Washing your bike safely
On a cold engine, with gentle water and mild soap — no strong jets on electrics or bearings; brakes and chain afterwards.
This guidance is general — not checked for any one model. Your bike's exact figures and procedures are in its owner's manual or at an authorised service centre.
When to do it
- After mud, dust or rain
- Before lubricating the chain
What you need
- A bucket and a soft sponge or cloth
- Mild vehicle shampoo
- Dry cloths
Step by step
- 1
Let the engine and exhaust cool fully; wash in the shade if you can.
- 2
You can cover the silencer outlet, the key slot and any exposed connectors with a plastic bag.
- 3
First soften the dirt with gentle water, then wash top to bottom with the sponge and shampoo.
- 4
If you use a pressure washer, keep it well back and away from the switches, dashboard, wheel hubs, steering head, chain and silencer outlet.
A pressure washer's jet can drive water into connectors, bearings and the chain — keep it well away from them.Photo: Minette Lontsie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons A strong jet washes grease out of bearings and drives water into connectors.
- 5
Rinse off the soap with clean water and dry with cloths.
- 6
If soap or polish got on the brake discs, rinse them with clean water. When you set off, brake gently a few times at low speed somewhere clear to dry them.
Wet brakes grip less for the first few applications.
- 7
Once dry, lubricate the chain (see the chain guide).
A bicycle chain is shown; on a motorcycle, with the engine off and the wheel turned by hand, spray the inner run lightly in the same way.Photo: Alextredz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Warnings
- Keep polish, oil and sprays off the discs, pads and tyres.
- Do not throw cold water on a hot engine.
Stop and see a mechanic if
- It will not start or something electrical stops working after a wash — let it dry, then see a mechanic
Sources
- The owner's manual and service booklet: the only reliable source for your bike's figures and procedures.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-25