How to Keep Your Motorcycle Looking Brand New
Motorcycle ownership includes many responsibilities such as engine and battery maintenance along with storage and regular cleanings.
Cleaning Recommendations
Before waxing or polishing a motorcycle, owners will need to remove the bike's dirt, grime and old wax by completing a basic cleaning. Bike owners should gather supplies like buckets, washrags and soap. After filling a bucket with water, add two or three squirts of regular dishwashing soap. Wet the rag and begin removing the accumulated dirt and grime. Also, consider purchasing a nylon scrub brush to clean the areas of the bike that do not have paint. A hand scrubber is the ideal cleaning device for the bike’s tires, and be sure to empty the bucket water frequently to eliminate the dirt as it can scratch the bike’s paint. Wash the painted areas first and the engine section last.
Pre-Wax Preparation
To pre-wax a motorcycle, owners will need clean cotton rags, solution and buffing cloths. Add the pre-wax solution to a cotton rag and rub the product over the bike’s painted areas. With a buffing cloth, polish the bike. Be sure to park the bike out of sunlit areas while pre-waxing. Also, rub in a circular motion. A pre-wax product will remove embedded dirt, road salt, pollutants, tar and old wax. The substance will also polish out light scratches and smooth a bike’s paint. Apply two coats of pre-wax, and do not use the product more than three times in one cleaning session as it can remove the paint.
Polishing Tips
Polish is a chemical that nourishes the vehicle’s finish. In addition, it will remove slight finish imperfections and add gloss to the paint. Polish also makes the paint appear new. To add the product to a bike, owners should use a buffing cloth. Also, allow the polish to soak into the finish. Once the substance is dry, be sure to buff the bike thoroughly. Most polish will dry in about 10 minutes. Apply two coats of polish, and do not use the product more than three times in one day.
Waxing
Regular dish soap will strip the bike’s current wax layer. Therefore, owners should plan to add a new wax coat over the bike’s paint for protection. The product will safeguard the bike’s paint from the sun, and it will retain the wash job. With a buffing cloth, add wax to the bike’s painted sections. If the cloth becomes dirty, then exchange it for a clean one. The wax will turn white as it dries. Be sure to wait at least 10 minutes before buffing the bike. Owners should add two coats of wax for the best results.
Detailing
Bike owners can detail the chrome sections of their motorcycle by using a product formulated for the area. After removing the dirt from the chrome sections and allowing the bike to dry, apply chrome polish to the bike with a clean rag.
Conclusion
When owners keep their motorcycle clean, they’ll ensure that their bike looks its best. Furthermore, regular cleanings will extend the life of the bike’s paint and finish.
