How to Clean Your Dirt Bike

After a muddy and fun-filled day on the dirt track, you’ll need to give your motorcycle a thorough cleaning. Washing your dirt bike can seem like a nightmare with the amount of mud covering it, but the process is actually very important to keep your motorcycle in good shape. Many riders simply want to head straight to the car wash and blast their bike with a pressure washer hose. However, doing this to your bike can actually wear down the foam inside your seat and also damage the rubber seals and brake pads.

Cleaning your dirt bike isn’t rocket science, but it does take a little more than simple soap and water to get the job done. That’s why Barnes Bros. Motorcycles & Off-Road, your premier dirt bike dealer near Washington, PA, has provided these tips to help you get started. If you want to get yourself a new set of wheels, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at our dealership in Canonsburg.

Gather Your Supplies

Once you’re ready to start washing your dirt bike, gather all the supplies you’ll need and bring them to your designated cleaning spot. There are many cleaners out there to choose from, so just make sure to pick something that’s suitable for use on your specific model. You’ll want to get some good quality sponges for removing the stubborn grime. Other key items include brushes for spoked wheels, rags for drying, and a microfiber cloth for the final touches.

Spray Your Dirt Bike

Before you lather up your motorcycle, be sure to plug up the exhaust with a glove, rag, or rubber plug. Your main goal is to keep the water out of the exhaust pipe. This is especially important if the exhaust pipe is at an angle because it can pool up inside as you wash.

Next, spray down your motorcycle with a mixture of a bike cleaner and water to loosen up some of the grime. This will help remove any stubborn bits before you begin the more intense washing. Once you start cleaning, remember that less is more when it comes to friction. The harder you scrub, the more likely you are to drag dirt across your bike’s finish.

When rinsing, be careful about the amount of water pressure you apply to the bike. Use a standard hose to rinse instead of a pressure washer to avoid knocking your bike over or damaging its internal components.

Scrubbing

Soap up your sponge and start at the top of your bike, scrubbing downward to let all the dirt run to the ground. Use the correct chemicals for the surface you’re working on, whether it’s chrome or plastic. Rinse your sponge often to remove the grime. It’s also wise to refresh your bucket with clean water if it gets really dirty. It might sound a bit tricky, but do your best to prevent soap and water from getting onto your bike’s chain and brakes. You should also avoid scrubbing these parts too roughly.

Rinse & Dry

As you lather up the bike, don’t let it sit for a long time before rinsing it off. Streaks found after washing are a result of dry soap, so remember to work at a consistent pace. You want to get rid of any leftover residue. The process is the same for drying, so don’t waste any time. You don’t want to let water sit on your dirt bike and corrode valuable components. 

An air compressor can speed up this process and quickly dry those interior parts. Don’t ride your bike while it’s wet to try and dry it off, because it won’t really work and you’ll never be able to get the water out of the crevices. Plus, you could collect more dirt on your wet bike, which will eventually require you to repeat the whole cleaning process.

Final Touches

Now that your dirt bike is dry, you’ll want to add some final touches with a little bit of lubricant. Give your chain some TLC with a good re-lubing as the soap and water would have washed away the lubricant. A nice waxing and polishing will help protect the finish, plus it will make your dirt bike look shiny and clean.

We hope that this dirt bike cleaning guide has been useful. If you have any questions or if you’re interested in checking out our wide selection of dirt bikes for sale, get in touch with us at Barnes Bros. Motorcycles & Off-Road in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. We proudly serve all our patrons visiting us from Pittsburgh.