Keep your pit bike looking like new with our handy guide to cleaning your motorcycle the right way!
Supplies
Choosing the right cleaning products and tools can make all the difference when keeping your motorbike in shape. It is important that when purchasing cleaner, you only buy products that are designed to clean motorbikes, as other harsher cleaners may damage your bike!
A sponge is the obvious cleaning device. However, it can be useful to opt for a sponge that will not pick up grit- as grit in your sponge could scratch your bike.
To dry your bike, a towel or flannel will work fine to get the bulk of the water off. In addition to this, however, you may opt for a chamois cloth to remove the remaining water, as these are safe for all surfaces.
A microfiber cloth will pick up any remaining lint and really make your bike shine!
Prepare your bike
It is important to make sure your bike has cooled down before cleaning. If you have just ridden your bike you need to let the engine completely cool before you start to clean it. A sudden change in temperature from cold water can cause the metal to become damaged, so let your bike cool down naturally.
Although your bike is pretty water resistant, you might consider plugging your exhaust while cleaning to keep the water out. A towel or rag will get the job done.
Cleaning procedure
1. Rinse your bike down
An initial rinse before the sponge even touches your bike is essential to rinse away large chunks of dirt or grit, so that it doesn’t scratch your bike when you start soaping it up. Spray down your bike with a spray cleaner, following with a rinse with water before you start scrubbing.
2. Gently suds up your bike
Give your bike a gentle wash down with a sponge and cleaning solution, working from the top down. Again, make sure the cleaner you choose is designed for cleaning your bike’s surface.
Frequently rinse your sponge to get rid of any grit or dirt so you are not rubbing anything abrasive on your bike, and make sure to change the water frequently.
Where you are likely to get water on your bikes chain and brakes which is fine, these should not be scrubbed using a sponge, as the lubrication on the chain is what causes it to work properly.
After drying your bike, it is a good idea to re-lubricate your bike chain to keep it working properly!
3. Rinse your bike down
Rinse your bike down with clean water after washing to get rid of any suds.
4. Dry your bike
Water should not be left on a motorcycle, as water left in the crevices can cause corrosion over time. Therefore, the motorcycle should be dried by hand right after washing. For this, you can use a towel or flannel to remove the bulk of the water.
Or, if you have a leaf blower or something similar, you can use this to dry the bike relatively quickly.
Following this initial drying with a chamois cloth can really help to remove the remaining water.
Finally, turning on the engine after drying and allowing the engine to heat up can help the remaining water evaporate. Just remember to unplug the exhaust.
It is important to test the brakes before riding. They may take a few pumps to return to regular performance post-wash.
And that’s about it! Remember, bikes are made for riding. So, no matter how clean your bike is now, don’t be afraid to get back out onto the track!
