When you have bought your dream motorcycle, you know that you need to properly maintain your bike in order for it to ride and look its best for years to come. Mechanical maintenance is critical to the motorcycle's operation, but making sure it looks good is also important.
Although cleaning a car, truck, or SUV can be a pretty tedious job, washing your own motorcycle can be enjoyable. If you choose, you can have your family members help; you will get the job done more quickly and get to spend time with them. Having a well-washed motorcycle is one way to show pride in your bike, and the only way to do that is to clean and care for it regularly.
Minor cleaning, such as rinsing off mud and dust, should be done on a daily basis. More extensive removal of built-up grime should be undertaken regularly, because such buildups can damage the bike's finish and be much tougher to remove if they have had time to harden. A good cleaning regimen should take just a few minutes a day to keep your bike looking good.
When you start out as a motorcycle owner, get a copy of the owner's manual if at all possible when buying a used bike or when buying new. It will usually have cleaning instructions and may recommend products that the manufacturer prefers. They may not be the cheapest or the best, but they are a starting point.
List everything that you might need. You should consider including a power sprayer for the hose, car or motorcycle shampoo, cloths for cleaning and polishing, and metal polish. Additionally, you might need brushes or sponges and special products to remove the messes you might get into: tar removers, bug cleaner, glass or plastic cleaners. Also, don't forget vinyl and leather cleansers for the saddlebags and seats.
That may seem like a lot of money to pay out, but one container will last much longer than it would if you were cleaning a car, because a motorcycle has much less surface area. Cleaning a bike becomes much easier if you have everything you need stored in a single place in one convenient storage box.
A motorcycle gleaming like it is just off the lot is a marvelous thing to behold. Everything looks pristine, the metal has that perfect glint, the tires are free of dirt and road debris, and the seat is practically begging for a ride. Despite the hard work of getting to this state, there is much pleasure in seeing these types of results.
When you clean, you also want to lube your chains and any other area that needs this. Check fluid levels and give the bike a once over to look for minor problems. Using a really good wax or surface protection product really makes daily cleaning a lot simpler as minor stuff will rinse off easily.