All Harley-Davidson Motorcycles are built to serve a purpose, not turn heads. Since they are made for function rather than form, it may take some extra effort on your part to bring out their beauty with cleaning and detailing products. To keep your motorcycle clean and shining, you should ensure that you use the right cleaning products. This article will provide an overview of the best cleaning products for Harley Davidson you should use and the cleaning guide. However, if you do not want to do a detailed study due to a busy schedule, you can take a look at the top cleaning kits.
Best Harley Cleaning Kits – Meguiar’s Motorcycle Cleaning Kit
Best Harley Cleaning Brush – TAKAVU Master Brush
Best Quick Cleaner & Bug Remover – WIZARDS Quick Kit
Best Harley Detailing Tools – Pimp Stixxx Detailing System
Different Harley Davidson Cleaning Tools
Harley-Davidson has all sorts of products for keeping your motorcycle shiny and clean. These include:
- Wash mitt
- Softstrips
- Soft detailing pad
- Wheel & spoke brush
- Soft detailing cloth & drying towel
- Blaster motorcycle dryer
- Tire and rim brush
- Soap concentrate
- Bug remover
- Glaze polish & sealant
- Harley matte black & denim paint detailer
- Chrome cleaner & polisher
- Leather cleaner
- Air filter cleaner
- Carburetor dirt remover
- Engine cleaner & brightener
Best Cleaning Products For Harley Davidson
Checklist – How to Clean Your Harley Davidson Motorcycle
Step 1: Wash
Clean your bike with a wet sponge and mild soap. Ensure that the surface is thoroughly wet before you begin washing. Use a hose pipe with a jet setting to remove stubborn dirt. Wash each section of the bike, one at a time. Begin by cleaning the handlebars and controls.
Step 2: Rinse
When you’ve finished washing, remove all the soap residue by rinsing your motorcycle with a hose. Ensure that you rinse it carefully. Rinse any corrosive dirt or debris from the bike to avoid staining or etching paintwork.
Step 3: Cleaning
After rinsing with clean water, use an automotive cleaner to remove stubborn stains. Gunk Motorcycle Cleaner is an excellent example of this type of product.
Step 4: Wipe Down
After cleaning your motorcycle with a cleaner or water, wipe it down with a soft cloth to remove excess moisture. You can also use a microfiber cloth to wipe your bike.
Step 5: Wheels and Tires
You can maintain these parts by cleaning them regularly with a brush to remove any corrosive tar or grime. Apply tire gel to prevent rusting and rotting.
Step 6: Clean Your Engine
Clean it regularly with a degreaser that will break down the grime and leave behind a protective layer. Use an engine spray afterward to keep it looking new and prevent rust.
Step 7: Cleaning and Lubricating Your Chain
To prevent your chain from becoming dry or rusty over time, consider oiling it at least once a month with a lubricant specifically designed for this purpose.Â
Step 8: Protect Your Paintwork
Washing your motorcycle is essential in protecting your paintwork. You can achieve this by using a wax or vinyl protectant like P21S 100% Carnauba Wax.
Possible Costs to Detail an H-D by Professionals
The average cost of a motorcycle detail is from $200 to 600 $. This price includes vacuuming, steam cleaning, shampooing the seat and carpets, applying leather conditioner, polishing chrome and metal parts, scrubbing engines & transmissions, air fresheners, etc. You can expect to pay about $100 more if your motorcycle is extremely dirty or has a lot of chrome.
How Often Should You Clean Your H-D?
The frequency to clean your Harley is highly dependent on where it spends its time. Dirt, mud, road salt, water are all things you should consider in your cleaning routine. If you only ride in dry, sunny weather, your Harley will likely need less frequent cleaning than someone that rides through rainstorms and salt on the highway. Take into account where you live and your riding conditions to determine how often to clean your motorcycle.
Can you pressure wash a Harley?
Pressure washing a Harley is not advised. The Harley Davidson Motor Company recommends that pressure washing be used to clean motorcycles only if the high-pressure water is first filtered through a non-metallic screen to remove any particles that could damage the finish.
However, even with this precaution and the suitable pressure washer and attachments, you should know that Harley Davidson also recommends against using a power washer on some bike components. Like: Engine cases and covers, Swingarm assemblies, gears, sprockets and drive chains, Exhaust systems, Chromed or anodized components. It is always good to check the manufacturer’s recommendations before using a pressure washer on any motorcycle.
Can you use Windex or Glass Cleaner to clean a Harley?
When choosing a cleaner for your motorcycle, use a product that is designed for motorcycle cleaning. Some products were explicitly made for motorcycles. If not, then read the label. The bottle should tell you on what surfaces it was designed to be used. It is safe to avoid any damage. Windex or other glass cleaners are safe to use on surfaces but are not meant for cleaning motorcycle plastics. If you need to use a cleaner that is safe for your bike but doesn’t have motorcycle-specific marketing, look for something with a very mild degreaser in it.
Cleaning Harley Matte Black and Denim Paint
Harley Davidson motorcycles are painted to look vintage. Popular colors include silver, black, matte black, and denim. The motorcycle must be cleaned using the following process to achieve this unique appearance:
- Use a soft cloth that will not scratch the paint job and a soap made for motorcycle engines.
- Pour about one cup of water into the bucket and add two teaspoons of engine soap.
- Mix it well with your hands to make sure it is mixed well, then pour in another four cups of water to dilute it.
- Dip the cloth in the mixture and wipe down the surface of the motorcycle from top to bottom
- Rinse with a new clean cloth dipped in clean water to achieve the matte black and denim look.
How do you clean chrome on a Harley?
Step 1. Make sure that the chrome is cool.
Step 2: Mix a TSP solution in warm water.
Step 3: Soak a sponge or rag with the TSP solution and use it to scrub your Harley’s chroming metallic surface. This removes all of the oxidation, corrosion, rust, and chrome loss from its chroming metallic surface.
Step 4: Rinse off your Harley’s chromatic metallic surface with water.
Step 5: Use WD-40 to protect your Harley’s chromatic metallic surface from the elements.
Step 6: Use a large soft microfiber towel to polish your Harley’s chromatic metallic surface, if desired. Let the chrome dry first before buffing it with a soft cloth, or use a different material for polishing the chrome.
Can You Use Car Detailing Tools to Clean Your Harley?
Car detailing tools aren’t necessarily made to be used on motorcycles. This is because the shapes of a car and a bike are very different. It means some products might work perfectly on your Harley, but others won’t. Some car detailing tools will work perfectly with the shape of your Harley Davidson motorcycles, like Waterless Car Polish Kit, Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, and Electric Air Compressor.
Washing with Water and Soap – Good or Bad for Harley
Washing your motorcycle with soap and water will not cause damage to your engine, but the process must be done correctly. Water alone is suitable for cleaning most surfaces of your bike. A solution of water and dish soap works very well. Allow the motorcycle to dry completely.Â
Concluding Remarks
Your Harley-Davidson motorcycle should be cleaned regularly for the best possible results, mainly before you apply any polish or wax. Be sure to clean thoroughly in direct sunlight, use car wash soap, cool water and microfiber towels. It is always a good idea to use spray polymer sealant, wax and a coat of polish to put the final touches on after cleaning your bike. Be sure not to leave any droplets of water on the bike as it will spot. The outcome will depend upon the quality of the product used.
