Knowledge
You may love it, or you may hate it, but sooner or later you will have to clean that bike. Here’s how to get it right
How to clean your motorcycle like a pro? Here’s how.
Cleaning a bike is pretty simple, right? Well, getting rid of dirt is one thing, but simultaneously protecting the surface you’re cleaning is a different thing. Can you use any old product? Is it ok to jet wash the bike? We found ourselves asking more questions than we had answers for, so we talked to Dr Mario Kraft, deputy head of R&D at cleaning product manufacturers S100. Here’s his advice on the best way to clean a bike.
MSL: The cleaning product I purchased says it’s suitable for all parts of the motorcycle. Can I trust that?
Mario Kraft: It is very easy to make a motorcycle cleaner. Making one that is safe to use on all surfaces found on a bike – steel, alloy, rubber, plastic, paints – is much more challenging. We test all our products on a variety of surfaces in a laboratory and then send them to selected customers, to test in the real world, so we can be confident that they are safe to use.
However, some cleaning products use very aggressive chemicals that can cause damage, particularly to untreated metals. A simple check you can make is to read the directions for use. If it advises you to rinse off the cleaner quickly, for example in less than two minutes, you should be very cautious.
MSL: Which are the key products if I want my bike to look clean and protect it from rust?
MK: To prevent rust, it is important to understand the cause. If you think about paint or chrome, this is protecting the bare metal. If the paint or chrome is damaged, then the metal beneath it is vulnerable to oxidation (rust). Keeping the bike clean will remove anything that could cause corrosion, like road salt or bird droppings, so that is an important start.
Next you can apply a wax coat to painted surfaces, which will create a protective film. However, you cannot apply wax to surfaces that get hot (engine or exhausts) because it would melt, so instead you can spray on a corrosion protectant. In the dry summer months this is not normally necessary, but if you are riding regularly in wet weather this will make a difference.
MSL: What is the correct order in which to apply these products?
MK: Always clean your bike first. Next apply wax, then chain spray and finally corrosion protectant.
MSL: Is it ok to jet wash the bike?
MK: We do not use jet washers, only a regular hose with a spray nozzle. Power washers are great at removing dirt, because they blast it off, but that also creates some problems. First, the high pressure can damage decals. Second, it can also remove grease from cables and even force water into places where it may become trapped. So a simple hose pipe, or a bucket of clean water and a sponge, used to rinse off a goodquality specialist cleaner, will be perfectly effective.
MSL: Is there such a thing as cleaning the bike too often?
MK: That depends on the cleaning products you use! However, it is best to avoid getting your bike wet more often than is necessary, so, if your motorcycle is only dusty, it is better to use a waterless cleaner to make it shiny again. And remember that polish restores shine by removing a microscopic layer on the surface, so polishing your bike daily is not a good idea.
MSL: What are your top tips for getting that showroom shine on your bike?
MK: Start by cleaning your bike thoroughly and then drying it with a chamois leather or air dryer. Then use a waterless cleaner and microfibre cloth for the detailing. If any paintwork has been bleached by ultraviolet rays from the sun, use a good-uality polish to restore the brightness of the colours. We also offer a spray-on colour refresher, which provides lasting optical refurbishment of sun-bleached surfaces, such as black engine blocks, painted or unpainted metal parts and plastic parts. This product is temperature stable, dries with an even finish, and will withstand drives through rain and even several washes.