Motorcycle owners usually take a lot of pride in how their bikes look. A beaming owner beside a gleaming motorcycle is a very pleasing sight and attracts attention anywhere. Some work goes into keeping motorcycles in this condition, but it can be very enjoyable, as it is not as tedious as cleaning and washing a car or SUV.
Of course you can choose to get your motorcycle washed and cleaned at the likes of the Sturgis, Daytona and Laughlin bike wash stands and enjoy the sight of bikini clad girls doing the job. However, you will save a lot of money if you can do it yourself. The cleaning requirements for a motorcycle are different from that of a car. Here are some cleaning tips that will help you to keep your bike in top condition.
Regular care and cleaning of your motorcycle will help to maintain its looks. Your cleaning requirements will depend on how often you use and the type of the roads on which you use it. It is not advisable to get your motorcycle washed and cleaned at car washes as the very high pressure water jets can harm the exposed parts of the bike. Thus washing and cleaning the motorcycle yourself is safer.
Before attempting to do the cleaning work yourself get a copy of the owner’s manual. If you have bought an used bike, then try to get the manual from the previous owner if you have not already done so. In case it is not available try to get one online by searching according to the make and model of your motorcycle. A motorcycle owner’s manual will have instructions about washing, cleaning tips and products recommended by the manufacturer. Once you gain experience and knowledge you can try other cheaper products.
Before starting the actual job it is better to prepare a list of the items that you will need. You will need a car or motorcycle shampoo or a mild liquid soap, cotton cloths for cleaning, a power sprayer for your water hose, brushes including an old tooth brush, sponges or a mitt. You may also need glass and plastic cleaners, tar removers, wax and polish, cleaners for vinyl and leather cleaners for seats and saddlebags.
Minor cleaning jobs should be taken up daily to prevent the buildup of dust and grime. Dusting or rinsing off the dust and mud with a wet soft cotton cloth should be done on a daily basis. Be gentle while doing so as fine grit and sand particles may scratch the gleaming surface. A daily minor cleaning routine will lessen the work necessary when regular cleaning has to be done.
Daily minor cleaning also helps to prevent the buildup and hardening of grime which can damage the bikes surface finish and make it tougher to clean. Thus regular care is necessary in addition to periodical washing and cleaning, to maintain the bike’s looks, and this need not take more than a few minutes everyday. Avoid using a paper towel as it might scratch the painted surfaces.
Always wash the motorcycle in a shaded area as in the hot sun the soap solution may dry off fast before you can rinse it, leaving ugly dry soap marks on the surface. This is one of the important motorcycle cleaning tips as otherwise a lot of you hard work can go to waste. Before attempting to clean make sure that the engine has cooled down if it has been used just before the wash.
First give a thorough wash with a clean water spray from the hose. Then use a mitt dipped in a solution of regular car soap and water. While spraying do it gently in the engine area to avoid shorting the ignition system. To reach the nooks and crannies and small areas use a regular soft brush and an old soft bristle toothbrush. For cleaning the wheel spokes use a wide shoelace. After washing with the soap solution again rinse and wash the surfaces thoroughly with a clean water spray from your hose.
After the rinsing is over dry it out with a soft white cotton cloth or towel that doesn’t have loose fibers. Don’t let the water to dry out itself as it may leave ugly patches. You can also use compressed air to dry out the moisture from the hard to reach areas. If you don’t have compressed air blow and dry the water out with your vacuum cleaner by fitting the hose on the exhaust side.
After the surface is dry wax all the painted areas of your bike. A basic wax like Turtle Wax is good enough but you can look for alternatives if you want to. For cleaning minor rusted portions on chrome parts you can use an SOS pad and then coat it with wax. Depending on the type of seat you can use leather or vinyl treatment products.
You must not forget to relubricate the chain and other externally lubricated farts as the lubricant gets washed off during the cleaning process. Finally polish the metal parts with a good quality polish to make your motorcycle look like it has just come off the lot. When not using it keep your motorcycle covered and you will have less daily cleaning work to do. The motorcycle care and cleaning tips described here will help you to keep your bike looking good even after many years of use.
