Why clean your motorcycle?

If you have paid good money for your motorcycle, it is always important to make sure it looks its best. Why would you want to spend a ton of money on a motorcycle just to let it break down and look dirty? If you want to sell your motorcycle, making it look flawless is a great way to get the attention of potential buyers and could even increase the value or what the buyer is willing to pay. Another great benefit of cleaning your motorcycle is that you can detect any faults while cleaning it, which can be vital to the safety of riders.

What will you need?

In my opinion, a must-have tool is a paddock stand. A paddock stand is perfect for each and every maintenance job and every motorcycle enthusiast should have one. For best results, I recommend using a pressure washer or high pressure spray nozzle, a brush cut to about 2 inches, and a degreaser to remove lubricant and grease from your motorcycle chain. You will also need a high quality cleaning agent and WD40, as well as some motorcycle shampoo (do not wash off the liquid as anything that contains salt should be avoided) and a good quality absorbent cloth to soak up any access water. To finish the motorcycle to a high standard, you will need a good quality wax.

For tools, you will need each and every Allen key to remove the work from the body. This is essential as the amount of dirt and grime that accumulates under the body can be harmful to your motorcycle and removing it will give it a professionally cleaned look.

Anyone can clean a motorcycle!

The only reason a person shouldn’t do this is if they have a little work phobia. There really is no other excuse or reason why someone can’t do this, so try not to worry or be afraid of breaking something. This is the basic maintenance that will also give you the opportunity to learn about your motorcycle and the basic parts.

Step 1

Place your motorcycle on its stand so that you can reach your entire motorcycle and turn the rear wheel with ease. Make sure you have connected your hose to a pressure washer or high pressure nozzle. Try not to do this after a long ride and it would be ideal if your motorcycle is cold so the soapy water doesn’t dry out too quickly.

Step 2

This is very important, be sure to apply lubricant to the chain to prevent water from entering the links. Use the cut brush to apply degreaser to any areas with accumulated grease or oil (most commonly the front sprockets of the rear tires, etc.) and wipe it off gently. Do not soak the nudes or chain as they will dry out and lift off.

Step 3

Now is the time to spray your motorcycle with the cleaning agent or soapy water. Make sure you go crazy in any area where dirt has built up and only use a light mist on areas like the tank, screen, and switchgear. Spray as much as you can on the front of the engine as this is where dirt collects and if necessary loosen the dirt with a cloth or sponge.

Step 4

Time to turn on the pressure washer and remove any loose dirt, this will prevent scratching when washing the soapy water with a sponge. Always start at the top of the motorcycle and work your way down gradually, but do not aim directly at the cell or bearing areas. It is also recommended that you use a milder spray when cleaning the radiator.

Step 5

Take the motorcycle off the stand and grip the handlebars firmly. Now that you’ve removed it from its stand and grasped your motorcycle, lean it to the side and onto your knee. This will help your motorcycle dry out and once you have done one side be sure to do the other. Now that the access water has dripped, place your motorcycle back on the paddock stand and remove the fairing. Soak up all the excess water with a cloth and make sure you focus on the engine as it is more important than the bodywork.

Step 6

Apply your cleaning agent to areas that cannot be reached with the fairing on. These areas should be things like the radiator and the cylinder head. Use the washing machine to blow out all the cleaning agent, but take the car so you don’t hit delicate parts like the battery, it would be a good idea to protect these areas with plastic bags.

Step 7

Mix motorcycle shampoo with warm water in a bucket and use a clean sponge or cloth to clean. Wash the panels you have removed and then rinse them with clean water. Let them dry and wash the rest of your motorcycle and rinse again in clean cold water.

Step 8

Remove the access water and when your motorcycle is dry, apply the WD40 to any working parts, such as the switch and throttle.

Step 9

Now that the bodywork is dry from before, you can put it back on your motorcycle and grease the threads of the fasteners. Be sure to grease areas such as pivots as well.

Step 10

Motorcycles will scratch over time from loose gravel on the roads, but if you see one, you can always touch up with paint from your local dealer. For small scratches, you can always try to polish them while washing your motorcycle and use T-cut renovation cream if you have any.

Step 11

Now is the time to get to work with the polish or wax to make sure it glows and glows in the light. Be sure to take your time when applying the wax or polish, as you want it to look its best.

Finished

Now that you’ve finished cleaning your motorcycle, it’s time to put your feet up and enjoy a nice cold beer or go for a ride and show off your freshly cleaned motorcycle (I advise you not to do both). I would recommend that you do this at least once a month or if you are going to sell your motorcycle the day before someone comes to see it. The more often you clean your motorcycle, the more you will lean over it and also stick to it.