Harley Davidson Forums

Harley Davidson: How to Wash Your Bike

Read on to learn how to accomplish the ultimate shine for your Harley.

By Bassem Girgis - December 17, 2015

This article applies to the Harley Davidson Sportster, Softail, Dyna Glide, and Touring models.

The Harley Davidson Sportster, Dyna Glide, Softail, and Touring models are all beautiful-looking bikes. However, dirt can take away from the glorious look of the chrome and the slick paint. Even though there is no wrong way to wash a motorcycle, unless you spray way into the exhaust, there is a more effective way to do it. This guide will show you how you can successfully get rid of all the dirt, leaving your Harley looking shinier and newer. Washing your bike is an easy process and shouldn't take too much time. In fact, a lot of riders enjoy washing their bikes; it's another type of connection between rider and motorcycle. Read on to learn how to effectively wash your Harley.

Figure 1. Harley Davidson Sportster.

Materials Needed

  • Soap
  • Sponge
  • Warm water
  • Access to hose
  • Bucket
  • Soft towel

Step 1 – Spray with warm water

Spray your motorcycle using a water hose. This helps remove all the built-up dirt and debris. Feel free to spray everywhere, just not into the exhaust.

Figure 2. Don't spray water directly into the exhaust.

Step 2 – Soap up bike

Dip the sponge into a bucket of warm, soapy water. Start soaping up all of the bike's surfaces, starting with the body of the bike and ending with the wheels. You don't want to drag the dirt from the wheel onto the bike. Make sure the entire bike is soaped up.

Figure 3. Make sure you use a soft sponge on all dirty, hard-to-reach areas.

Step 3 – Clean soap off

Use your water hose to spray the soap off of the bike. As you're spraying, use your sponge to rub any dirt that is stuck on the motorcycle. Be thorough, making sure to not leave any soap behind.

Step 4 – Dry off motorcycle

Use a soft cloth to dry the bike. When it gets soaked, either squeeze it to drain the water from it, or use another one. If you use a wet towel to dry the bike, it will leave unnecessary streaks. Dry the whole motorcycle first, then end with the wheels. Make sure the bike is completely dry so you don't leave water drops or streaks behind.

Figure 4. use a mildly soft towel to dry the bike.

Pro Tip

It's recommended to wash the bike in sections if you don't think you can dry the whole bike before it dries on its own. This helps prevent dried water spots.

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