How do you clean a motorcycle?

For a better understanding of how to clean a motorcycle, you can consult our expert detailers. We'll walk you through our step-by-step instructions for detailing a bike. The process of cleaning a motorcycle may appear to be excessive, especially the advice to use several rinse and dry cycles, but this is the way we can achieve perfection.

Work in a shaded location, and do not begin cleaning before the motor surface is cool. Get rid of the seat cover and leather saddlebags, and put them away. Then, cover the battery in plastic and secure any exhaust pipes by wrapping them in plastic wrap and a rubber band.

The next step is to wash using plain water to get rid of dirt and dust. A nozzle that resembles a fireman's hose is great since you can select the pattern of spray for each section on the motorcycle. It's possible to make use of a pressure washer to clean your bike. However, you must dial down the pressure to the lowest setting. Also, keep an appropriate distance from the motorcycle in order to keep from damaging the soft plastic and metal parts. Make sure to use a gentle stream around wheel hubs in order to prevent water from getting into the bearings.

After the rinse, you should do an initial wash. Make use of a mild detergent for car washing (Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner is a good option), along with a microfiber washing mitt and separate rinse and soap buckets. The purpose of the prewash is to wash away the dirt from the roads and mud.

Don't try to scrub the greasy and dirty areas with your hands. Use them instead for the specific cleaning products you'll be using in the future. Clean and dry your motorbike as soon as possible to avoid water spots. Instead of manually wiping your entire motorcycle, opt for an air compressor (such as the 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.

Next, 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 using a mild cleaner such as the Leather Therapy Wash or Meguiar's' D180 Cleaning Agent for Leather & Conditioner. Polish the dash using Meguiar Ultra Polishing Polish. The same polish can be used on the windshield.

The next step is to clean the transmission, engine, chain, or driveshaft housing using an air cleaner such as S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, as well as brushes. If you find that the S100 product isn't powerful enough to get rid of grease caked on dissolving a strong-duty degreaser 4:1 by using water, you can cut the mild cleaner like Simple Green 50/50 with water. Apply the diluted degreaser, and anticipate injecting some elbow grease on the task. Do not apply full-strength degreasers to your bike.

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

Cleanse the saddlebags and leather seats using leather Therapy Wash and the Leather Therapy Conditioner and Restorer plus Meguiar's D180. These products renew and condition the leather, and they do not contain any additives that cause slickness, so you will not slip off your seat.

Then, you can use new batches of soapy water in order to eliminate any remaining remnants of cleaners. After that, rinse thoroughly and then dry your bike.

Remove and clean rubber feet rests and pedals using the Aerospace Protectant 303. It contains UV inhibitors to stop degrading the rubber, and it dries to create a non-slip matte finish. Seal painted areas using Sonax Polymer Net Shield.