Washing Your Motorcycle

Your motorcycle faces its fair share of gunk and grime on the road. Bugs splatter across your windshield. Kicked-up spray and mud from other motorists leave unappealing water spots. Dirt and dust settle on the paint job and refuse to leave. Your poor bike goes through a lot! Over time, caked-on muck can start to damage the exterior of your vehicle. Plus, it's fun to be able to cruise around town on a clean motorcycle glistening in the sun. When you are ready to wash your bike, follow the guide below to ensure you won't miss any steps. For all your riding needs, visit Maxey's Motorsports. We proudly serve those in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Gather the Supplies

This process is going to go much easier if you get your workspace set up before you start, rather than try to hunt down the right products at each step along the way. 

Start by figuring out where you will wash your bike. Try to find somewhere with plenty of space so that you can really get at all the nooks and crannies. If possible, you'll want to avoid setting up shop in the sunlight. That's because the sun makes the soap dry fast, which can increase the chances of streaks and water spots.

Next, you will want to get together your products. Find a specialty motorcycle cleaner along with a sponge to help you wash away the gunk. For your spoked wheels, you can use brushes to help target tough angles. To remove moisture, you can use a cloth, flannels, or chamois. A microfiber cloth or brush can be used for final touches.

Rinse

Don't try washing your motorcycle right after a ride! Instead, wash it when it's cool. Before you start, put a rubber plug, rag, or glove into your exhaust to help keep it dry.

For the soap, you will want to make a mixture of water and cleaner and apply it straight to the bike. You don't want to do a pre-rinse as you do with your car. Right now all you are trying to do is rinse away the loose debris so you can more easily get at the caked-on stuff underneath. Be cautious about using a high-power wash as those can often be so intense that they can hurt your motorcycle's paint job.

Wash

Start at the top and work down as you go. Try to apply enough pressure to get the gunk off but not so much pressure that it'll hurt the paint job. A typical hose should do the job well. As you clean, you'll want to rinse off your sponge a few times. Otherwise, the dirt stuck on the sponge could get applied back onto your vehicle.

Last Steps

Once you've rinsed and scrubbed away the gunk, you need to dry the moisture off of your bike. Any moisture left sitting in crevices can become corrosive. Use an air blower to get the moisture out. Next, you will want to add lubricant to your chain to help keep things running smoothly. Finally, polish and wax your vehicle. This will not only help protect the paint but add a striking sheen to it!

We hope you found this guide helpful! For all your motorcycle needs, visit Maxey's Motorsports. We proudly serve those in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Shawnee, Oklahoma. If you have any questions, our expert staff is ready to help. If you are looking to upgrade your ride, stop by and check out our models for sale. Whatever you need, you can find it with us so stop by today!