Detailing Motorcycle | Tools and Tips

I have a friend who will happily go all year without ever washing his truck. He believes that sitting out in a rainstorm is the only washing his RAM 1500 will even need.

That same friend details his motorcycle after every single ride. He wouldn’t dream of letting his baby sit around dirty, and he takes great pride in every gleaming surface on his Road King.

My friend is not that unusual. Motorcyclists love to keep their bikes clean and shiny.

I’d argue that keeping your bike clean is the first step toward keeping your bike running well. When you wash, dry and polish your bike, you are forced to examine every nook and cranny of the body, wheels and engine. If anything is loose or leaking, you’ll know right away, and you’ll have a chance to fix little problems before they become big problems. So, detailing is a good habit.

Proper detailing is more than just spraying your bike with a hose and toweling it off with an old T-shirt.

Here are a few tools that I consider essential for successful detailing:

1. Two clean wash buckets
2. A washing mitt
3. Microfiber drying towels
4. Soft washing brush – boar’s bristle is best
5. Detailing brush – an old toothbrush works well
6. Motorcycle-specific liquid soap – my current favorite is Harley-Davidson SunWash
7. Chrome polish – my favorite is Flitz Paste Polish
8. A good rolling mechanic’s stool or creeper seat
9. An air compressor with blower attachment
10. High quality paste wax and polish
11. Leather conditioner and/or vinyl protector

And here are a few top tips about how to use those tools to detail your bike:

1. Find a spot out of direct sunlight where you can wash, dry and detail your bike.
2. Never wash your bike while the engine is hot. Wait at least 30 minutes after riding.
3. Don’t use high pressure water spray to wash your bike. Water can force its way into electrical connections, seals and other places where it can do damage. Wash and rinse with easy water flow.
4. Use the “two bucket” method to wash. Put soap and water in one bucket; clean water in the other. Gather soapy water on your mitt, gently wash surfaces on the bike, then rinse your mitt in the clean water. Gather more soapy water, wash, repeat. When the clean rinse water gets dirty, dump it, rinse the bucket, and get more clean rinse water. This way, you avoid returning dirt and contaminants to your bike’s surface.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cool clean water from the hose.
6. Dry immediately with clean microfiber towels.
7. Use the air compressor to blow water out of crevices and tight areas.
8. Dry again with more clean microfiber towels.
9. Apply wax, and immediately buff off with microfiber towels.
10. Polish wheels, chrome and metal, being careful to avoid getting polish on paint surfaces. Luckily, you have already applied wax to the paint, so you’ll be protected against minor drips.
11. Re-apply wax (if necessary) where polish has touched paint.
12. Clean and condition leather seat or vinyl seat, buff with microfiber towels.
13. Polish windshield and light covers.

This process describes basic motorcycle detailing. You may have special requirements on your bike, and you’ll acquire and develop special tools to make the job easier and more effective. For instance, my Sportster has wire spoke wheels, which are a chore to keep shining. I use Luster Lace Cleaning Strips, which wrap around the spokes to clean from end to end.

The internet can be your best friend when it comes to detailing tips, tricks and tools. Just be careful to avoid harsh chemicals, abrasives and cleaners while you work. The rule of thumb for detailing is to always start with the gentlest cleaning method available, and work your way toward more aggressive methods only when necessary. Clean, pure water, a soft microfiber cloth and some elbow grease can almost always do the trick, especially if you detail your bike on a regular basis. You don’t need to be like my friend and his Road King, but don’t treat your bike like he treats his RAM.

Don’t neglect cleaning while you’re on the road, either. Carry a small detailing kit, and stay at Best Western rider friendly hotels. Most participating hotels have designated motorcycle parking and a bike wash area. They’ll also provide terrycloth towels for quick drying, and best of all, a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for you and your bike.