I love my motorcycle very much; it has been with me through all the ups and downs of my life and I know it will be there for me in future as well. But will it really be there for me? The fear crawled through my spine when I first saw a mild scratch on the body of my motorcycle and after a few days it turned reddish brown.

When I touched the spot, rust particles slid to my hand and I got scared. The scratch appeared due to a minor collision with the boundary walls and rust capitalized it.

I felt how much important it is to keep motorcycles in good shape to retain the performance. And then I started asking people “How do I protect my motorcycle from rust?”

Trust me I got different types of answers some of which were funny. People suggested me to:

• Keep the cycle in space
• Buy new bike every month
• Not to take it out in rain

None of these are possible. Even the third point seems impossible, as there is no guarantee when it will start to rain and I may need to go out due to some emergency. However, I always try not to leave my bike uncovered in rain when I have to park it outside.

Water is the main reason that makes metals rusty. Now, here I made a mistake. All metals do not rust, but iron. Iron reacts with oxygen in presence of water or moisture to form rust. It is a series of hydrated iron oxides.

Let’s come back to the topic. Here is a sorted list of effective tips that I got from my friends and acquaintances.

• Cover it while not in use
• Apply a coat of penetrating oil
• Make sure you dry it after cleaning
• Make sure you dry it after it gets wet in rain
• Look for motorcycles with aluminium body
• Apply oil, grease and lubricant not only around joints, but over the body too
• Spray silicone based lubricant all over the body
• Apply water repellent spray at the end of the day, if not after each ride
• Wax the frame
• Clean dirt, snow, slush etc. from the joints of motorcycle and moving parts
• Use organic rust products to remove traces of rust or to clean scratches and holes

Now, these are pretty cool advice and quite effective too. I tried some of these ideas and was benefited indeed.

Since water or moisture is the main factor behind rust, covering the motorcycle when not in use and wiping it after each ride could really be helpful. If there is any minor cracks or holes on the body, drying the body of the motorcycle helps you avoid rust.

Applying protective waterproof emulsion, oil, grease, lubricant or wax on the frame is also a useful means to keep your motorcycle away from water and moisture. Since oil, grease or similar materials repel water, oil based coats reduce chances of rusting.

Regular cleaning is very important. Dirt and other harsh particles should be removed from the surface and that is why you need to wash your motorcycle regularly. Make sure you dry it after each cleaning.

In case you find small scratches, holes or traces of rust on the body, clean it with rust removers and keep it taking bigger shape.

Modern motorcycle manufacturers are using aluminium in place of steel. Aluminium does not rust and is less susceptible to corrosion. However, motorcycles with aluminium body need maintenance too.