How to Wash a Motorcycle

Make sure you clean your Honda regularly to protect the surface finishes, and inspect for damage, wear, and oil or brake fluid leakage.

• Avoid cleaning products that aren’t specifically designed for motorcycle or car surfaces. They may contain harsh detergents or chemical solvents that could damage your bike’s metal, paint, and plastic.
• If the machine is still warm from use, grab a cup of tea and wait until the engine and exhaust system cool off.
• Don’t use high-pressure water sprays (like the ones you find at coin operated car washes). High-pressure water (or air) can also damage parts of your motorcycle.

• Rinse your bike thoroughly with cool water to remove loose dirt.
• Clean it with a sponge or soft cloth using cool water. Don’t squirt water at muffler outlets and electrical parts. Do squirt small children in the immediate vicinity. How to Wash a Motorcycle
• Clean the plastic parts using a cloth or sponge dampened with a solution of mild detergent and water. Rub the soiled area, gently rinsing it frequently with fresh water. Take care to keep brake fluid or chemical solvents away from the surfaces, they’ll damage the plastic and painted areas. The inside of the headlight lens may be clouded after you’ve finished washing. Switch the headlight on to high beam and you’ll see the moisture condensation inside the headlight lens gradually disappear. Remember to run the engine while keeping the headlight on.
• After cleaning, rinse the motorcycle thoroughly with plenty of clean water. This is because strong detergent residue can corrode alloy parts.
• Dry the bike, start the engine, and let it run for several minutes (it’s a nice opportunity to admire your handiwork).
• Test the brakes before riding. You might need to pump them several times to restore normal braking performance.
• Lubricate the drive chain immediately after you finish washing and drying the motorcycle. You might find braking is less responsive immediately after washing. That’s why it’s a good idea to give yourself a longer stopping distance to reduce the chances of an accident.

After washing your motorcycle, think about using a commercial spray cleaner/polish or quality liquid or paste wax to finish the job. Be sure to only use a non-abrasive polish or wax made specifically for motorcycles or automobiles. And make sure you read the instructions!

Too much salt is not only bad news for people. The salt contained in the gritting process in the winter can cause corrosion on your Honda. So make sure you:

• Clean using only cool water. Don’t use warm water, this worsens the effect of the salt.
• Dry the motorcycle and apply protective sprays or wax to the metal surfaces.

The aluminium parts of your bike may corrode from contact with dirt, mud, or road salt. Clean the wheels after riding through any of these substances. Use a wet sponge and mild detergent. Avoid stiff brushes, steel wool, or cleaners containing abrasives or chemical compounds.

After you’ve washed your bike, rinse it with plenty of water and dry it with a clean cloth. Apply touch-up paint to the wheels if you spot any damaged areas.

The exhaust pipe is steel but may become stained by oil or mud. You can remove heat stains with a liquid abrasive.

Make sure you don’t squirt water on to the bearings. This may cause humidity, which can lead to corrosion. During winter it’s a good idea to spray non-painted aluminium parts, like engine and transmission housing, with a transparent protective spray. You can get rid of any existing corrosion marks with soaped steel wool. Bare metal parts can be cleaned and protected with chromium polish.

When you clean the seat, dashboard, indicators, rear light and wind screen, make sure you use a neutral soap solution. Don’t use any solvent that contains cleaners.

Very filthy parts and dead insects should be soaked in soap solution, and afterwards rinsed with water. And when you’re going to be riding in poor conditions, protect your machine with waxes or lubricants. Ask your dealer about which ones are best.

It’s always a good idea to plan routine servicing of your bike well in advance. That way you can get it done at a time that causes you the least amount of inconvenience, and works for your Honda dealer too. How to Wash a Motorcycle

Pre-Cleaning Your Motorcycle

1. Let your bike cool down. Spraying water all over a hot engine is a recipe for disaster: the sudden change in temperature can crack the engine block. Even if you’ve just gone down a wet country road and your motorcycle’s caked in mud, let it cool down before you begin
2. Get your cleaning gear together. While you’re waiting for your motorcycle to cool down, why not grab the supplies you’ll need to clean it? All of the supplies you’ll need can be found at your local auto or motorcycle shop. Make sure to gather:
   • A bucket
   • A clean sponge or two
   • Several clean, dry cloths (chamois or microfiber)
   • Degreaser and/or WD-40
   • An old toothbrush (to help clean tight places)
   • Auto/motorcycle wax (optional)
   • Bug and tar remover (if needed)
   • Chrome cleaner (if needed)
3. Start by cleaning the chain. If your motorcycle has a chain, getting the dirt and grease off of it first is a smart move. This keeps the grime from splashing all over the rest of your bike while you’re trying to clean it. Use an approved chain degreaser if you can find one at your local shop. Spray it on the chain to loosen debris, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
   • WD-40 will also work as a solvent to loosen grease and dirt.
   • Make sure to apply lubricant to your chain again once you are done cleaning your motorcycle.
4. Clean the non-chrome engine parts with water and solvent. Before starting on the body, take care of any other nooks and crannies around the engine area that need special attention. Dip an old toothbrush in clean, cool water and gently scrub dirt and debris away. Spray WD-40 on the gunk if you need extra help removing it. How to Wash a Motorcycle
   • Generally, however, keep away from the brake lines and bearings. Getting water into these areas can cause corrosion and other problems.

Washing the Body

1. Rinse the bike with cool water. This will help loosen any dirt and rinse as much of it away as possible, making the cleaning process easier. Just make sure to use a gentle stream of water from a hose. High-pressure sprays can damage the finish, paint or other materials, and should be avoided
2. Rub the whole body with a soft sponge or cloth. A little elbow grease at this point will help remove additional grime. Dip a sponge or soft cloth in a bucket of cool water, and wipe it all over the body of your motorcycle.
   • If you are cleaning your bike to remove salt from it (such as after riding on a winter road), just use water in this way, then skip to waxing it. Using detergents or other cleaners might make the salt problem worse.
3. Clean plastic parts with slightly soapy water. If your motorcycle has plastic parts on the body, it’s just fine to use an approved auto detergent. Add some to a bucket of cool water, and wipe the parts with a sponge dipped in the suds
4. Rinse the entire motorcycle again. After you’ve cleared off all the muck and grime from your bike, grab your hose again. Use a gentle spray to wash away the last of the dirt and any traces of suds. If there’s not much to clear off, you can also dip a clean sponge into clear, cool water, and use this to rinse the bike.
5. Wipe off excess water and let your bike dry. Take a dry chamois or microfiber cloth and gently rub down your motorcycle. This will wick away the water left on it, so that there won’t be any water spots left as your bike air-dries. How to Wash a Motorcycle
   • Don’t let your motorcycle dry in direct sunlight, since this can also cause water spots.
6. Buff your seat with an approved protectant. Motorcycle seats can be made from a variety of materials. Vinyl and leather are the most common. Vinyl seats are quite tough, but can fade and crack over time. Use an approved vinyl protectant to halt these problems. Leather seats are more delicate, but using a leather care cream will protect yours.
   • Protectants for vinyl and leather can be found at any auto or motorcycle supply store.
   • Do not use detergents on leather.

Detailing Your Ride

1. Remove stubborn bug grime. Any biker knows that a nice ride can leave your motorcycle looking you waged war against a swarm of flies. If your motorcycle is caked in bug goo, soak it liberally with bug and tar remover. After the grime is loosened, use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe it away, and another damp one to remove any leftover residue
2. Clean aluminium wheels with soapy water. Many modern bikes have lightweight aluminum wheels. If you want to clean yours, use only soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse with water and wipe with a dry cloth.
   • Abrasive cleaners or tools can damage the finish or paint on wheels, so avoid these.
   • If you have traditional chrome wheels, use chrome cleaner instead.
3. Use car or motorcycle wax for added protection. A quality wax can protect the finish of your bike and keep dirt and grime away. Apply this after the rest of your bike is thoroughly cleaned. Follow the directions on your commercial wax spray or rub. Each product will have slightly different instructions.
4. Use car or motorcycle wax for added protection. A quality wax can protect the finish of your bike and keep dirt and grime away. Apply this after the rest of your bike is thoroughly cleaned. Follow the directions on your commercial wax spray or rub. Each product will have slightly different instructions. How to Wash a Motorcycle