Washing Your Sportster® Motorcycle

Now with your Sportster motorcycle out of storage and the sun shining (at least a little bit), you’ll probably start to notice the dust and dirt a bit more. Spring can be a tumultuous time in terms of weather and the combination of dry debris, mud, water, and more can leave your ride in need of a bath. That’s why Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville in Chicago, Illinois, has provided some tips for washing your Sportster motorcycle. Check them out and stop by to chat with our staff about any additional questions you might have.

Gather Your Supplies

First things first, you’ll want to gather all the things you need for your project. This includes some of the standard supplies like motorcycle cleaner (don’t use your car wash detergent), brushes, rags, chamois or microfiber cloths (for drying), and anything else you need to use.

You’ll also need to make sure you can find a good place to wash your motorcycle that not only accommodates for drainage, but also has access to water. Some might be able to use their driveways or a designated vehicle-washing spot provided by a landlord. Others might need to ride to a special location that gives car and motorcycle owners the space and supplies they need. This could require a little searching around the areas near you.

Finally, plug the tailpipe with a rubber plug, rag, glove, or some other item that prevents moisture from getting in.

Hose it Down

Now to finally get started! Spray down the entire motorcycle using a pressure that’s high enough to get some of the looser pieces of dirt off, but not so high that it damages parts of the bike. You can even use a motorcycle spray cleaner to help facilitate getting these bits of mud and dirt off. If you go this route, make sure you hose down the bike one more time before moving on to scrubbing.

Wash

Now it’s time to pull out those rags and thoroughly wash your Sportster. Try not to scrub too hard or use too rough a material to clean the bike. You want to avoid damaging the paint or other parts of the ride. Wash small areas and rinse off the suds before they can dry on. Also rinse off the rag you’re using to avoid washing with dirty water.

Some bike owners might be concerned about getting water on the inner workings of the bike. A little bit of water is okay. After all, it has to hold up in the rain. But there’s no need to scrub chains. They require slightly different cleaning strategies.

Rinse

Even if you’ve rinsed off the suds as you’ve been washing, once you’re completely done, give your Sportster one final rinsing to ensure the last of the soap is off. This is the best way to prevent dried-on soap scum.

Dry

The drying process is important. While you might be tempted to let your Sportster air dry, this can lead to streaking, so it’s better to pat it down with a dry cloth, chamois, or microfiber cloth to soak up the moisture. Even taking it for a ride to let the wind dry it off isn’t ideal. There are spots that are shielded from the wind as you ride, meaning they won’t get completely dry in the process.

If there’s a hard to reach place that you can’t seem to dry with your hands, consider getting a blow dryer or even a can of compressed air to blow out the excess moisture.

Final Touches

At the end, there are a few final touch ups you’ll want to think about. This can include polishing and waxing for that extra-special shine. You can also think about using tire shine on your wheels for that fresh-off-the-lot blackness.

You might also want to lubricate moving parts, especially since you probably just washed off some of the old lubricant. After all, you might as well make the inside as shiny and new as the outside, so consider performing any maintenance the Sportster might be in need of.

With all this in mind, it’s time to start cleaning! Your Sportster will look like new once you’re done, or stop by Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville to check out some of the Sportsters we have available right now. We’re right across from Wrigley Field, so visit us today!