Every Harley® rider wants his or her Harley-Davidson® motorcycle to shine like new now and in the future. With our Harley-Davidson® detailing guide, we'll give you some tips for keeping your Harley® clean and mean.
Washing a Harley®
Just like washing any motorcycle, the goal is to minimize the possibility of scratching. Before you begin washing, remove any jewelry that might scratch the motorcycle as you're cleaning. Park in the shade. The motorcycle should be cool to the touch.
Clean the wheels first. The majority of road grime accumulates on the wheels. While a shampoo may cut it on the paint and pipes, the wheels need a real wheel cleaner. Use S100 Wheel Cleaner or Detailer's Pro Series Gel Wheel Cleaner. Both products will safely lift dirt and greasy grime from the wheels without harming the finish. For the best results, use an EZ Detail Motorcycle Brush to clean between spokes. The nylon Nylex bristles can be used with any wheel cleaner. The flexible stem can be bent to reach around curved or concave areas with ease. Rinse well with flowing water.
Now clean the rest of your Harley® with S100 Total Cycle Cleaner in the trigger spray or aerosol formula. Spray it on and use a soft brush or sponge to lightly agitate stubborn spots, like bugs and tar. Again, an EZ Detail Brush or EZ Detail Brush Mini is helpful for cleaning crevices. It's best to work from the top down so that grime runs down the bike. Rinse well, paying special attention to any areas where the cleaner can pool.
S100 Wheel Cleaner is 50% more powerful than S100 Total Cycle Cleaner.
Use the EZ Detail Brush to wash hard-to-reach areas of the motorcycle.
Always dry your motorcycle! A clean waffle weave microfiber drying towel or chamois will work, but we know how you Harley® owners like to go fast. Instead of towel-drying, use a Metro Air Force Blaster Motorcycle Dryer. It dries your entire bike - nooks and crannies and all - in a matter of minutes. This method is faster than hand-drying and better than a leaf blower because it blows air at a rate of 29,000 ft./min. It has multiple attachments to target air right where you need it.
Polishing Metal
First, identify the metal and pick a polish to suit it. Aluminum polishes tend to be more abrasive than chrome polishes because aluminum is a bare metal whereas chrome is plated.
If your motorcycle is made of chrome, use S100 Total Cycle Finish Restorer or Flitz Metal Polish. Both products work on all metals, paint, and plastics. These polishes will clean and shine the chrome without scratching it. Got blue stains? Use Blue-Job to remove blue spots from chrome without scratching it.
Aluminum is a different story. Aluminum oxidizes and the oxidation has to be removed to achieve a nice shine. The right aluminum polish can create a mirror shine comparable to chrome. Use Wolfgang Metallwerk Fine Aluminum Polish on bare aluminum. Wenol Red is another time-tested favorite. Remember, these polishes are for bare metal - not anodized or coated. They can also be used on stainless steel.
Blue-Job Chrome Polish removes blue discoloration from chrome pipes.
Follow these tips when polishing metals:
Rub faster but not harder. Most metal polishes require a brisk motion to really do the job. If you can't do this by hand, use a Mothers PowerBall Mini with your drill.
If you start polishing with an aluminum polish and you DO NOT see black residue, stop polishing! The metal is coated. Switch to a chrome polish.
For tight areas where a polishing tool can't reach, use Wolfgang Finger Pockets to apply polish.
After your motorcycle is properly polished and shiny, use a surface protectant to block out corrosion and contamination. S100 Corrosion Protectant is an easy, spray-on protectant for all the motorcycle’s metal surfaces. Some polishes, like Flitz Metal Polish, Fiberglass & Paint Restorer, will leave a protective film but it never hurts to increase the protection with S100 Corrosion Protectant.
Polishing and Waxing the Paint
The paint on your Harley® can become dull and chalky just like paint on a car. Polishing and waxing will keep the paint clean, smooth, and vibrant.
First you want to remove any imperfections or wax buildup from the paint. If you see fine swirls and scratches, use a polish, such as Mothers Power Polish, to smooth the paint. A swirl remover or polish can be applied using a foam applicator by hand or by using one of the following options.
Attach a 4 inch pad to your dual action polisher using a 3.5 inch dual action backing plate.
After polishing, use a microfiber towel to buff off the residue.
If your Harley® motorcycle has only minor haze or dullness, you only need a prewax cleanser to prepare the paint. Wipe on S100 Shine Enhancing Cleanser with a clean foam applicator. Then buff it off with a soft microfiber towel.
Wipe on the wax or paint sealant of your choice using a clean, soft foam or microfiber applicator. Allow a haze to form if directed by the specific product. Then wipe off the residue with a soft, clean microfiber towel. Do not use the microfiber towel you used to buff off the polish since the polish residue in the towel may remove the wax you've just applied.
Of course, if you have a need for speed, many spray-on waxes are available. Flitz Waxx Speed Wax, S100 Detail + Wax, and 3M Quick Wax are a few that come to mind. Simply spray, spread over the paint, and wipe off.
All the waxes and sealants mentioned will provide great protection for your motorcycle's paint, plus a stellar shine.
Bike Depot has a large selection of waxes and paint sealants to protect painted portions of your motorcycle.
Detailing Plastic
For quick, regular cleaning, use S100 Special Surfaces Cleaner. It safely cleans windscreens, visors, instruments, and fairings and it leaves a protective coating.
On a plastic headlight, you can use the entire Wolfgang Plastik Lens Cleaning System. Follow the easy directions included with each kit. All you need is an electric drill.
Maintain clear plastics with DP Plex-All Plastic Cleaner & Polish. Just spray and wipe to clean and protect plastic surfaces, such as the windscreen, instrument panels, helmet, and visor.
Dressing your Motorcycle
Now that your motorcycle is clean, you can add the finishing touches.
On a black engine casing, use S100 Engine Brightener. S100 Engine Brightener is formulated specifically for black components and will restore a like-new appearance to all black plastic, paint and rubber. A nozzle extension is included to help you target narrow areas.
