But for most motorcycle owners, the business of cleaning their rides is an essential task. Maintaining your bike’s finish should be a priority not only because a dirty bike looks naff, but if you keep your steed looking spanky then when the time comes to sell you will get a better price for your well-cared-for motorcycle.
1) Whether you own a custom cruiser or a souped-up sport bike, you’ll want to keep your motorcycle away from commercial washing facilities and perform the cleaning ritual yourself.
Those high-pressure hoses can damage bike parts. Be sure you find a shady spot to wash (and dry) your bike, since the sun can create temperature differentials that harm paint and allow water to leave spots. Assemble the following items as needed:
- A bucket for soapy water
- Soap or liquid detergent; don’t use dishwashing liquid! Automotive cleaners will work
- Gloves (to keep your hands clean)
- Bug and tar remover
- Degreaser and/or engine cleaner
- A toothbrush
- A brush for wheel cleaning
- Wheel cleaner
- At least two microfibre or 100 percent cotton sponges
- A variety of soft cotton towels and more abrasive rags
- A chamois cloth for drying
2) While some people swear by washing their bikes with plain water, others insist on using specific brands of soap. Whatever your style, use warm water with the mix and fill up a bucket for convenience. Keep the sponge nearby and don’t let it touch the ground (since it can pick up pebbles or abrasive particles that could damage your paint).
3) Dead bugs and grime are the bane of every motorcyclist, but using the right tools will get them off your paint easier than you think. Bug and tar removers work surprisingly well, and some people also use WD40 for this duty. Don’t scrub too hard into the paint when loosening bugs, and be sure not to use the same sponge for other cleaning duties.
4) A motorcycle’s hard parts require different treatment than more sensitive parts (like paint or chrome). Using a degreaser, scrub hard parts carefully and individually, making sure not to let the solvents touch paint or chrome. Some people use oven cleaner to remove boot marks from chrome exhaust pipes, but extra care must be taken to keep strong cleaners away from the sensitive bits.
5) You might not need to get your motorcycle to concours condition, but a toothbrush will go a long way towards making hard to reach parts look clean. Apply degreaser on the tip for non-chrome engine parts, and oil and grime will disappear.
6) Wheels can be difficult to clean, and a long-armed brush is usually the best way to scrub off brake dust and dirt. Apply a wheel cleaner first and let it settle before scrubbing it off. Chrome wheels will require specific cleaners, so be aware of your wheel’s finish before purchasing a cleaner.
7) Microfibre sponge gloves are great ways to clean a bike’s painted parts, and should be used with warm, soapy water from the bucket in step 2. Be sure to get the paint good and wet before scrubbing, so the soapy water can act as a lubricant and not scratch the paint. Only use 100 percent cotton or microfibre sponges, as other materials can cause damage. Rinse the soapy residue off with a gentle stream of water from a hose.
8) With your bike still parked in the shade, use a chamois cloth to soak up the moisture from the paint. The chamois will keep the finish from getting scratched, and prevent streaks and spots from accumulating.
Feel free to reward yourself with a ride on your newly cleaned bike; not only will you enjoy the breeze after all your hard work, the air movement will dry out many of the parts you might not have been able to reach while you were drying it.
