The Perfect Bike Wash

Every bike owner knows that washing a motorcycle is a much different task than washing a car. Motorcycles feature a variety of surface materials that should be treated differently, such as paint, plastic, chrome, leather, and rubber. Bikes also have a lot of little niche areas that need to be cleaned and dried thoroughly. The following tips will help you perform the perfect bike wash.

Motorcycle Washing Tips
High pressure sprays are bad for your bike. They'll damage its paint and cause corrosion in other components. A garden hose with a gentle spray is the best water source for washing a motorcycle.

You should also keep in mind the temperature of the bike when you wash it. If you're just back from a ride, let the bike cool down to avoid putting its sensitive parts through the drastic temperature change of cold water.

Fill a bucket with warm water and car wash soap. You'll want to use a chamois, cleaning mitt, cleaning brush, and detailing brush when washing your motorcycle to give you options for every space and surface texture.

Give the bike a good soaking from top to bottom with the hose, avoiding areas like the transmission box, exhaust, and air filter, and then use the cleaning mitt on the paint and plastic areas of the bike. A cleaning brush is best for dirtier metal areas, and a long bristled brush for trickier spots.

Clean tires with rubber cleaner and a detailing sponge. Chains should be washed with oil and grease cleaner and lubricated after drying.

For drying, micro fiber towels are less likely than cotton to leave towel residue behind. It's also a good idea to take your bike for a short ride around the block after you've dried it. This will eliminate any water that got into the exhaust.