Wash your motorcycle without wrecking it?

Steps

1. 1
   1

   Cool the bike & pick your spot

   Wash a cold bike out of direct sun - shampoo dries into streaks on hot paint, and cold water on a hot engine or brakes isn't ideal. Park somewhere shaded and stable. If you use any pressure washer, keep it low and well back.

   Warning

   Warning
2. 2
   2

   Rinse gently to loosen dirt

   Give the whole bike a gentle low-pressure rinse from the top down to float off the loose grit before you touch it with a mitt. Dragging a mitt over dry grit is how you put swirl scratches in the paint.

3. 3
   3

   Two-bucket wash, top to bottom

   One bucket of shampoo solution, one of clean rinse water. Load the mitt from the soap bucket, wash a panel, then rinse the mitt in the clean bucket before re-loading so grit ends up in the rinse water, not back on your paint. Work top to bottom (cleanest to dirtiest) with light pressure.

4. 4
   4

   Do the wheels & chain area last

   Save the dirtiest bits for last with a separate brush so you don't carry brake dust and chain grime up onto the bodywork. Use a dedicated, O-ring-safe cleaner on the chain if it needs it - not household degreaser, which can attack the O-rings.

5. 5
   5

   Rinse & dry thoroughly

   Final low-pressure rinse top-down, then dry with microfibre towels and blow or shake water out of crevices, plug recesses and switch housings. A short, gentle ride helps sling the last water out - just remember the brakes will be wet and weak for the first few stops.

6. 6
   6

   Re-lube the chain & protect

   Washing strips the chain lube, so a clean chain is a dry chain - re-lube it before you ride any distance (see the chain guide). Wipe a light corrosion protectant over bare metal and switchgear if you like, keeping it well clear of the brake discs, pads and tyres.

   Danger

Fits these bikes

All motorcycles