Maintaining Your Dirt Bike Graphics: Tips for Keeping Your Bike Looking Fresh

When you buy a dirt bike, you want to make it look amazing. Though it looks perfectly good right from the showroom, it probably doesn’t reflect your style and personality the way you want it to. You want to add your own personal touch to it to make it stand out. There are several ways to do that, from replacing some of the factory parts with aftermarket versions to applying new graphics.

Of course, once you customize the bike and get those personalized dirt bike graphics perfectly in place, that’s only the beginning. From there, you want to keep the bike looking great for as long as possible. The following tips can help you keep your bike in beautiful condition no matter what you put it through on the courses and trails.

Wash Your Bike Often

One of the most effective ways to maintain your bike is to wash it often. Like any type of vehicle, dirt, dust, grime, and grease are going to build up on the bike, and all of those elements can make it look old and dull.

They can also damage your dirt bike over time. Dirt can cause scratches on your bike, and it may wear away at its protective coating. Gear and motor oils can break down the adhesives that hold the graphics on the bike, causing them to peel. Grime can cause fading and cracking as well. Clean your bike often to keep that damage at bay.

Use Soft, Clean Clothes

When you wash your bike, be sure to use soft, clean cloths. Soft materials, like microfiber, are gentler on vehicles, so they’re less likely to cause scratches and damage. Be sure the clothes you use are completely clean and free of debris as well to avoid inadvertently scratching your bike. Never use abrasives to clean your bike, even for glue, tar, tree sap, or other sticky substances. If you run into problems like those, use cleaners that are specifically designed to remove them without harming the materials underneath.

Don’t Use Petroleum-Based Cleaners

Another tip to keep in mind is to avoid petroleum-based cleaners. That includes many types of liquid dish detergent. They’re fantastic for cleaning and cutting through grease, but they’re not the best products to use for automotive cleaning. Cleaners that contain petroleum may eat away at the clear coat or other protective layers on your bike’s frame and body parts. They can break down the vinyl your graphics are made of and weaken their adhesives as well.

Protect Your Bike Against the Elements

Finally, after cleaning your dirt bike, consider giving it an added layer of protection against the elements.

You’ll find a range of protective products on the market. Some protect against dirt and make your bike easier to clean. Others create a seal against moisture. Certain products provide extra protection against UV rays to prevent fading. Some cleaners offer a combination of those benefits. They’ll help keep your bike looking terrific.

Keeping Your Dirt Bike in Perfect Condition

Once you get your dirt bike personalized, you don’t want that effort to go to waste. These tips listed here can help. Clean it often, but be sure to use the right cloths and cleaning products when you do. Adding an extra layer of protection can go ever further. Those measures will prevent scratches, fading, peeling, and other problems to keep your dirt bike looking fresh.