How to Disinfect Your Motorcycle and Gear

During these unprecedented times, disinfecting high-touch surfaces is one of the best ways to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Just as you need to pay attention to sanitizing other objects or daily use commodities, the same needs to be done with your motorcycle, especially if you are regularly traveling by bike.

This brief guide from Barnes Harley-Davidson walks you through every step of deep cleaning and disinfecting your motorcycle and riding gear. Keep reading to learn more and if you are still looking for your dream bike, be sure to check out our selection of motorcycles for sale at one of our dealership locations in Langley, Victoria, and Kamloops, BC.

Stay Safe While Cleaning

A few precautionary steps will help you keep yourself safe when disinfecting your motorcycle and riding gear. Just like you need to wear protective gear when riding your bike, you need a mask and gloves to protect yourself from germs and cleaning chemicals when washing your bike. Avoid touching your face while you clean and once you finish disinfecting, take a shower and wash the clothes that you were wearing.

Prep Work

The first step to cleaning your motorcycle is to choose a suitable location. You don’t want your bike drying too quickly, so be sure to avoid direct sunlight. If your bike dries off when it’s still covered in soap, you may end up with streaks that are hard to remove. Make sure your location has plenty of room to move around so you can easily reach every part of your bike.

The next step is to gather your supplies. Select a cleaning product that’s compatible with your bike by checking your owner’s manual and the product label. Remember to choose a disinfectant that’s powerful enough to kill germs, but not so abrasive that it will damage your bike.

Disinfecting Your Bike

Begin with your motorcycle parked on the main stand. This keeps the bike balanced and ensures the various parts are easy to reach, which makes the disinfection process easier.

To prepare your bike for cleaning, make sure it has cooled off completely. Then plug up the exhaust pipe with a rag, a glove, or a rubber plug to keep out moisture. Go through the regular washing process to remove any caked-on grime. You don't want the hardened gunk keeping you from disinfecting the parts underneath it.

Next, it's time to disinfect the high contact surfaces, which include your handlebars and touchscreen, along with any frequently handled accessories. Follow the instructions on the product label for applying your disinfectant. Keep in mind that this may include letting your surfaces soak for several minutes before wiping them dry. Use a soft microfiber cloth for drying, and take extra care when wiping down your electronics.

Disinfecting Your Gear

Your helmet and gloves collect moisture and particulates while you’re riding your bike, providing the perfect environment for germs. Take out any removable pads from the helmet and give them a wash. Then, spray your helmet inside and out with disinfectant. Look for a disinfectant designed specifically for motorcycle helmets, so that you won't need to worry about the cleaner damaging the helmet's finish. During the cleaning process, pay extra attention to the mouth and nose areas.

For your gloves, follow the cleaning instructions on the label or check the manufacturer's recommendations. It's also helpful to have a backup pair of gloves. If one pair is being washed or is still drying, you’ll have a second pair to use.

We’d recommend that you shouldn’t store your gloves inside your helmet. Your gloves are more likely to gather germs than any other piece of gear, and you don’t want those germs migrating to your helmet.

Keeping the Bike and Gear Clean

How often you need to clean your bike will depend on how frequently you ride it. To prevent dirt and germs from building up, carry a small cleaning kit while traveling. Your kit can include sanitizing wipes, a microfiber cloth, disposable gloves, and some form of cleaning product. You’ll find these items especially handy on long trips.

Whenever you fill up at a gas station, try to maintain a barrier between your riding gloves and the nozzle. You can also keep a supply of disposable gloves on hand for when you need to refuel.

We hope that these tips prove helpful to you in keeping your motorcycle clean and safe! If you are looking to buy a bike, check out our selection of motorcycles for sale near British Columbia. Barnes Harley-Davidson offers bikes for all budgets, lifestyles, and riding abilities. We have dealerships in Langley, Victoria, and Kamloops, so visit your nearest location today!