How To Wash A Motorcycle: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Wash a Motorcycle PDF download Download Article Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Approved

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  • Pre-Cleaning Your Motorcycle
    • |
  • Washing the Body
    • |
  • Detailing Your Ride
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 85% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 497,604 times.

Washing your motorcycle isn’t just about keeping your sweet ride looking great. If you don’t wash your bike regularly and correctly, you’ll risk damaging its looks and its parts. Giving your dirty motorcycle a bath, however, doesn’t require more than some basic supplies like water, a sponge, and detergent. Polish up details like the wheels and any chrome before you finish, and your bike will soon be turning heads again.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Pre-Cleaning Your Motorcycle

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  1. Step 1 Let your bike cool down. 1 Let your bike cool down. Spraying water all over a hot engine is a recipe for disaster: the sudden change in temperature can crack the engine block. Even if you’ve just gone down a wet country road and your motorcycle’s caked in mud, let it cool down before you begin.[1]
  2. Step 2 Get your cleaning gear together. 2 Get your cleaning gear together. While you’re waiting for your motorcycle to cool down, why not grab the supplies you’ll need to clean it? All of the supplies you’ll need can be found at your local auto or motorcycle shop. Make sure to gather:[2]
    • A bucket
    • A clean sponge or two
    • Several clean, dry cloths (chamois or microfiber)
    • Degreaser and/or WD-40
    • An old toothbrush (to help clean tight places)
    • Auto/motorcycle wax (optional)
    • Bug and tar remover (if needed)
    • Chrome cleaner (if needed)
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 3 Start by cleaning the chain. If your motorcycle has a chain, getting the dirt and grease off of it first is a smart move. This keeps the grime from splashing all over the rest of your bike while you’re trying to clean it. Use an approved chain degreaser if you can find one at your local shop. Spray it on the chain to loosen debris, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.[3]
    • WD-40 will also work as a solvent to loosen grease and dirt.
    • Make sure to apply lubricant to your chain again once you are done cleaning your motorcycle.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 4 Clean the non-chrome engine parts with water and solvent. Before starting on the body, take care of any other nooks and crannies around the engine area that need special attention. Dip an old toothbrush in clean, cool water and gently scrub dirt and debris away. Spray WD-40 on the gunk if you need extra help removing it.
    • Generally, however, keep away from the brake lines and bearings. Getting water into these areas can cause corrosion and other problems.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Washing the Body

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 1 Rinse the bike with cool water. This will help loosen any dirt and rinse as much of it away as possible, making the cleaning process easier. Just make sure to use a gentle stream of water from a hose. High-pressure sprays can damage the finish, paint or other materials, and should be avoided.[4]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 2 Rub the whole body with a soft sponge or cloth. A little elbow grease at this point will help remove additional grime. Dip a sponge or soft cloth in a bucket of cool water, and wipe it all over the body of your motorcycle.[5]
    • If you are cleaning your bike to remove salt from it (such as after riding on a winter road), just use water in this way, then skip to waxing it. Using detergents or other cleaners might make the salt problem worse.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 3 Clean plastic parts with slightly soapy water. If your motorcycle has plastic parts on the body, it’s just fine to use an approved auto detergent. Add some to a bucket of cool water, and wipe the parts with a sponge dipped in the suds.[6]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 4 Rinse the entire motorcycle again. After you’ve cleared off all the muck and grime from your bike, grab your hose again. Use a gentle spray to wash away the last of the dirt and any traces of suds. If there’s not much to clear off, you can also dip a clean sponge into clear, cool water, and use this to rinse the bike.[7]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 5 Wipe off excess water and let your bike dry. Take a dry chamois or microfiber cloth and gently rub down your motorcycle. This will wick away the water left on it, so that there won’t be any water spots left as your bike air-dries.[8]
    • Don’t let your motorcycle dry in direct sunlight, since this can also cause water spots.
  6. Step 6 Buff your seat with an approved protectant. 6 Buff your seat with an approved protectant. Motorcycle seats can be made from a variety of materials. Vinyl and leather are the most common. Vinyl seats are quite tough, but can fade and crack over time. Use an approved vinyl protectant to halt these problems. Leather seats are more delicate, but using a leather care cream will protect yours.
    • Protectants for vinyl and leather can be found at any auto or motorcycle supply store.
    • Do not use detergents on leather.
    7. Advertisement
Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Detailing Your Ride

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  1. Step 1 Remove stubborn bug grime. 1 Remove stubborn bug grime. Any biker knows that a nice ride can leave your motorcycle looking like you waged war against a swarm of flies. If your motorcycle is caked in bug goo, soak it liberally with bug and tar remover. After the grime is loosened, use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe it away, and another damp one to remove any leftover residue.
  2. Step 2 Clean aluminium wheels with soapy water. 2 Clean aluminium wheels with soapy water. Many modern bikes have lightweight aluminum wheels. If you want to clean yours, use only soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse with water and wipe with a dry cloth.[9]
    • Abrasive cleaners or tools can damage the finish or paint on wheels, so avoid these.
    • If you have traditional chrome wheels, use chrome cleaner instead.
  3. Step 3 Use car or motorcycle wax for added protection. 3 Use car or motorcycle wax for added protection. A quality wax can protect the finish of your bike and keep dirt and grime away. Apply this after the rest of your bike is thoroughly cleaned. Follow the directions on your commercial wax spray or rub. Each product will have slightly different instructions.[10]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Wash a Motorcycle 4 Spray protectant on your bearings. The bearings are one of a motorcycle's most important but delicate parts. A dedicated protective spray will help coat the bearings and keep moisture and dirt at bay. See your chosen product’s package for the exact application instructions.[11]
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

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  • Question How do I use polishes to clean a motorcycle? Community Answer Community Answer A good quality auto or motorcycle wax will do a great job cleaning your bike. Chrome polish can be used on chrome parts, if your motorcycle has any. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 13
  • Question Can water be added to every part of the motorcycle, including the engine? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, water does not effect the engine, but be sure not to force water down the exhaust pipe, as this is a direct link to the interior portion of the engine. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 26
  • Question Is there a problem with replacing a 100cc bike engine with a 120cc engine? CrayFish715 CrayFish715 Community Answer Just make sure your other systems (like your chain, sprockets, tires, brakes, etc.) can take the extra power. It shouldn't be too much of a problem with a small jump in power. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

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Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

  • Use only approved auto or motorcycle products for cleaning your bike. Detergents and solvents not intended for cleaning vehicles may harm your motorcycle’s finish, paint, or parts. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
  • Test your motorcycle’s brakes and lubricate the drive chain before riding to ensure that it is safe for use.[12] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Don’t put any protectant sprays on the hand or foot controls, the seat or the tire treads. Cleaning products can make these surfaces slippery, and your motorcycle may then become dangerous to operate.[13] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-dos-and-donts-of-washing-a-motorcycle-part-one-97915.html
  2. ↑ https://www.webbikeworld.com/top-10-tips-washing-motorcycle/
  3. ↑ https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-dos-and-donts-of-washing-a-motorcycle-part-one-97915.html
  4. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  5. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  6. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  7. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  8. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  9. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
More References (4)
  1. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  2. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  3. ↑ https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/my-bike/maintenance/cleaning.html
  4. ↑ https://www.cyclefish.com/forums/topic/27/keeping-your-bike-clean-the-right-way

About This Article

Jason Shackelford Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 497,604 times. 71 votes - 85% Co-authors: 37 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 497,604 Categories: Featured Articles | Motorcycles Article SummaryX

To wash a motorcycle, start by spraying a degreaser or WD-40 on your chain, and wiping it with a clean cloth. Next, dip an old toothbrush in clean, cool water and gently scrub dirt and debris off of the small areas around the engine area. Then, use a gentle stream of cool water from a hose to rinse the body of your motorcycle. Additionally, dip a sponge or soft cloth in cool water and wipe it all over your motorcycle. If your motorcycle has any plastic parts, clean them with slightly soapy water, rinse entire body again, and wipe off any excess water with a soft cloth. To learn how to clean your motorcycle’s wheels, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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    "I have my first motorcycle in over 30 years. The information presented in this article was well researched. I..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Jason Shackelford Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Co-authors: 37 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 497,604 85% of readers found this article helpful. 71 votes - 85% Click a star to add your vote David Pirozzi

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"I have my first motorcycle in over 30 years. The information presented in this article was well researched. I..." more Anonymous

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