The seat is often the last thing anyone cleans on a motorcycle, yet it takes dust, sweat, sun and road grime every single ride. Pores clog, the surface goes dull, cracks appear, and after a season or two the seat looks older than the bike.
The key rule is to identify the material first. Vinyl, genuine leather and Alcantara each need different care, and a one-size-fits-all cleaner can ruin an expensive cover.
What you will need
- a bucket of warm water and a soft sponge
- a mild neutral detergent or soapy water
- microfibre and clean cotton cloths
- a soft natural-bristle brush (for Alcantara)
- leather cleaner and a conditioner containing lanolin or wax
- a vinyl care product
- WD-40 Multi-Use for the seat lock and fittings
- WD-40 Specialist Silicone for the plastic panels around the seat
Important: Never apply silicone or any lubricating spray to the riding surface of the seat: it becomes slippery, which is dangerous on the move. Test every product on a hidden area first.
Step 1
Prepare the bike and remove the seat
Park in the shade: in direct sun, cleaners dry too fast and leave streaks. If the seat comes off, remove it so the seams and lower edge are easier to reach.
While it is off, check the lock, hinges and catches. Winter salt and damp often make them stiff. Spray the mechanism with WD-40 Multi-Use, work it open and shut a few times and wipe off the excess. The pocket-sized WD-40 100 ml is handy to carry on the bike.
Step 2
Clean a vinyl seat
Vinyl, or faux leather, is the most common seat cover. Wet the surface with a sponge and warm water, apply a mild soapy solution and let it work for a few minutes.
Go over the whole surface with the sponge, paying attention to seams and textured areas where dirt collects. Rinse with clean water and dry with microfibre. Finish with a vinyl care product to nourish the material and stop it cracking in sun and frost.
Step 3
Care for a genuine leather seat
Friction and dust dry leather out and clog its pores. Apply a leather cleaner, leave it briefly and wipe it off gently with a clean cloth, without scrubbing hard.
Once clean, apply a conditioner with lanolin, beeswax or carnauba wax. Household remedies such as baby cream do not feed leather properly. If you often ride in the rain, finish with a leather waterproofing treatment.
Step 4
Clean Alcantara gently
Alcantara feels soft and dislikes too much water. Never soak the seat: use a soft natural-bristle brush dipped in soapy water and work with short, light strokes.
Remove the soap with a clean damp cloth and dry by blotting with a dry cloth. Let it dry naturally, away from hair dryers and radiators.
Step 5
Refresh the plastics and refit the seat
Wipe the plastic side panels and tail section around the seat, then put a little WD-40 Specialist Silicone on a cloth and go over the plastic: it looks fresher and repels water and mud better. Keep it off the seat itself.
Refit the seat and check that the lock engages cleanly and the seat does not rock.
Tip: After rain, do not leave a wet seat under a cover: trapped moisture quickly causes mould in the foam. Wipe it dry first and only then put the cover on.
What next
Give the seat a light clean every time you wash the bike, and condition leather or vinyl once a month in season and before winter storage. Treat the lock with WD-40 Multi-Use in spring and autumn so it never lets you down in frost.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».