Washing a bike is essential too, as it also comes under the bike maintenance and care of its. There are various methods to wash a bike, and it all depends on the type of equipment and time you have. Unfortunately, all around the world, pollution is a concern for every country, as it is at its peak, especially in India, where most of the population resides. Every one of us falls sick now and then because of pollution; even our two-wheelers
accumulate dust and pollution. And when dirt gets collected on motorcycles, it becomes difficult for bike enthusiasts to go on a long drive.
In this article, we will be elaborating on types of bike washing and what you should do and avoid while washing your bike.
Types of Bike Washing
Let us start discussing about the types of bikes washing and what are its pros and cons.
1. Water Wash
This is the simplest type of wash that you can do at home, too. For this, you just need a bucket full of water and two different types of clothes, i.e., wet and dry. Wet cloth will be soaked into the bucket filled with water, and dry cloth will be used to wipe off the wet area on the bike.
Pros of Water Wash:
• It is an inexpensive method.
• No extra equipment is required.
• Can be done at home.
Cons of Water Wash:
• Excess waste of water.
• It becomes difficult to remove hard stains.
• There are chances that water can be acidic or alkaline, which can harm a bike.
2. Diesel Wash
If there are some grease or oil stains on your bike, this method is very suitable for you. Diesel wash can remove these stains easily. It also avoids rust formation. Moreover, you can wash your bike at home as well. It is regarded as the best washing method for parts that are below the motorcycle.
Pros of Diesel Wash:
• It can easily remove oil and grease stains.
• Prevents rust formation.
• Does not affect the paint quality on metal and plastic surfaces.
• This is the best method to use on the parts below the motorcycle.
Cons of Diesel Wash:
• It is quite expensive as it requires diesel.
• There is a risk involved when performing at home.
3. Shampoo wash:
This is one of the best methods that you can use when washing your bike. There are a lot of automotive shampoos available on the market. Never use regular shampoo or detergents, as they can harm your bike. And normal water washing is also risky because we may never know if the water is alkaline or acidic in nature. Though when shampoo is used with water, its pH level comes to neutral. If you are a new bike owner and don’t know about a shampoo wash, you can run to a service station near you where shampoo wash services for bikes are provided. To do a bike wash, you need the following accessories: water, two buckets, shampoo, and two microfiber clothes.
Pros of Shampoo Wash:
• It easily removes grease and oil stains.
• Makes water pH- neutral.
• It protects the paint and other surfaces of the bike.
• Less expensive and can be performed at home.
Cons of Shampoo Wash:
• It takes a lot of time.
• Require an automotive shampoo.
• High usage of water.
4. Foam Wash
If you don’t have much time to wash your bike with shampoo or diesel, you can choose a foam wash, which will be beneficial to you in removing all types of stains and dirt. But the disadvantage of a foam wash is that you can’t do this at home as it requires various pieces of expensive equipment. It is better to hire a professional team to clean a bike with this method.
Pros of Foam Wash:
• Takes less time.
• The best part is that it removes all the stains and dirt from the bike.
• It secures paint and other surfaces.
Cons of Foam Wash:
• The main disadvantage is that it is expensive, as it requires a pressure washer and
foam sprayer cannon.
• High usage of water.
• Needs more space.
Dry Wash:
It is quite similar to foam washing and is highly used in areas where there is a scarcity of water. Dry washing requires the following equipment: a dry wash spray gun, a dry wash solution spray, and a microfiber cloth.
Pros of Dry Wash:
• Does not require excess water.
• Has the capability to remove all dirt and stains.
• Safeguard the paint and other surfaces.
• Takes very little time.
Cons of Dry Wash:
• It is an expensive method.
• Not at all suitable for a very dirty bike.
• If the bike is accumulated with heavy dirt, it takes time to remove it.
Do’s and Don’ts while washing your bike:
There are certain things that you need to keep in mind while washing your bike. We will first discuss what you should do, and in the next part, we will discuss what you should not do when washing your bike at home or at a service station.
Things need to do:
• Wash your bike in a shaded place
During a bike wash, do remember to wash in a shaded area, as if you wash your bike in a sunny area, there are chances that the soap will dry up fast, thus leaving water streaks and soap marks, which will create a difficulty for you because those marks become difficult to remove. Always try to wash it under a tree or in a garage where sunlight passes at a minimum.
• Make use of two different buckets of water
Using a single bucket of water over and over will decrease the shine of your bike. Therefore, it would be better to use two different buckets of water. If you are washing your bike with automotive shampoo, fill one bucket with water and the other bucket with water and shampoo. Make sure that you first dip a cloth into pure water and then into the bucket filled with shampoo
and water.
• Remember to remove wheels
Before washing your bike, make sure that you have removed the wheels. When the wheels are not there, it will be easier to wash a bike carefully. Besides, it will become easier for you to clean the nooks and crannies of a bike.
• Always use a warm soapy water
It is better to use warm soapy water, as it quickly removes the dirt. All the dirt gets removed within a short time.
Don’ts
• Never use a car shampoo or household soaps for washing
Always remember that your bike is made up of delicate parts, and using household soaps or detergents for washing will make your bike fade, i.e., the shine of your bike will get removed and will affect your bike. If you don’t know which shampoo you should use, in this situation you need to contact the dealer of your motorcycle or ask some bike washing professionals.
• Never wash your bike when engine is hot
When you come back from a long, hectic day, never ever wash your bike because at that time the engine is hot. If you do that, your bike parts can break. Thus, reducing the efficiency of the bike. So, it is better to wait until your bike cools down.
• Don’t forget to clean chain before washing a bike
To wash your bike properly, it is better to clean the chain first. But do not clean a chain with a regular piece of cloth; rather, use special products or brushes that can clean chains faster and more easily. Avoid using traditional shampoos, as they will never work.
• Avoid using pressure washer to clean bike chain
When someone uses a pressure washer to clean a bike’s chain, the space between rings and links decreases easily, which pushes germs, dirt, and water inside. Thus, decreasing the overall performance of the chain.
Conclusion:
If you do not follow these instructions, there are chances that your motorcycle or bike will run for a short period of time. To increase the life of vehicles, ensure that you take proper precautions to protect your two-wheelers from dirt and keep them updated by washing them regularly or once a week. One more thing: If you are a new bike lover, it would be better to choose a bike wash from bike washing professionals at service station
