Washing Your Motorcycle

With the weather getting warmer and warmer, you’re probably looking to pull your bike out of storage to start off the riding season (if you haven’t already). One of the best things you can do for your bike to get it ready, and continue to do throughout the season, is wash it down. Keeping it clean like this can not only improve the look of your ride, but it can also get rid of any dirt and grime that might cause damage to your bike. Follow the tips that we here at Peak Powersports have provided and let us know if you run into any snags along the way. We’re in Sheridan, Wyoming, near Buffalo.

Gather Your Supplies

Before you get started, you’ll want to make sure you have all the materials you need. Consider consulting your owner’s manual for this for product suggestions. It can also give you tips for your specific model.

At the very least, you’ll want to make sure whatever products you’re using are approved for motorcycle use. This will probably mean avoiding harsh chemicals. Gather sponges, rags, and brushes to reach every part of your ride. If you plan on hand drying your motorcycle, then get a chamois or microfiber cloth to make this easier.

You might also want to take a look at your work space. Make sure you have enough room so you’re not bumping into anything, and it’s easy to access all parts of your bike. If you just came back from riding, you might want to wait a few moments to let the engine cool down before getting started.

Prepping Your Bike

Before you can start scrubbing, plug the exhaust to keep out moisture. This can be particularly important if you’re washing a dirt bike, as the exhaust is often angled in such a way that water will start to pool in one spot, rather than drain out.

Next, you’ll want to hose down the bike. You’ll want to make it easy to work up a good lather, and even knock loose some dirt and grime. Keep in mind, if you’re working in the sun on a hot day, your bike will probably dry quickly. So fast, in fact, that you’ll lose the water you need to scrub and you might even end up with soap suds drying onto the bike. Keep things hosed down until you’re completely done.

Time to Scrub

When it’s time to start scrubbing, keep in mind that scrubbing too hard, too often can damage the finishing overtime, so go easy if you don’t need to put your back into it. Keep the sponge or rag you’re using clean and if you find the water in your bucket is turning brown, dump it out and refill it. Try to minimize the amount of water you get on the chains and brakes, though some moisture is fine. Remember to wash off any suds that might dry too quickly in the sun.

Rinse and Dry

Give your motorcycle one final rinse before turning to drying. You can always let your bike air dry, though we recommend finding a faster way to do this to avoid leaving water sitting in parts of your bike where it can cause corrosion. You can use a combination of the products we’ve already listed, as well as a blowdryer or compressed air can to get into the hard to reach places. Some people think going for a ride and letting the wind do all the work is the best way to dry off their bike. This is a fun way to dry off parts of a motorcycle, but it won’t dry off the parts that are shielded from the wind.

This should get you started, but you might find that some people in your riding community have other great tips to throw in. For more advice, or to check out our motorcycles for sale, stop by Peak Powersports in Sheridan, Wyoming and chat with one of our experienced staff. We proudly serve riders from Buffalo as well.