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There are numerous tips and products on the market for helping you get your bike as clean as possible with minimal fuss, but whether these products work is another matter. Obviously you want to keep your bike in as good a condition as possible in order to keep your bike insurance costs down, yet you might not know the best way to go about cleaning your bike. Here is a handy 6-step process that should set you on your way.
1. Don’t use water to clean your bike. I like to describe water as “nature’s catalyst” as it can cause any number of reactions to happen in the pipes of your motorbike, especially in deep-down areas where you are unable to inspect any possible damage. Water is also the number one cause of rust, again in areas that might not be immediately noticeable. The best thing to use is appropriate chemical cleaners, as recommended by experts, as these are designed to perform a specific job.
2. Collect together all your cleaning materials, such as your wipe-down cloth, metal cleaner and micro-fiber towels. All specialist bike shops will stock the appropriate cleaning equipment, many of which will be necessary to all bikers and some of which that will be specific to certain bikes and designs.
3. Review all areas to be cleaned. You will probably want to make written notes of the specific areas to be cleaned as it is not so easy to spot them twice! Don’t just check over the exterior of the bike, but look into any openings that you can so you can get a good overview of everything that needs cleaning.
4. When cleaning, work on the bike in sections. Some people like to work “top to bottom” whilst others go “front to back”. One of the best ways to go about cleaning your bike is by working on the handlebars, mirrors, front lights and front controls first, then moving on to the foot controls and exhaust system on the left, working round to the back wheel then completing a full circle by cleaning the right-hand side. This should be finished off with an entire clean of the underside of the bike, as this is the part that collects the most dirt and grime. It might be worth cleaning the painted areas and frame elements twice, but this is down to the personal discretion of the biker.
5. Shine and seal all the surfaces of the bike with equipment that you can buy at specialist shops. This should be applied to all areas of the bike, even those that are hard to reach and not visible to the naked eye. Remember, keeping your bike clean isn’t just about making it look nice, but it about making it perform better and maintain its value in the future.
6. Step back, grab a nice cold drink and admire your handiwork!
If you perform this process correctly and in its entirety, then it should take upwards of 4 or 5 hours. This only really applies to new bikes or bikes that have been well looked-after over time. Older, poorer quality bikes can take much longer to complete, sometimes around 10 hours in total to ensure that a good and proper job is done.
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