Infinity Motorcycles
Giving advice on motorcycle cleaning is a tough one, because there’s a big difference between each motorcycle, and a huge difference in how much time each person wants to spend on cleaning their bike. Some people want to keep their motorbike ‘showroom shiny’ all year round whilst others are happy just to keep the flies off of their headlights.
Some people have access to hoses, jet washes, compressors and unlimited power, whilst others have to make do with what they can on the street. If you’re one of those people who have to make do without water or want the best clean you can get in a hurry then we recommend Vulcanet.
Vulcanet is a fast, simple cleaning product suitable for cars as well as motorcycles. No water is required to clean your motorcycle - simply wipe with the Vulcanet cloth and buff with the included micro fibre cloth. It is so effective that it has won awards and recently got a very favourable mention in a ‘Bike’ magazine cleaner test. If you’d like free demonstration then come on in to an Infinity store and we’ll happily show you how good Vulcanet is.
Don't think that what you need is dishwashing liquid! It contains large amounts of salt which is happy to eat away at your bike whilst only doing an average job of cleaning it. A proper motorcycle cleaner has been chemically designed to do the job as effectively as possible without damaging your valuable machine. That’s why we sell Muc Off, but not Fairy liquid!
If you want a complete solution to your cleaning problems then have a look at the value packed Muc Off cleaning kit. As well as the bike wash and bike spray, you get very effective cleaning brushes, a quality large sized microcell sponge, a premium microfibre cloth and you can even use the container it all comes in as a wash bucket.
A simple spray on with Muc Off Bike Wash, (top rated cleaner in Bike Magazines' recent test)a quick rub over with a sponge and a quick rinse with a hose is the simplest way to clean your bike, but if you’re a bit fussier, or maybe you’re selling your bike and want to get top dollar for it then read on.
If your bike doesn’t have a centre stand then investing in a paddock stand is a good idea. It means that your machine can be supported securely and allows you to adjust your chain, or in this case to remove your rear wheel to help clean your bike more efficiently. Don’t forget those disposable gloves, the dirt has to go somewhere and keeping it off of yourself makes clean up time a lot easier.
If you want to do a really good job of cleaning your motorcycle, then remove the lower bodywork and the rear wheel. This gives you much better access to areas that are visible but hard to reach. If you’re really going for it then remove your chain guard and front sprocket cover, you won’t believe how much gunk gets trapped in this area.
To tackle the accumulated grime and gunk that you’ve just revealed get hold of a rubber spatula or a flat piece of wood to scrape the gunge away. It’s important to use something that’s softer than the surface you’re scraping to avoid unnecessary scratches. Don’t use a chisel or a screwdriver, and be wary of scourers as well.
To help you shift the dirt and grease at the back of the bike use WD40 or GT85 which are great products for this task. It’s best to use a degreaser to clean off the residue afterwards but you’ll be amazed at how well the Muc-off cleaner removes the accumulated gunk.
Cleaning the rear wheel when it is out of the bike is a bit easier and having access to that mucky swingarm without the wheel in the way is a real bonus. Go easy on the chain with the GT85, it’ll clean the chain just fine, but it will also clean the lube out of the links so don’t spray it directly onto the chain, instead wet a cloth with it and give the chain a quick rub. A good quality chain cleaner is designed to clean and then evaporate without damaging the links; we recommend the Muc Off chain cleaner for this task. Don’t forget to lube your chain when everything is back together, it’s best to do this with a warm chain after a ride, but it’s essential after a good wash to avoid chain rusting.
To help you with the rubbing and scrubbing we supply a wide range of bespoke cleaning brushes to help you get to those hard to reach areas.
If you’re taking old stickers or tank protectors off it’s best to use a hair dryer on a low setting. Be careful though and make sure the tank is closed.
To finish off use a good quality polish such as Muc Off Miracle Shine polish to get that perfect shine. Put the polish on a clean cloth and apply, you get less residue this way than putting the polish straight on to your machine.
Use Muc Off Bike Spray or GT85 to protect the alloy areas you’ve just cleaned to help prevent oxidisation, especially on un-plated areas of the bike. If you're using your motorcycle when the roads have been salted, it could well be worth investing in an anti-corrosion spray like ACF50.
© Infinity Motorcycles 2013
RDM (UK) Limited trading as Infinity Motorcycles
Company No. 06400968 | VAT No. 918803116
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