How Do You Clean the Motorcycle?

For a better understanding of how to maintain a bike, you can consult our expert detailers. We will guide you through the steps for detailing a bike. A method for cleaning your motorcycle might appear like a lot of work, particularly the suggestion of several rinse and dry cycles, but this is how we get the best results.

Work in a shaded location, and do not begin cleaning before the motor is cool in your feel. Take off the leather and seat saddlebags, and put them away. Then, cover the battery in plastic; seal off your exhaust pipes by wrapping it in a rubber band.

The next step is to wash using plain water to get rid of the dust and grit from the surface. A nozzle that resembles a fireman's garden is ideal because you can set the pattern of spray for each part of the bicycle. It is also possible to use a pressure washer to clean your bike. However, set the pressure to the lowest setting, and keep an appropriate distance away from your bike so as to keep from damaging the soft plastic and metal parts. Apply a gentle stream of water around the wheel hubs to prevent water from getting into the bearings.

After the rinse, you should do the prewash. Make use of a gentle shampoo for cars, along with a microfiber washing mitt and separate buckets for rinse and soap. The purpose of prewashing is to get rid of the dirt from the roads and mud.

Don't scrub the most greasy and dirty areas using your fingers. Keep them for the special cleaners that you'll need in the future. Rinse the suds off and dry the bike immediately to avoid water spots. Instead of manually wiping all over the bike, opt for an air compressor (such as Metro SK-1 Motorcycle Dryer) or compressed air. Make sure to keep the pressure at or below 70 psi. Clean any remaining water using the help of a microfiber waffle.

The next step, clean the wheels, tires, and spokes using an "aluminum-safe" cleaner such as Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner.

Go toward the dash, and scrub it clean by using a gentle cleaner such as the Leather Therapy Wash or Meguiar's' D180 Cleaning Agent for Leather and Conditioner. Then, polish the dash with Meguiar's Ultra Finishing Polish. Apply the same polish to the windshield.

Clean the engine, transmission driveshaft, or chain housings with a spray cleaner such as S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, as well as brushes. If you find that the S100 product isn't powerful enough to eliminate grease that has accumulated, dilute a degreaser that is heavy-duty 4:1; by using water, you can cut the mild cleaner like Simple Green 50/50 with water. Apply the diluted degreaser, and expect to add some elbow grease to the task. Never apply a full-strength degreaser on your bicycle.

Before you finish polishing the chrome, swap out your microfiber towel for a silky 100% cotton rag. You can make use of an old dish towel or old T-shirt, provided that you remove the seams first. The seams stitched using synthetic thread could scratch chrome, and the seams may hold the grit. Make sure to use polishing with the Meguiars M205 polish you applied to the dash.

Cleanse the leather saddlebags and seat using leather Therapy Wash and the Leather Therapy Conditioner and Restorer, as well as Meguiar's D180. These products revitalize and condition leather, and they do not contain any additives that cause slickness, so you aren't slipping off your seat.

Then, make a fresh mixture of soapy water in order to eliminate any remaining residues of the cleaners. After that, rinse, clean, and completely dry.

Cleaning and treating rubber footrests and pedals using the Aerospace Protectant 303. The product is formulated with UV inhibitors to stop the degradation of rubber and dry to form a nonslip matte surface. Seal painted areas using Sonax Polymer Net Shield.