Before you put your bike away for the winter, it is always a terrific idea to wash, dry and wax it. The important reason for doing this, is to get any additional salt off of your bike that may have collected in your rides from late in the season. Salt will oxidize on the metal of your bike; in other words, this will rust your bike, big time!
Let's face it, most of us just love to wash our bikes; it's really a great feeling to clean your bike up nice and shiny, so you can stand back and look at the hot paint job and the sparkling chrome. So take your time and really enjoy the last bike wash of the season before putting her away for the winter.
Many bikers prefer to use specialized chemical washes and waxes on their bike. This is a great idea to get your bike nice and sparkly, but is not altogether necessary. A mild soap and tap water works fine. It is just important to clean the entire bike, including the underneath, the entire suspension system and wheels. Washing your bike from top to bottom works the best, as this prevents getting soap on the parts of the bike that have already been washed.
Drying is a crucial part of washing your bike. Drying also prevents rust, and you have to dry before you can wax. You may not have to worry about drying the engine, but the chrome, frame and wheels definitely need drying.
Each part of your bike that is painted be waxed. Waxing is an important step in keeping your bike from rusting during the winter months.
For those with a pressure washer, make sure to know not to point that strong stream of water onto any crucial parts of the bike that could be damaged by water.
