For a quick touch-up, those...
For a quick touch-up, those quick-detail waxes work well. S100's, shown here, seems to offer a bit more durable film than some others.
Wax
Your bike is asking for wax whenever water won't bead into round balls anymore. Apply wax to any visible surface. On hidden surfaces, a protectant (more on this later) offers equal or better protection, though not as much gloss.
You will find a variety of waxes out there. Some are formulated for certain colors or paints, while others are designed to be easier to apply or more durable. Some are combined with polish to save a step, but these aren't likely to be as effective in either capacity.
No matter which wax you choose, the idea is the same—to give your paint a clear layer that adds sheen, protects the paint, and is less likely to let dirt and other elements stick to it.
Removing excess wax can be the bigger part of the job, if it has creeped into crannies and crevices. This is easiest if it is still fresh and hasn't hardened. Excess wax isn't a problem if it's out of sight, though. I know one rider who never buffs the excess wax off the underside of his tank or from other hidden surfaces, figuring it's just a thicker barricade to corrosion.
There are a number of good, one-step detailing solutions out there suitable for light cleaning and waxing or as a follow-up to a wash job. We have been impressed by the products from Honda, Protect All, S100 and Showbike, though there may be other equally effective ones we haven't tried.
Treated with polish, those...
Treated with polish, those spoke-cleaning strips can ease the tedium of cleaning wire wheels, at least a little.
Chrome and Bare Metal
The enemy of chrome is corrosion, even though it helps the metal beneath it resist corroding agents. Rust can be on the chrome itself or it can come up from the surface below. If it's on the chrome, polish it away. If it's on the underlying metal, you have to take more drastic measures. If the bike is still under warranty, we'd expect the part to be replaced by the manufacturer. Before you spring for a new part yourself, consider the Rusteco treatment, which we have found to be very effective.
There are a variety of chrome polishes and cleaners to scour light corrosion away from chrome. Some of these compounds also protect the surface; others suggest following with a wax. Do as your told.
Very fine scratches in chrome, or light corrosion on aluminum or billet can be buffed away with a polish that is just abrasive enough to remove a small amount of metal while enhancing the sheen of the base metal. Simichrome polish is a long-time favorite around here, and the same S100 Finish Restorer for paint will also buff metal. Deeper scratches in chrome can't be removed since the chrome plate is so thin, but aluminum or other metal can be polished down so the scratch disappears.
Bare metal should be polished...
Bare metal should be polished with a specialized product intended for that purpose.
Be sure what you are treating as chrome isn't chromed plastic. Plastic chrome should be cleaned and waxed, but it doesn't like polish.
Wire spokes are a particularly tedious chore, but Lustre Lace sells polish-soaked cloth strips which you can wrap around spokes to cut down on cleaning time. You may be able to approximate these by soaking soft, tough cloth strips with polish.
Damaged screw heads that have lost their finish can be painted with silver or chrome-like paint using a fine brush or cotton swab.
You should put a protectant on bare metal, such as rough-cast pieces, not suitable for chrome polish or wax. I have had great results with S100's Total Cycle Corrosion Protectant. I spray it on all those unseen pieces, both bare metal (like an engine's sump) and painted (like the frame), hidden under the bike or tucked away in the frame—including the battery box. It can be sprayed into crannies, into holes in exhaust pipes and other areas that aren't accessible for wax. (I also use it on outdoor furniture, my snow blower, off-road bikes, etc.) It is fabulous stuff that doesn't seem to wash off quickly, maintains luster and stops corrosion.
S100 also makes an engine-finish treatment. This is a high-temp, spray-on solution that adds a luster to your engine that won't burn off from the heat. Black surfaces benefit the most.
You can use one of those oversized...
You can use one of those oversized cotton swabs to remove wax from crevices, apply finish-care products precisely or put some silver paint on a corroded allen-bolt head.
Coated Metal
Many pieces that appear to be metal actually have a clear, plastic coating. Wheels and fork sliders are typically finished this way. If you use a harsh mag-wheel cleaner designed for bare metal, it will strip the coating off, leaving you with a real mess. You can tell if a surface is coated by appearance and feel. Treat coated pieces like you would a plastic or painted surface. If the plastic coating is damaged, you can remove it completely and polish or chrome the underlying part.
Windshields and Plastics
The best solution for a windshield seems to be a specialty product, such as Plexus, which smooths and fills fine scratches while cleaning and clearing the plastic surface. Some of the polishes used for metal also serve to remove fine scratches from windshields and other plastic. You can also use the all-purpose detailer/cleaners, such as Protect-All, to clean and buff your windshield.
Other plastic pieces that may benefit from scratch removal and a bit of gloss include instrument lenses and taillight and turn-signal lenses. In fact, it is worth removing light lenses to clean them inside and out every few years. Painted plastic panels should be treated like other painted parts.
Tires, Rubber and Vinyl
If you plan to put some sort...
If you plan to put some sort of dressing on your tires, spray it on a rag first, so you can be sure that you only get it on sidewalls, not on treads or brake parts.
Tire manufacturers warn that you shouldn't use anything except soap and water on your tires because other products draw away the oils and other chemicals compounded into the rubber to fend off environmental damage. We keep telling them that, since tires are one of the biggest surfaces on a motorcycle, they should offer or endorse something we can apply to keep our rubber looking its best. Some finish-care companies, such as Meguiar's, say they have products that were developed in conjunction with tire companies. Mothers Preserves Protectant also sounds like it might be a solution for tires. The firm doesn't make any extravagant claims, and it recognizes the problems with earlier products. It just says it will keep rubber looking clean and natural. We haven't used it enough to say what our verdict is yet.
Whitewalls are another problem. Whitewalls can pick up some really awful-looking junk, and soap and water can't always get it all off. The standard recommendation from customizers is Westley's Bleche-Wite. Since we haven't held on to any of the bikes or tires we have used this product on, we can't say what long-term effect it has on tire condition. But we can tell you it makes those sidewalls mighty white in short order.
If you choose to use any treatment that makes rubber or vinyl shiny, keep it away from your tire treads, and don't spray any on brake rotors, which may make them slippery or get absorbed by the brake pads. It's also a good idea to keep those plastic and vinyl treatments off of grips and footrests—and a slippery seat certainly isn't desirable. Some of these treatments can cause damage to vinyl in the long run, so care is in order.
If you spray anything, including vinyl dressing, make sure the overspray doesn't get on the painted parts you have already waxed. This is another reason for removing components.
Leather
Leather saddlebags or seat covers require special cleaners and conditioners. They should be removed from the bike during washing and cleaned separately. If they get wet from rain, apply a conditioner when they are dry again. We suggest asking the manufacturer for specific product recommendations, especially for the conditioner. Some supply an initial sample with their products. The standard car-care leather conditioners are intended for lightweight interior leather—not leather that is exposed to rain, road salt and other environmental assaults. If no recommendation is available, we suggest a good cleaner like Lexol's followed by a heavy-duty conditioning treatment, such as that sold by Harley-Davidson.
Go Ride
How often you have to give your bike a thorough going-over depends on how much you ride and where you ride. You can also reduce and shorten major finish-care sessions by using protectants, and cleaning and waxing paint before it gets damaged. Some guys may enjoy those hours spent caressing their bikes' curves, but we'd rather be riding ours through some. And there is no lamer excuse for not riding, than "I don't want to get my bike dirty."
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
You can reduce the need for elbow grease in finish care if you apply some preventive measures early.
Cover up&151carefully: If your bike sits outside, cover it. This will keep off dust, sap and bird droppings, all of which can cause finish damage. Sun will fade paint, damage rubber and plastic, and fade instrument faces. A cover can reduce UV damage to seats and other soft parts, but watch out for problems. A cover pulling on or buffeting against the paint can scuff it. Wind can make it a liability; covering a bike on a pick-up truck or trailer is asking for damage. A soft cover or, in a pinch, a large towel draped over the bike in the driveway, or a soft cover over it in the garage can be enough.
Park smart: If your bike sits outside uncovered, pick a shady spot away from bird perches, traffic that throws up dust and sources of soot and sap. If you park in a garage, avoid sources of ozone (such as appliances with electric motors). Ozone attacks rubber.
Wear wisely: We see a lot of finish damage from rider clothing. Belt or jacket buckles, zippers or zipper pulls scratch paint. Boot buckles damage cases and pipes and can scuff seats and chrome if your throught your leg over carelessly. The drive for that chain-drive wallet can do damage. Watch what you wear and how it comes in contact with the bike. You should also keep your motorcycle key separate fronm others, so you don't have a wad of keys (or a heavy key fob) to damage the area around the ignition switch.
Those slick finish protectants...
Those slick finish protectants can also prevent dirt from sticking to your bike.
Loosen your bike's grip: Spraying a slick product like ArmorAll or S100 Finish Protectant on the underside of your bike can keep dirt, mud, bugs, tar, etc. from sticking as tenaciously. It also workd inside the fenders (but take your wheels off to do it, so you don't get any on tires.
Don't give your paint a brake: Brake fluid will etch paint and clearcoat. Even if you are just unscrewing your master-cylinder cap to have a look, cover all the painted surfaces in the vicinity.
Watch that rainsuit: Plastic rainsuits and other synthetic fabrics will leave a messy blob if they come in contact with an exhaust pipe or other hot part. Keep them clear.
Paint your new pipe: If you are putting on a new pipe without a cosmetic heat shield, consider painting the inside of the header with high-temp paint to prevent or at least defer bluing. Thoroughly wipe off fingerprints and grease before you start the bike up for the first tinme with the pipe on it.
Don't do acid: Make sure the battery vent tube is attached and properly routed. The cable hanging down under the bike may be ugly, but not as ugly as paint peeling from your swingarm or clearcoat bubbling from your rear wheel. Better to have it dangling under the bike where you can see it than a short breather tube that releases acid droplets where they can get on the bike. A sealed battery is the ultimate solution.
If you can't wax: Spray your bike with a corrosion preventative like S100 Total Cycle Corrosion Protectant. It won't look as pretty as a waxed finish but it will stop blemishes and corrosion. This goes double for off- season storage. Spray some inside your mufflers, too.
For more articles on how to maintain and modify your motorcycle, see the Tech section of MotorcycleCruiser.com.