Most bikers take great pride in their motorcycles and love every minute of any work being personally carried out themselves on their beloved bike, even cleaning it. In the cleaning process bikers become intimately acquainted with every inch of their motorcycle. The standard of cleaning carried out can be split into two rough categories. There are those who take the clean to the extreme, achieving a mirror like shine on every surface and cleaning at every opportunity to show condition. Other bikers take no less pride in their motorcycle and the cleaning of it but they simply clean it when necessary.

When cleaning a motorcycle a good safety tip is to clean when the bike hasn't been used as many parts can become extremely hot. Good preparation and having suitable cleaning equipment are also great tips for a good clean. There are some really awkward nooks and crannies on a motorcycle and you can save your hands and fingers a lot of grief if you have a selection of brushes for cleaning. Firm brushes for areas which aren't chromed or painted and soft brushes for the areas of high gloss which you don't want to scratch. It will make your job easier if you have long handled brushes to reach into difficult areas as well as regular block types scrubbing brushes. A selection of cloths and sponges should also be at hand and you'll soon see, using commonsense and by trial and error which area most suited to different areas of the bike.

Beware of high pressure hoses and jet washes because they can damage paintwork and wash away grease from inside bearings but access to a small jet wash is a massive help in cleaning mud and grime from your motorcycle, especially for cleaning wheels. An ordinary hose will be almost as good but if you don't have either you can improvise with an old spray bottle or failing that you're down to a good old bucket of water!

A fantastic finishing tip is to take your motorcycle for a ride after cleaning to evaporate and water from the clean to avoid it standing on the motorbike and creating rust.

Learn more about this author, Lee Gee.
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