Motorcycle care and storage
7-2
7
chemicals such as, solvents,
gasoline, rust removers, brake
fluid, or antifreeze, etc.
Before washing
1. Park the vehicle out of direct sun- light and allow it to cool. This will
help avoid water spots.
2. Make sure all caps, covers, elec- trical couplers and connectors are
tightly installed.
3. Cover the muffler end with a plas- tic bag and a strong rubber band.
4. Pre-soak stubborn stains like in- sects or bird droppings with a wet
towel for a few minutes.
5. Remove road grime and oil stains with a quality degreasing agent
and a plastic-bristle brush or
sponge. NOTICE: Do not use
degreasing agent on areas re-
quiring lubrication such as
seals, gaskets, and wheel axles.
Follow product instructions.
[ECA26290]
Washing 1. Rinse off any degreaser and spray down the vehicle with a garden
hose. Use only enough pressure
to do the job. Avoid spraying wa-
ter directly into the muffler, instru-
ment panel, air inlet, or other inner
areas such as underseat storage
compartments.
2. Wash the vehicle with a quality au- tomotive-type detergent mixed
with cool water and a soft, clean
towel or sponge. Use an old tooth-
brush or plastic-bristle brush for
hard-to-reach places. NOTICE:
Use cold water if the vehicle has
been exposed to salt. Warm wa-
ter will increase salt’s corrosive
properties.
[ECA26301]
3. For windshield-equipped vehicles:Clean the windshield with a soft
towel or sponge dampened with
water and a pH neutral detergent.
If necessary, use a high-quality
windshield cleaner or polish for
motorcycles. NOTICE: Never use
any strong chemicals to clean
the windshield. Additionally,
some cleaning compounds for plastic may scratch the wind-
shield, so be sure to test all
cleaning products before gen-
eral application.
[ECA26310]
4. Rinse off thoroughly with clean
water. Be sure to remove all deter-
gent residues, as they can be
harmful to plastic parts.
After washing 1. Dry the vehicle with a chamois or absorbent towel, preferably mi-
crofiber terrycloth.
2. For drive chain-equipped models: Dry and then lubricate the drive
chain to prevent rust.
3. Use a chrome polish to shine chrome, aluminum, and stainless
steel parts. Often the thermally in-
duced discoloring of stainless
steel exhaust systems can be re-
moved through polishing.
4. Apply a corrosion protection spray on all metal parts including
chrome or nickel-plated surfaces.
WARNING! Do not apply sili- cone or oil spray to seats, hand
grips, rubber foot pegs or tire
treads. Otherwise these parts
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Motorcycle care and storage
7-3
7will become slippery, which
could cause loss of control.
Thoroughly clean the surfaces
of these parts before operating
the vehicle.
[EWA20650]
5. Treat rubber, vinyl, and unpainted
plastic parts with a suitable care
product.
6. Touch up minor paint damage caused by stones, etc.
7. Wax all painted surfaces using a non-abrasive wax or use a detail
spray for motorcycles.
8. When finished cleaning, start the engine and let it idle for several
minutes to help dry any remaining
moisture.
9. If the headlight lens has fogged up, start the engine and turn on
the headlight to help remove the
moisture.
10. Let the vehicle dry completely be- fore storing or covering it.NOTICE
ECA26320
Do not apply wax to rubber or
unpainted plastic parts.
Do not use abrasive polishing
compounds as they will wear
away the paint.
Apply sprays and wax sparingly.
Wipe off excess afterwards.
WARNING
EWA20660
Contaminants left on the brakes or
tires can cause loss of control.
Make sure there is no lubricant
or wax on the brakes or tires.
If necessary, wash the tires with
warm water and a mild deter-
gent.
If necessary, clean the brake
discs and pads with brake
cleaner or acetone.
Before riding at higher speeds,
test the vehicle’s braking per-
formance and cornering behav-
ior.
EAU83472
StorageAlways store the vehicle in a cool, dry
place. If necessary, protect it against
dust with a porous cover. Be sure the
engine and the exhaust system are
cool before covering the vehicle. If the
vehicle often sits for weeks at a time
between uses, the use of a quality fuel
stabilizer is recommended after each
fill-up.NOTICE
ECA21170
Storing the vehicle in a poorly
ventilated room or covering it
with a tarp, while it is still wet,
will allow water and humidity to
seep in and cause rust.
To prevent corrosion, avoid
damp cellars, stables (because
of the presence of ammonia)
and areas where strong chemi-
cals are stored.Long term storage
Before storing the vehicle long term (60
days or more):
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