Clean your motorbike, that’s the way to get it really clean!

Cleaning a motorbike is a lot more work than washing a car, as it has a lot of small parts that need to be cleaned thoroughly.
The maintenance of a motorbike is not primarily about the appearance of your bike - an experienced motorcyclist usually uses this opportunity to check whether the motorbike is still in good technical condition. So if you're planning to clean your bike, it's a good idea to check the tread depth and tyre pressure. You should also check the brake pads and the tension of the drive chain. In addition, you should check whether you notice any leaks on the engine and whether the cables are worn. Check the chrome parts for rust and whether the battery needs distilled, demineralised water. Don't forget to check the screws, the lights and the oil and coolant.
Even if this sounds like a lot of work at first glance, always remember that a regular check increases the running time of your motorbike and ensures a safe ride.

Cleaning

To clean your bike thoroughly, you need to find a suitable place to wash it, as it is not permitted to clean vehicles on the open road. A petrol station or a garage entrance are better places for this. Also, be careful not to stand in the blazing sun or on a sandy surface.
Before washing your machine, it must be completely cool. For this reason, you should never clean it after a long ride!
First of all, spray the bike thoroughly with a special cleaning agent. We recommend Procycle Gel Special Cleaner. Of course, it doesn't have to be this one, but it's best to use one with a gel texture, as it sticks everywhere. On very dirty areas such as the rear wheel or the engine, you need to use a lot of the cleaner. The Procycle pressure pump sprayer is particularly suitable for this. Then let the cleaner work according to the instructions. Ist dies geschehen, kannst du mit dem Waschen anfangen. Am besten nimmst Du dazu einen Eimer voll Wasser sowie einen Schwamm und reinigst die Maschine gründlich von oben bis unten. Dabei solltest Du nichts auslassen. Denk daran auch verdeckte Ecken und Winkel gründlich zu putzen. Achte immer darauf, nicht zu viel Druck auszuüben, sowie den Schwamm oft genug mit Wasser auszuwaschen, damit keine Kratzer im Lack entstehen. For hard-to-reach areas on the engine or rear suspension, it is best to scrub with a brush. If there is insect dirt on the headlight or the touring window, it is better to use an insect remover.
If you don't have chrome rims, you can also clean your rims with a brush and a special rim cleaner. While you're at it, it's also a good idea to take a quick look at the brake discs. If they are very dirty, it is advisable to clean them with brake cleaner.

Finally, rinse the motorbike thoroughly with a hose and clean water. It is better not to use a high-pressure cleaner to avoid damage.
When rinsing, make sure that all residues have been rinsed off, as these can attack the aluminium parts and screws in the long run.

Finally, use a leather cloth to thoroughly dry all parts. This prevents the formation of water stains.

Polish

A polish is, of course, mainly intended to give your bike the perfect shine. For painted parts, it is recommended to use a paint care product or hard wax. This not only gives the paintwork a high-quality look, but also protects it from environmental influences. Don't worry about small scratches in the paintwork, you can get rid of them without any problems. We recommend using a special polish such as S100 Paint and Plastic Polish, which contains fine abrasive particles so that you can polish out the scratches without any problems. For large areas of your motorbike, it is best to use a special polishing pad. While you're at it, you can also apply wax to chrome and metal to protect them from rust and water.

When you have spread the wax all over, wait about 10 minutes for it to dry and then polish it off with a very soft, clean cloth or a special fleece. Always polish lengthwise and in circular motions to protect the paintwork.

If you really want everything to be perfect, it is best to rub the unpainted plastic parts with a special plastic care product to protect them from drying out and dulling due to sunlight and other environmental influences. You can also clean the seat. A special seat care product can be used for this, for example from the S100 brand.

Chrome parts should not be ignored. For weathered parts such as the rear silencer, it is a good idea to use a polishing cotton wool or a special chrome polish, e.g. from Procycle. Don't forget the fork tubes, because if they are dirty they can damage the fork seals during compression. If it bothers you that chrome parts have rust spots on the surface, you can also get rid of this with a metal polish. With these products, you proceed in exactly the same way as with paint polish: first apply, then allow to dry and finally polish out!

For painted engine parts, you should avoid products containing wax. At best, you should spray them with WD-40 multi-purpose oil to protect them. Other galvanised parts, such as carburettor housings or bolt heads, also appreciate a little protection and care.

Never use oil for modern Teflon cables! There is a special "Bowden cable spray" for this purpose.

Finally, check the chain for dirt. A special chain cleaner is also recommended for cleaning. However, make sure that nothing gets on your rims or tyres, because you have already cleaned them. When the chain is dry, you can spray it with a chain spray so that it is nicely greased.

The best thing to do is to check again that your motorbike is really free of cleaning residues and that everything has dried and evaporated before you get back on the bike.

Everything you need for thorough cleaning:

• Bucket and sponge
• leather cloth
• Various brushes
• Gel cleaner
• Paint preservative
• Multipurpose oil
• Chrome polish
• Aluminium polish
• Plastic cleaner
• Vinyl cleaner
• Chain spray
• clean, soft cloths
• special fleece