Do you know how to clean your motorcycle? Follow these tips

by Pooja Late so cut

If you own a motorcycle, you know what an investment it is. While people may assume that these smaller vehicles are cheaper than cars, the truth is that many motorcycles are much more expensive. That is why it's important to protect your bikes with a motorcycle cover and make certain they're maintained properly. Otherwise, you may find that your motorcycle no longer looks as nice or even runs correctly.

How to Clean Your Motorcycle

If your motorcycle needs to be washed, you may be tempted to take it directly to a commercial car wash. Don't! First, you never want to wash your motorcycle right after you've ridden it, so unless you're taking it to a car wash on a trailer, a commercial car wash is out. This is because you should never put cold water directly onto a hot engine. Don't wash your bike on the street, either. Instead, wash it in your driveway or, if possible, in your backyard.

The time of day is also important. The direct sunlight of mid-afternoon can cause the detergents and other chemicals found in washing fluids to dry before you have a chance to rinse them off your bike. This can leave streaks, mineral deposits, and more directly on your motorcycle.

How often should you wash your bike?

If you wash your bike too often, it can actually cause some lubricants to be washed away. However, if you don't, you may not notice damaged parts or leaks, plus it can be very difficult to get squashed bugs off if they are on your bike for too long. If you come back from a ride with a dirty bike, wash it off as soon as you can. If you don't ride that often or don't get your bike that dirty, you can probably get by with a basic wash once every month or so.

Ways of Protecting Your Motorcycle

When you're not riding your motorcycle, you want to make certain that it's protected from the wind, rain, and other elements by covering it from motorcycle covers. To that end, you want to keep it in a garage or other shelter whenever possible. If you don't have a garage, you can park it in a small storage shed or, if you're not going to ride it for several months or more, even rent a small storage unit for your bike. Then you want to cover your motorcycle with a motorcycle cover. This cover should be long enough to cover most of the bike, plus it needs to be waterproof.

If you have to park your motorcycle outdoors at any time, it's also a good idea to use one of these motorcycle cloth covers. This way, the bike will be protected from the rain and from blowing dirt and bugs.

Also, don't forget to keep your bike in good running condition. It is difficult to protect your engine and other parts when you don't change your oil regularly. Make certain you know how often the oil needs changed and make an appointment to have it done. While the rule of thumb may be every 3,000 miles, today's engines, and oils may be able to go much longer than that. Check your motorcycle's owner's manual.

Author’s Bio

Praise Low in this articles emphasizes why it's important to protect your bikes with a motorcycle cover and make certain they're maintained properly.