Motorcycle Cleaning Tips

Regular care and cleaning of your motorcycle will help to maintain its looks. Your cleaning requirements will depend on how often you use and the type of the roads on which you use it. It is not advisable to get your motorcycle washed and cleaned at car washes as the very high pressure water jets can harm the exposed parts of the bike. Thus washing and cleaning the motorcycle yourself is safer.

Before attempting to do the cleaning work yourself get a copy of the owner's manual. If you have bought an used bike, then try to get the manual from the previous owner if you have not already done so. In case it is not available try to get one online by searching according to the make and model of your motorcycle. A motorcycle owner's manual will have instructions about washing, cleaning tips and products recommended by the manufacturer. Once you gain experience and knowledge you can try other cheaper products.

Before starting the actual job it is better to prepare a list of the items that you will need. You will need a car or motorcycle shampoo or a mild liquid soap, cotton cloths for cleaning, a power sprayer for your water hose, brushes including an old tooth brush, sponges or a mitt. You may also need glass and plastic cleaners, tar removers, wax and polish, cleaners for vinyl and leather cleaners for seats and saddlebags.

Minor cleaning jobs should be taken up daily to prevent the buildup of dust and grime. Dusting or rinsing off the dust and mud with a wet soft cotton cloth should be done on a daily basis. Be gentle while doing so as fine grit and sand particles may scratch the gleaming surface. A daily
 minor cleaning routine will lessen the work necessary when regular cleaning has to be done.

Daily minor cleaning also helps to prevent the buildup and hardening of grime which can damage the bikes surface finish and make it tougher to clean. Thus regular care is necessary in addition to periodical washing and cleaning, to maintain the bike's looks, and this need not take more than a few minutes everyday. Avoid using a paper towel as it might scratch the painted surfaces.

Always wash the motorcycle in a shaded area as in the hot sun the soap solution may dry off fast before you can rinse it, leaving ugly dry soap marks on the surface. This is one of the important motorcycle cleaning tips as otherwise a lot of you hard work can go to waste. Before attempting to clean make sure that the engine has cooled down if it has been used just before the wash.