverage, which allows the payment for the entire repair and replacement costs of the components rather than paying exclusively according to the depreciated value. Personal accidental coverage covers accidental death, permanent, partial, or temporary disability.

13. Gather knowledge about how to properly drive during rains

This is the most crucial part of monsoon bike riding. Avoid rain riding as much as possible for your safety and your vehicle’s. Ensure gentle inputs, especially when rain riding. Be it acceleration, leaning or braking; be super gentle on wet roads. Slow down the speed on water-logged roads. Apply the brakes gently and at frequent intervals for wiping the rotors of debris, mud, and water. On top of all, be extra cautious while bike riding. After exercising a bike ride amidst rain, clean the bike thoroughly.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it is evident how to take proper care of your beloved two-wheeler in the monsoon season. However, on top of everything, bike insurance renew is the most crucial factor to consider, to exercise the proper health of yourself and your vehicle.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

How to remove rust from your bike or scooty? Use these simple homely hacks

Give your bike tyres the love they need this monsoon!

Is your bike not starting after you left it in the rain? Here’s what to do