How to Clean a Motorcycle

There's no feeling in the world like riding your motorcycle, the wind in your hair, cares at your back, open road stretching out ahead as far as the eye can see. It's more than a vehicle, it's a passion, an art form – albeit one of the few art forms that tends to accumulate dead bugs and road grime.

Washing your motorcycle helps maintain its beauty, sure. But you're also prolonging its life by removing all the abrasive dirt, insects, grime and other corrosive debris that can do serious damage to your bike's chrome, paint and mechanics.

The only catch? There's no cutting corners when it comes to motorcycle cleaning and maintenance. To get your bike looking its best you'll need the right cleaner for the job, as well as patience to work into all the nooks and crannies, and proper technique to make sure you're giving your bike the best cleaning it can get.

Avoid using a pressure washer, or a high-pressure hose like those you'd find at coin-operated car washes. These can damage parts of your motorcycle, and even drive water into areas it doesn't belong.

You should also steer clear of cleaning products that aren't suitable for motorcycles or other vehicle surfaces, as these often contain harsh detergents or chemical solvents that can wreak havoc on your bike's metal, paint and plastic components.

Extreme Simple Green Motorsports Cleaner & Degreaser is extremely aggressive on grease and heavy soils, but won't damage the high-performance surfaces found on motorcycles, including aftermarket parts. The versatile formula is ideal for use on aluminum, chrome, titanium and other high-tech alloys, as well as painted and gel-coated surfaces, anodized and electroplated parts, carbon fiber, a variety of metals, plastics, rubber and much more.

Directions for cleaning a motorcycle:

Make sure the motorcycle is cool to the touch before cleaning. You should clean in the shade to avoid metal parts from heating up, or cleaning solution drying too fast.

When in doubt about a surface, always spot test first.

1. Rinse your bike thoroughly with clean water to remove loose dirt & debris.
2. Apply cleaner. Spray Extreme Simple Green Motorsports Cleaner & Degreaser onto dirty areas, including hidden chrome, hoses and plastic parts.
3. Scrub or agitate tough soils if necessary with a non-abrasive microfiber cloth, sponge or soft-bristle brush.
4. Rinse your scrubbing and washing tools often to prevent scratching from grit accumulation.
5. Wash surfaces with a sponge or soft cloth.
6. Rinse motorcycle with clean water. Be sure to wash off any remaining soapy water on the bike, and to avoid spraying directly into the exhaust pipe.
7. Dry the bike with a dry microfiber towel.
8. Start the engine. Let the motorcycle run for several minutes, to evaporate any excess water that has accumulated along the mechanical parts. Then turn off the engine.
9. Lubricate your motorcycle chain before riding.