How to Wash Your Motorcycle

After a long summer of riding, your motorcycle is probably looking a bit dusty and muddy by now. A good cleaning before your fall riding or winter storage will help to keep your motorcycle looking its best. A clean motorcycle is also easier to maintain, since problems won’t be masked by dirt and debris. So how do you get your bike shiny and clean again?

Harley-Davidson of Fort Wayne is your Indiana motorcycle dealer, serving Kendallville and Auburn. Here is our step-by-step guide to washing your motorcycle.

1. Gather Supplies Together

Before you begin, it’s helpful to get all the supplies you need gathered together so you don’t have to hunt for anything later. The supplies you’ll need include:

• A hose hooked up to fresh water.
• Buckets.
• Motorcycle soap or car-wash soap.
• Spray degreaser.
• Hard-bristle brushes.
• Chamois cloths.
• Chain lubricant.
• Rags.

2. Prepare Your Bike

For best results, park your bike on a flat surface with good drainage, such as a gravel or concrete driveway, and don’t wash your bike if the engine isn’t cool. You may want to park your bike out of direct sunlight to avoid water spots forming on it as it dries. Also, use a rag to plug up your exhaust and make sure to remove that when you’re done.

3. Rinse & Scrub

If your bike seems particularly greasy, spray it down with your motorcycle degreaser and allow that to sit for ten minutes before giving your bike a rinse. You can then mix water and soap in a bucket and use a sponge to apply this to your bike, working from top to bottom. Use a hard-bristle brush to get into those nooks and crannies. Change out your cleaning solution and sponges frequently to avoid getting the bike dirty again. Avoid using a high-powered washer or hose to rinse off your bike, as this could knock it over. Rinsing with your normal hose is fine.

4. Dry & Lubricate

Once you’re done rinsing, you can let your bike air-dry or you can use chamois cloths to wipe it down thoroughly. You can then apply lubricant to your motorcycle’s chain, as this is likely to have come off in the washing process. If you like, now is a good time to apply a motorcycle wax or polish to your whole bike, avoiding the seat, to make it shine like new.

Looking for new bikes in Indiana? Stop by our dealership in Fort Wayne, IN, today to view our current selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Talk to our staff if you’d like to use our financing options on your purchase. Harley-Davidson of Fort Wayne proudly serves the cities of Auburn and Kendallville, IN.