How to Preserve Your Harley Davidson

Owning a Harley Davidson Motorcycle is generally a prized possession and if not when it is first brought home, it soon will be in that category. If the first Harley owned by anyone is a new one, that owner cannot help noticing and admiring the beauty of the bike, such as the wheels and the whole machine and how it sparkles and shines. An older bike that has been well cared for, like washing it carefully and polishing when necessary, will look like a prize.

Your motorcycle must be kept clean and washing it routinely whenever it gets dirty and dusty are paramount care. As the owner gets ready to wash his Harley, all jewelry such as rings, watches and any other ornaments that might scratch the bike as it is cleaned must be removed. Motorcycle jackets with metal buckles or zippers can be especially damaging to paint also.

A bike that is caked with mud should be rinsed before washing, as using a sponge on painted surfaces may scratch it. If the owner has just returned from a long ride, he should let the Harley cool down before the wash is begun. Be sure the bike is cool to the touch.

Use a special wash that has water softeners so it can be used in direct sunlight. Rinse thoroughly from top to bottom giving special attention to nooks and crannies. While rinsing, cleaner may splatter from one part of the bike to another, so it is advised to go back and give the entire bike a misting. When drying the bike, watch for areas where water may puddle.

Cleaning your wheels is another issue. Pay attention to the galvanic corrosion, where in the course of normal use, particles from the brakes make dust that may create galvanic corrosion and cause small dents on your wheels.

If water reacts by beading into small droplets, the Harley does not need to be polished. If the water sheets or runs in oblong droplets, it may be time for polishing. There is a special polish and sealant to deal with small flaws in the finish, slight scratches, dull areas and stains. If you polish, use a soft cloth and a special mild polish and be sure to let the bike sit in the shade for several hours after cleaning and polishing.
Caring for the chrome on your Harley Davidson is another thing to think about. Chrome refers to chromium which is an element and has the atomic number 24. When something is called chrome, it is not actually made of chromium, but it has a thin layer of chromium applied by a process called electroplating. There are two kinds of electro plating with chromium; Hard plating and nickel plating. Nickel plating is the only one that is used on items that are meant to shine. Chrome is extremely shiny and that is why it is used to add artistic beauty to the Harley.

The chrome that beautifies your Harley must be cleaned and polished routinely. If it is not cared for on a regular basis, the shine will soon be gone. Also, since it is only a thin coat of chromium on a specific part, a scratch is almost permanent. There are many good chrome cleaners out there and the best do not have a lot of abrasives in them that can scratch the chrome on your motorcycle. These cleaners and polishers may be expensive compared to other ones that may damage the chrome, but they are well worth the cost. Chrome exhaust is a specific thing that needs some extra care. The exhaust heats up and that can make it turn blue. To avoid this, if the exhaust is new, it should be burned in gradually, which is turning the bike on and letting the exhaust heat up for a short time and then turn it down again to cool. This should be done several times before running the bike for longer periods.