Cleaning Your Motorcycle

A dirty motorcycle doesn’t just look bad, it’s also more vulnerable to corrosion. Luckily, cleaning your motorcycle is fairly easy once you have the right tools. Follow this step-by-step guide from Thompson’s Motorsports, and your bike will be shining in no time. 

Find a Good Location

Your first step will be to find the right location. Besides just offering plenty of room to work, the ideal motorcycle-washing location should be out of direct sunlight. You don’t want the sunlight to dry off the soapy water before you have a chance to wipe it away. That would lead to soap spots and streaks. Never clean your motorcycle directly after riding it. Your motorcycle’s components will still be hot after a ride, and the water will force these hot components to contract and potentially even crack.

Gather Supplies

Next, you’ll need to gather up all your brushes, clothes, sponges, and cleaning products. It’s important that you use only manufacturer-approved cleaning products as non-approved cleaning products can cause damage to your bike.

Rinse Your Motorcycle

Once you’ve plugged your motorcycle’s exhaust pipe to keep the water out, spray it with a mixture of water and motorcycle cleaner. This should loosen up any dirt or grime that is clinging to the motorcycle’s surface. Never use a high-pressure hose to clean your motorcycle. While the job will go faster, it’s not worth the risk of accidentally damaging your bike. 

Scrub Away

Next, you’ll need to thoroughly scrub your motorcycle. Start at the top and work your way down so that the dirty water doesn’t drip down and undo your work. Don’t forget to clean your sponge if it starts to look a bit dirty. If the water in your bucket starts to look a bit too dirty, dump it out, rinse the bucket, and replace the water. Just don’t scrub too hard, or you risk damaging your motorcycle. 

Let Your Motorcycle Dry

Finally, dry off your motorcycle. Most of your bike can be dried off using just a towel, though the smaller nooks and crannies might require a leaf blower or can of compressed air. Once everything has dried completely, re-lube the chain and apply wax/polish.  

Shop motorcycles at Thompson’s Motorsports in Terre Haute, Indiana. We’re proud to serve communities like Bloomington and West Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as Effingham, Illinois. We also offer parts, accessories, servicing, riding gear, and apparel.