5 Of The Best Tips For Cleaning Chrome On A Motorcycle

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The majority of people probably buy a car out of convenience. Cars can seat the whole family, fit in a week's worth of groceries with ease, and make getting around nice and easy. It makes sense. However, motorcycle owners tend to be more enthusiastic, instead choosing the two-wheeled path for its feeling of freedom on the road. As a result of this enthusiasm, most owners are also extremely motivated to take care of their bikes, and this often goes further than just keeping up with routine maintenance.

Keeping a bike clean helps it to perform its best, but ensuring the bike gleams in the sun is also a matter of pride. A key part of achieving such a look is paying extra care and attention to that all-important chrome, as chrome wheels and other components are prone to pitting if not cared for properly. Before you dive straight into your cleaning kit and pull out that tired old rag and ancient bottle of polish, though, you should know that there are a number of different tips, tricks, and approaches that will help you to get the best finish possible. From employing cotton swabs and shoe laces to opting for special powders and steel wools, these are the best tips for brightening up your bike's chrome work.

Whether your motorcycle is a daily rider or a cherished classic reserved for weekend blasts down your favorite back-road, keeping it in top shape is a key priority. Regardless of whether you own a city-slick moped or a thundering old Harley, there are general rules that apply to cleaning your motorcycle, and staying on top of these rules will help keep your bike looking great and protect it from the elements for longer.

First of all, before tackling polishing of any sort — be it on paintwork or on chrome — give the bike a thorough wash in the shade, as direct sunlight can bake water spots into your paint and chrome. It may be tempting to start working on the chrome if you only have a few minutes spare and want to brighten up the look a little, but stubborn water spots and thin films of filth from the road will not make the job any easier.

Sure, it may look fine after a quick polish, but those aforementioned contaminants can become scrubbed into the finish, creating hairline scratches and swirl marks. Over time, those fine scratches will leave you with dull chrome. So, before you get started producing that mirror shine, give your motorcycle a thorough clean, ensuring that you agitate and remove any grime with a brush and soapy water. From there, you can get started on creating a lasting, show-stopping finish by making the most of your beloved brightwork. 

Okay, so we will assume that your bike is now clean and free of any muck and filth. It should look great at this point, but putting in some extra work to shine up the chrome work will make a huge difference to the overall look. Parts like the handlebars, fender guards, and suspension forks are some of the easiest to clean, as they are generally easy to access, made of hard chrome, and don't get too hot.

Before getting started, make sure you have everything you'll need close at hand. That includes some fine steel wool – ideally #0000 grade — some microfiber cloths, and your favorite chrome polish. Use the steel wool to gently rub the chrome and watch that bright shine return. What's more, this method can also remove fine scratches and water marks from the finish, although harsher grades of steel wool may actually add scratches, so do be mindful.

While this will make your chrome look ace, it doesn't leave it protected, which is where that polish comes into play. Chrome polish is generally very easy to apply – just squeeze some product onto a microfiber cloth or pad, work it onto the chrome using small, circular motions, and then grab a clean cloth and buff it off in the same way. This should leave your chrome not only stain free and shining, but protected from the elements, too, which means the finish will last longer and be easier to clean next time.

What works for one type of chrome won't necessarily work for another. Plastic chrome is exactly what you'd think — as opposed to hard chrome, it is not metal based. The finish on plastic chrome is generally more susceptible to scratching and, as a result, using steel wool — even very fine steel wool — will likely do more harm than good. To know if something is hard or plastic chrome, simply give it a tap with your fingernails — does it sound metallic or plastic? Hard chrome will also be cooler to the touch.

The same starting procedure applies here, though. The chrome needs to be both clean and dry before you start shining it up, or you'll risk scratching it. Next, instead of reaching for the steel wool, just head straight to the chrome polish and a clean microfiber cloth. Use the same method to apply the polish in a circular motion, and then buff it off as you would with hard chrome. You should see the shine come back immediately. It might not sport the same depth of shine as the aforementioned hard chrome, but that's not due to your approach or the products used — plastic chrome simply lacks the depth and clarity of metal-based chrome items.

Typically, plastic chrome on your bike will be detail work instead of main components, so it can be more intricate to clean. If this is the case, try wrapping some fine cloth onto a toothbrush to reach into those tight areas, or even try a cotton swab for those really tough to reach parts.

Do you want your motorcycle to stand out as something that's truly cared for, rather than just an item of convenience? Then get one with wire wheels, and spend the time ensuring that they're absolutely sparkling. Wire wheels look cool on cars and motorcycles alike, but they can require laborious cleaning processes. While there are a few different approaches to cleaning wire spokes, each method requires time and effort. This may sound tedious, but it'll provide a finish you can truly be proud of, and other bikers will admire it, too.

As always, start by giving your wheels a wash with warm water and soap. This in itself can be time consuming, but it's important to ensure that every spoke is cleaned and then dried thoroughly with a clean towel or cloth. One top tip is to use a shoelace to clean all sides of the spokes — this is well worth doing, as dull edges will detract from the overall finish.

The next step is to polish them up. There are two approaches you can try here. The first is to apply metal polish to one cloth, go up and down each spoke, and then use another clean cloth to buff the polish off. Alternatively, you can use a product like Wizard's Metal Polish, which essentially is a ball of cotton infused with polish. Simply buff each spoke and admire the finish, but perhaps wear safety gloves, as these chemicals can be particularly nasty on the skin.

Last but not least is your motorcycle's exhaust. On some performance bikes, the exhaust can be a real work of art, so it's understandable that you would like to show it off. Relax, as there are no shoelaces or cotton swabs to be seen here — it's just a case of taking your time and selecting the right product.

We say take your time, as this clearly isn't something you want to polish right after a long ride — if you've ever caught your leg or arm against a hot exhaust, we doubt you need us to explain why. Anyway, on with the cleaning. Sometimes, motorcycle exhausts turn blue due to oxidation, and that can detract from the overall look. Fortunately, products do exist to reverse this bluing, like Blue Job Exhaust Chrome Polish.

Unlike other metal or chrome polish, this product resembles a powder, and not only does it bring back that like-new shine to your exhaust, but it also reverses the bluing effect. Simply dampen an applicator, dip it into the powder, rub the powder onto your pipes, and then buff it off using Blue Job wipes for the best finish. Some generic metal polishes may naturally bring a shine back to your exhaust, but Blue Job is specifically designed with this task in mind, so if you can stomach the extra expense, it's surely worth trying for the ultimate finish.