Maintaining your motorcycle involves more than engine care. Too often, appearance is neglected. Contrary to belief, a quick swipe with any cloth won’t suffice. After investing in your dream bike, you owe it to yourself to preserve its allure.
Fortunately, you don’t need a professional or costly product. Equipped with the right tools, you can protect your bike at home. This guide covers seven proven techniques to guard your motorcycle paint from scratches, corrosion, and fading.
1. Wash Your Motorcycle Regularly
Dirt and muck often accumulate on your bike, especially in hidden corners where you can often forget to clean. These particles can trap moisture against the metal surface, accelerating corrosion and causing the clear coat to deteriorate.
It is recommended that you wash your bike at least twice a week during normal biking conditions.
Pro Tip: Always start from the top to the way down. This way, you do not redistribute dirt.
2. Always Use a Microfiber Cloth for Wiping
Microfiber cloths are specially made for cleaning, compared to a spare piece of fabric you might grab from your old T-shirt. Such clothes are made of more fibres than regular clothes, and hence attract more dirt particles than any other cloth used for cleaning purposes. Additionally, they do not leave any scratch marks and are hence best suited for motorcycle cleaning.
Pro Tip: When using microfiber cloths, invest in multiple pieces—designate specific cloths for washing, drying, and waxing to avoid cross-contamination. At GrandPitstop, you get a combo of 4 microfiber cloths.
3. Avoid Touching Dirty Motorcycle Surface
The grime and dust particles present on your bike can act like sandpaper when rubbed against the painted surface. On touching it with your finger, you would be doing just that, which can cause abrasions that can be difficult to tackle. So, try removing the dry grime using a light brush before the wiping process begins.
4. Apply Paint Sealant on Your Bike
Using a paint sealant is one of the best ways to give a protective finish to your bike’s surface. Unlike wax, which can break down quickly, a sealant chemically bonds with your bike’s paint coating. This creates a protective barrier. Usually, a paint sealant can last from 3 to 6 months, so you should treat the bike’s paint with this only once or twice a year and not more than that.
Pro Tip: Make sure a bonding agent is mixed with the sealant, and the ratio of the solution should strictly be 1 tablespoon of the agent in half cup of sealant. When applying the same, do it in a circular motion on one paint section at a time. When the texture is changed, rub the surface with a towel or microfiber cloth in a similar circular motion.
5. Wax Your Bike Regularly
While a paint sealant provides long-term protection, getting your bike waxed adds an additional layer of protection. This added layer is the one that bears the brunt of daily contaminants like bird droppings, road tar, and UV radiation.
Pro tip: If water no longer beads on your motorcycle's surface, it's time to reapply wax. This simple test tells you when your protective layer has degraded and needs refreshing.
6. Use Room-Temperature Soft Water for Washing
Hard water contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium that can remain as deposits on your bike once the water evaporates. These marks can become permanent if not dealt with soon. Additionally, using warm water while cleaning can expedite reactions like the one stated previously.
Pro Tip: Do not wash your bike in direct sunlight, as it quickens the evaporation process, and you might not get enough time to wipe the surface properly before the chalky mineral deposits start appearing.
7. Repair Damages Immediately
Dents and paint damage are more prone to rust and corrosion compared to an undamaged paint surface. This, in the long term, may prove to be dangerous for the bike as rusted surfaces weaken with time and lose their original properties rather easily.
Conclusion
The time you invest in paint protection pays dividends in multiple ways. Besides the aesthetics of your bike staying intact, your regular maintenance costs will decrease. And most importantly, you protect your bike from the structural integrity and safety being compromised.
Ready to give your motorcycle the protection it deserves? Browse our complete collection of premium motorcycle cleaning and maintenance products.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Is it better to paint or wrap your motorcycle?
A. Wraps are better if you like frequent customization. However, for a protective layer that lasts long, paint would be a better choice.
Q. How long does paint sealant last?
A. Typically, paint sealant lasts for 3-6 months if you ride under normal conditions.