How to Wash Your Motorcycle

As you ride your motorcycle, it’s going to get dirty and grimy, just like your car or truck would. And you don’t want to leave all that muck on your bike for too long, since it can cause corrosion and it also looks bad. A dirty motorcycle is also one that’s harder to maintain. Cleaning your motorcycle regularly ensures that it’s always looking good and performing at its best. Follow these steps to clean your motorcycle thoroughly without damaging it.

Prepare For Cleaning

Park your bike on a flat surface with good drainage, such as a driveway. You don’t want to wash your bike on your lawn, as the debris and soap can kill your grass. Make sure the area has plenty of space for you to access all parts of your bike, and try to avoid washing it in direct sunlight so that soap scum doesn’t dry on it. Use a rag to plug up the exhaust pipe so water doesn’t get inside.

Gather Supplies

You’ll want to get together all the supplies you need before you begin so that you don’t have to run back into the house or your garage to root around for something. You’ll want a source of fresh water, such as a garden hose, and plenty of buckets, sponges, rags, and scrub brushes. 

You should also get a cleaning product for your bike. Some people like to use a degreaser before using a special motorcycle soap. You will also want to get some chamois and microfiber cloths, a chain lubricant, and a motorcycle polish (if desired).

Rinse It Off

Make sure your bike is stable, then turn on your hose and rinse it off. If you need to, you can apply some degreaser to those especially dirty spots and let it sit for about ten minutes before rinsing it. Make sure to get your bike thoroughly wet, but try to avoid spraying directly into delicate components.

Scrub & Rinse Again

Next, you’ll fill your buckets with clean water and add some soap. Now you can take your sponges and brushes and really get to work, scrubbing your bike from top to bottom and rinsing as you go. Give your bike a thorough rinse once you’re done.

Dry. Lubricate, Polish

You can either allow your motorcycle to dry in the sun or you can take a chamois cloth and dry off the bike yourself. Next, you’ll want to get your lubricant and grease those chains again to prevent them from drying out. Finally, you can apply a coat of polish to your bike with a soft cloth, buffing it in gently until it shines.

When you’re ready to purchase a new or used motorcycle, come see us at our McAllen, TX, location to check out what we have in stock. We’re happy to help you with trade-in options, price quotes, and financing options. Desperado Harley-Davidson® serves the city of Edinburg, TX.