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How to Wash Your Motorcycle

Jun. 7 2023 Maintenance By Horsepower Harley-Davidson®

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Washing a motorcycle is an extremely important part of this vehicle’s regular maintenance and care. Washing your motorcycle on a regular basis doesn’t just keep the body looking shiny and new, it also helps protect your model from rust, corrosion, and damage to the paint. To learn how to correctly wash your motorcycle and what you’ll need to complete the job, take a look at our helpful guide below.  

Purchase the Required Products

To successfully clean your motorcycle from top to bottom, you’ll first need to purchase a few helpful products to remove any stuck-on gunk and grime. While you’ll obviously need a motorcycle soap on hand, we also encourage you to buy a protective wax, a lubricant for your chain, and a leather cleanser and conditioner if your model has any leather components. Once you’ve got these items on hand, you’ll also need to round up a sponge, scrub brush, hose, and a few soft towels before getting started

Getting Started

Before you bust out your soap and sponge, make sure your motorcycle is parked in a shady area so the soap won’t dry too quickly. To begin, carefully rinse the body of your motorcycle and use your sponge to begin washing it from top to bottom. If you have quite a bit of caked-on mud or dirt, you’ll need to use your scrub brush to remove it—especially around your tires and rims. Once all of the mud and grime have been removed, go ahead and gently rinse your motorcycle once again. Using your towels, do your best to ensure that the bike is completely dried to avoid the appearance of rust or corrosion. Once you’re sure that all the water has been wiped up, go ahead and apply lubricant to your motorcycle’s chain, and leather cleanser and conditioner to all of your leather accessories. If it has been more than 6 months since you last waxed your motorcycle, be sure to use a few soft clothes to apply a fresh coat of polish. 

Having trouble finding some of the required products, parts, or equipment to care for your motorcycle? Then be sure to visit us here at Horsepower Harley-Davidson® in Williamsport, Pennsylvania! We offer an enormous selection of helpful motorcycle accessories and parts and proudly serve the nearby community of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.