Whether you buy a new or used motorcycle, I find myself wanting to swap out some part—I’m the same way.
If it’s used, why not polish it thoroughly before you start picking over parts?
You’d be surprised how much life comes back into it.
Remove the fairings if you can.
By removing the fairings, you’ll see the true nature of the motorcycle.
If the bike has been well cared for, any dirt under the fairings should come off with just a light wipe.
Spray on a highly trusted no-touch product, let it sit for about three minutes, then wipe it off with a towel and it comes back to life instantly.
You might find some painful wiring jobs. If something about the installation feels off, you could remove all the aftermarket electrical components at once.
The frame, the harness, the engine—one piece at a time.
Trying to do everything perfectly all at once is what makes it feel like a chore.
What matters is doing what you can in the time you have available, at a level that doesn’t make you hate it.
The world loves words like “perfect” and “absolute,” but I think steady, bit-by-bit progress within your means beats them.
For my work I use hot towel wipes
For cleaning the fairings I use microfiber wipes
If you’re a guy, you know that size—it’s just right.
It’s an incredibly convenient size.
Even when stored as old wipes, they still look decent, so you can use them all the way to the end when you’re wiping up the last bit of oil.
Used ones that have been cleaned actually absorb better and shed fewer fibers.
Microfiber wipes are great for cleaning wheels once they get old.
You can also use them to polish the outside of your toolbox. Rather than tossing something after one use, I think using it all the way to the end creates a better relationship between you and the thing.
Finish the fairings easily and quickly
I’ve tried all kinds of paste and liquid waxes, but haven’t you run into issues with labor, wipe marks, or wax separating as it degrades?
There’s a lot of product for the price, but I often end up not using it all.
Lately I’ve switched to spray-type products because they’re so much more convenient.
Plexus has been the tried-and-true choice since way back—it brings out a deep shine quickly.
For plastic parts like screens, Hasegawa Model’s ceramic compound TT25 is an absolutely wonderful chemical. It’s a magical compound that removes scratches without creating them. It’s perfect for aging screens and such (*’ω’*)
Light lubrication on controls and moving parts
Just a light spray on the levers, pedals, and sidestand brings back a lot of function. Rather than carelessly spraying cheap stuff everywhere, using a product at this price point means you use only what’s necessary and you don’t handle the spray can roughly.
PTFE Tri-Flow premium lubricant is something we love using at the shop (*’ω’*)
