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Keeping Your Bike Clean

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Keeping Your Bike Clean

Washing

Use a liquid soap specifically designed for washing cars/motorcycles. Dishwashing liquids and laundry detergents are too harsh and will remove the wax from your bike. You can find car washing soaps manufactured by virtually every company that makes a wax product. Follow the directions on the bottle. Avoid using hot water when mixing the soap in your bucket since this tends to soften and remove the wax. The bike should be parked in the shade and cool to the touch before washing. Wet the bike down with nothing more than an ordinary garden hose and avoid spraying water directly at any seals, gaskets, or electrical connections. Begin by washing all the painted and plastic surfaces and clean the engine and wheels last. The bike should then be dried as soon as possible to avoid unsightly water spots.

Drying

For a quick blow dry, try using a leaf blower. There are no water spots to wipe off and it leaves the bike looking great. The only concern might be water getting into electrical connectors, bearings, etc. so some caution is advised. Another method is to used a 100% cotton cloth diaper. If diapers are not available, the next best solution is to use a chamois, followed by any soft, clean cotton cloth you can find.

Clear Plastic Parts

For safety reasons, virtually all windshields and face-shields are made from polycarbonate plastic, also known as Plexiglas or Lexan. An easy way to remove splattered bugs is to place a wet towel over the plastic surface and let it remain there for at least 15 minutes. The water will loosen the bug remains, thus making their removal easier. Then use warm soapy water to clean the surface and wipe away the remains with a cloth. Do not use paper towels as they are made from paper products and will scratch plastic surfaces. Meguire's makes a number of polishes for clear plastic products which are available at most motorcycle shops or automotive discount stores. Apply and remove the polish vertically for a windshield and horizontally for a face shield. Avoid using petroleum-based products like WD-40. Avoid using paint polishes as they are considerably harsher than plastic polishes and will scratch clear plastic surfaces.

Polish and Wax

Polishes are designed to clean the paint by removing contaminants and oxidation, restoring the paint to a rich, light-reflecting luster, covering swirl marks, and preparing the paint for wax. For the most part, polishes contain abrasives and "clean" by friction. Most waxes are either organic or polymer-based. Polymer waxes are chemically manufactured from petroleum distillates and contain silicone or Teflon. The most common organic waxes are from tropical plants (Carnuba) or from bee's wax. Always wash the bike thoroughly before starting. The bike should be cool to the touch, and the wax/polish should be applied and removed in the shade with the softest applicators you can find. Always apply a coat of wax immediately after polishing. Die-hard detailers apply paste wax with their fingertips to minimize the potential for accidentally rubbing in a piece of sand or grit. Another tip is to apply and remove polishes/waxes in the direction the wind flows over the bodywork. This prevents accidental (and sometimes permanent) swirl marks and/or micro-scratches from being rubbed into the paint. All scratches are seen more easily when they are viewed perpendicular to the lines of the vehicle (this is particularly true if you have a dark color).

Last update: 06:22 PM Sunday, September 26, 2004

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