Detailing your motorcycle is pretty straight forward, but sometime you need a professional touch. Detailing the bike can be a time-consuming and a meticulous job, which is why you might want to look at motorcycle detailing shop. In this article I will discuss the process of detailing, what to expect from a service, the costs, and how to choose a company. I will also speak to my experience with the place that does motorcycle detailing near me.
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What is Motorcycle Detailing?
If you think that motorcycle detailing is just about getting your motorcycle clean, think again. Good motorcycle detailers will not only carefully clean your motorcycle, but they will also ensure that it is carefully buffed, conditioned, and protected from everything you and the elements throw at it.
Basically, motorcycle detailing will have your bike looking almost as good as new again. They do this by using proven techniques with end cleaning agents over every aspect of your ride.
What to Expect to be Done on the Motorcycle
Wondering what is likely to happen to your bike when you take it to the local motorcycle detailers? Here are some of the standard offerings the place that does motorcycle detailing near me does:
- Basic Part Separation: The first step is typically to remove parts that shouldn’t get wet like leather seats or bags that may be attached to the bike. These parts will be treated off the motorcycle.
- Hand Wash Cleaning: They clean the bike by hand using a microfiber mitt. This will allow them to get rid of all the accumulated dirt and grime without any risk of scratching parts. They may use a soap or a high end foam cleaner as an agent to remove debris. Typically, your bike will also be hand-dried, so that water spots do not appear and ruin the appearance of your bike.
- Excess Water Removed: Excess water will be eliminated from your bike via a blast of compressed air that can get into all of those nooks and crannies where water can pool. This is also to prevent water spots and mildew.
- Bug and Tar Removal: Your motorcycle accumulates a lot of dead bugs and tar due to driving at fast speeds. Once your bike has been washed, they will remove all traces bugs and tar from your fairings, mirrors, and windshield. They will use a cleaning agent and a non abrasive cloth.
- Engine Degreasing: Most motorcycle detailers will then proceed to degrease your engine, which should improve your bike’s performance noticeably. A cleaner engine does less work and runs more efficiently.
- Rims Polished: Your bike’s rims will be cleaned and polished until they are sparkling and look almost as good as new. They will degrease them and all the internal pieces on more complicated designer rims.
- Tire Shine: They will apply a chemical cleaning agent to make the tires jet black and shiney.
- Chrome Polished: If your bike has chrome pieces they will be polished with a high end chrome cleaner. Chrome easily shows smudges and they will leave it smudge and streak free.
- Cleaning of Mirrors, Wind guards and Gauges: These will all be cleaned to a high standard ensuring that they are free from streaks so you can use them without any hindrance.
- Storage Compartment Cleaned: Your motorcycle’s storage compartment will typically be emptied out and thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed so that there is no dust or debris left to be seen. This means that, if you have anything in there you do not want the motorcycle detailers to see, you should remove it before you take your vehicle to be cleaned.
- Leather Cleaned and Conditioned: Your motorcycle’s seats and any leather bags you have will be thoroughly cleaned using special leather cleaning fluid, and then conditioned to protect it from spills, and more importantly from the elements. Protection spray/liquid will stop leather from cracking, peeling, and prematurely aging, so it’s important that you choose a detailing company that offers this step.
- Clay Barring: Any painted surfaces will be clay barred to remove fine grain debris the hand wash didn’t catch.
- Scratch and Dent Detail: This is often an add on service, but you can get any nicks and dents repaired. Most detailers will offer paint work and dent removal.
- Waxed: Once any scratches and marks have been dealt with, your motorcycle’s paintwork will be carefully waxed to protect the paintwork and shine it up.
If you require any additional services to be performed by your motorcycle detailers, you will need to negotiate that with them, and you may have to pay an additional fee as a result, but it’s best to get everything you need done at once so you don’t have to keep worrying about the condition of your bike or make multiple trips to have work done.
How Much Does Motorcycle Detailing Near Me Cost?
It’s hard to say how much motorcycle detailing near you will cost because pricing differs from location to location. Also different motorbike detailers will offer different levels of services. The amounts they will charge will be based on how many elements their motorcycle detailing packages include. That being said, the average cost of motorcycle detailing in the right now is $150.
If your motorcycle has a lot more chrome or leather, for example, you can expect to pay a bit more because those areas will require more attention. The same is likely to be true if your motorcycle is very rusty or sun-damaged too. The motorcycle detailing near me will steady charge higher for vintage show bikes as well.
You can also consider taking your bike back to the dealership for detailing. For example if you own a Harley, most Harley Davidson dealership offer detailing for their bikes of any year, make, or model.
How to Choose a Bike Detailer
Motorcycles detailers can be costly, which is why it’s vital that you do your homework.
First look at a list of the nearest motorcycle detailers in your area. Spend some time checking out reviews or getting references for the companies you’ve found. I like to look at before and after photos posted by customers. It’s one thing to see the photos the company shares, its better to see what customers post.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few safe options, call them and ask them a few questions. Ask about the service they offer to ensure they know their stuff and so you can get a feel for them. I also like to find out how long they have been doing it and how many bikes they have serviced. This may seem like a lot of work, but your motorcycle is precious, so you want to ensure that it’s in the best possible hands.
Motorcycle Detailing Near Me – Final Thoughts…
While you can totally detail a bike yourself, a professional detail service is sometimes needed. Motorcycles build up dirt and grim from the road and your hands touching parts. A good detailing has more benefits aside from getting your bike to shine. It can increase your resale value and help your bike last longer and perform more efficiently. This is what I have learned from the place that does motorcycle detailing near me.