Depending on which herd of motorcyclists you refer to, bike cleaning is different. It’s just a fast rinse with the hose for some. Others, washing a bike with soap in a bucket and a fast trip to get all the water out is like washing a car. Others are also laughing at the sheer thought of bike washing. It’s cleaned off any time they go into a rainstorm, after all. If you want to be thorough to prevent errors, here’s the guide.
Make sure the engine and exhaust are cold to the touch before you start. To clean off big road grime and accumulated pests, send the bike an initial scrub. You can do simple washing in a couple of different ways. This can work, but when pulled over the paintwork, a sponge can gather loose dirt or contaminants lost in the initial rinse and create scratches. I use a spray-on, rinse-off wash like S100 Complete Cycle Cleaner to prevent the guesswork of always using new sides of the sponge. This works well if you semi-regularly clean your bike, as there is never enough time for the gunk to build up to need a sponge. We are the best option available for Motorcycle detailing near me search.
Clean the wheels with a wheel-specific spray cleaner only before the final rinse. If the cleaner has a warning for its use on powder-coated wheels, bare aluminum wheels, or magnesium wheels, take care. Give yourself one last shower, then dry up. Use it to blast out the water in those hard to reach areas if you have access to an air compressor. To trap warmth, rolling microfiber towels perform as well in nooks and crannies. Get a good chamois towel, thoroughly wet it, wring it out and pull the water off the seat and body panels. Note that the chamois gets filthy as you make your way around the bike. For next time, could you make a note of it? This is where you have not cleaned thoroughly enough.
If you ever feel inclined towards information, get a clay bar for yourself. It’s merely a way to get the paint free of slight impurities and toxins. Run the clay bar over the paint without friction or circular movements with judicious use of a bike detailing spray as a lubricant. Please do not drop the bar of clay and attempt to use it again, as debris and contaminants that can scratch the paint will be picked up. Finish by buffing with a clean towel made of microfiber.
Black plastic caps, handles, instrument panels, control switch boxes, cabling, and wires are all exposed to UV light that appears to make them grey and can potentially lead parts to dry out and break. To remedy this, there are a few choices, but avoid something meant for car interiors. I’ve been trying to protect black plastic and rubber from a million different kinds to keep it looking safe. Wizards Black Renew appears to perform the best by far, in my experience. This also works on parts, including tanks of brake/clutch oil, rear fenders, areas of the undersea’s detail, and storage. Using a light-duty degreaser to clear some foreign content if your engine is uncovered, but otherwise, leave it to be.
Finish with an exhaust/polish cleaner. You are using a small amount of wd40 and a clean towel for most metal exhaust cans for a fast and simple clean-up. We have been working from the top of the bike down to the floor if you haven’t heard yet. Wheels are the last step. You are using a light-duty degreaser to purify any flung chain lube from the rear tire.
But the advantages go beyond merely getting a sparkling, new bike. It confirms a detail-oriented viewpoint that can go beyond a comprehensive T-CLOCS when you carefully tend to your bike. You start to note the smallest oil or coolant escaping, the smallest chip in the legs of the fork, the state of the chain, the brake pads and the suspension, the broken bolts, the rusted or corroded parts, the ill-fitting cables or hoses, and other minute pieces that a glance will escape. It’s a perfect way to get to know your bike at a level where every seam and curve can be visualized and to know instinctively when something is wrong.
