After a summer ride, especially in the evening along fields and rivers, a motorcycle collects hundreds of bugs. They stick to the windscreen, headlight, fairing and mirrors, and once baked dry in the sun they cling like glue. Insect remains contain acids that can mark paint and chrome over time.
Ideally you clean the bike as soon as you get back, but that does not always happen. To soften dried bugs, use WD-40 Multi-Use: it gets under the dried layer so the dirt comes away without scrubbing.
What you will need
Important: Keep WD-40 off brake discs and pads, tyres, the seat and footpegs, as they need grip. Wash the bike when it is cool and in the shade. Test coated screens and helmet visors on a hidden spot first, and never treat the inside of the visor.
Step 1
Soften the dried bugs
Dried bugs cannot be wiped off dry without scratching the surface, so soften them first: spray WD-40 Multi-Use onto the screen, headlight, fairing and mirrors wherever the insects are. Between fairing panels and around mirror mounts, use the straw of WD-40 Smart Straw.
Let it work for 30 seconds to a minute. You can treat the outer shell of your helmet the same way if it is covered in bugs too.
Step 2
Wipe away the residue
Take a clean microfibre cloth and gently wipe off the softened bugs without pressing. The dirt lifts easily from glass, the headlight and plastics. Turn the cloth to a clean side often so you do not drag debris across the surface.
Step 3
Wash with soapy water
To remove both the insect residue and the oily film, wash these areas with a sponge, warm water and car shampoo. Be especially thorough on the windscreen and headlight: there should be no film left on the glass to cause glare at night.
Step 4
Rinse and dry
If you like, rinse the bike with clean water from a hose or bucket, avoiding high pressure near bearings, connectors and electrics. Then dry every surface carefully with a clean microfibre cloth: this prevents water marks and leaves paint and chrome shining.
Step 5
Protect the metal after washing
After washing, water sits in bolts, lever pivots and on chrome parts. A thin film of WD-40 Multi-Use applied with a cloth displaces moisture and protects against corrosion. Give footpeg and lever pivots a short burst through the straw of WD-40 Smart Straw and wipe off the excess.
Tip: Pack a pocket-sized
WD-40 100 ml and a cloth for long rides: at a fuel stop you can clear bugs from your visor and screen in two minutes, before they dry on.
What next
During the season, clean the bike after every long ride, and before winter storage treat all metal parts with WD-40 Multi-Use so no rust appears in a damp garage.
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».