Cleaning a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle at Home

Are you looking for a tried and true method to cleaning your Harley-Davidson motorcycle? If you want to keep your bike in prime condition after long drives, check out our step-by-step cleaning routine. Santa Maria Harley-Davidson is your best stop for advice and tips about Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Santa Maria, California. We encourage everyone, including our friends in Ventura and Bakersfield, to check out our current inventory.

Step 1: Gather Materials and Pre-Wash

Beginning with a cool bike, take clean water and rinse it all over, starting from the top. You can easily damage a hot motorcycle with cold water, so take care to let it have time to cool down after riding it. 

Before you get into a thorough wash, you should have all your supplies on hand, too. These materials include a wash mitt or rag, a detailing cloth, a soft cloth, and specialized cleaning solution.

Step 2: Thoroughly Wash from the Bottom Up

Before washing the rest of the bike, rinse the wheels and tires. Use a special spray-on cleaner and detailing brush that is meant solely for the wheels and tires. Any other type of cleaner is not a safe or effective way to clean this area of your Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 

We recommend using two buckets, one with a mixture of water and cleaning solution and another with clean water. Once you wash each part with the cleaning mixture, rinse everything with the bucket of clean water.

Step 3: Drying

After one final top-down rinse, use a soft towel on every surface. You can work in sections to make it easier to get everything done. A great tip to speed up the hand-dying process is to use a clean, damp towel. Wring out the towel as you go until every part is dry to the touch. This method also prevents anything from drying with streaks or lines.

Step 4: Polishing and Sealing

The last step to keeping your Harley-Davidson motorcycle looking as if it just rolled off the lot is to polish and seal everything thoroughly. Polishing and sealing are time-consuming, but it is the step that adds shine to the metal and repels dust, dirt, and bugs. If you use the appropriate motorcycle sealant and polish as instructed, you can have immediate benefits. 

Keeping your Harley-Davidson motorcycle clean is part of routine maintenance to ensure you can enjoy it for many years to come. We are here to offer our help if you still are unsure about some of the materials or steps for cleaning your bike. Visit Santa Maria Harley-Davidson in Santa Maria, California and learn more from our experienced staff. We also serve Bakersfield and Ventura, California.