Made in Germany
1. Good to know
1.1 S100 motorcycle cleaning products
1.2 The difference from cheap, acidic or strong alkaline cleaners
2. The right care for painted surfaces and plastics
2.1 Removing haze
2.2 Enhancing gloss
2.3 Removing scratches
2.4 Sealing
2.5 Unpainted plastic parts
2.6 How to protect the paint against insects
3. Metal cleaning and care
3.1 Aluminium
3.1.1 Bare, uncoated aluminium
3.1.2 Painted aluminium
3.1.3 Anodised aluminium
3.2 Care of metal parts
4. Rim cleaning
5. The best protection against UV radiation
6. Getting motorcycles in shape for the winter
7. 10 Tips for motorcycle cleaning and care
If you value a perfect visual impression and want to maintain the quality of your motorcycle, then regular cleaning and care of the bike and especially of individual, heavily used parts, such as the chain, are essential.
But it’s not just about the appearance. Poorly maintained motorcycles can even become a safety risk. If, for example, damage due to corrosion is overlooked, this can lead to motorcycle parts breaking. In extreme cases, unmaintained chains can break and lead to serious accidents.
While maintaining the motorcycle, always pay attention to the surface you are working on. There are many different materials on the motorcycle such as:
The most frequent and most intensive types of contamination are:
The multitude of materials and dirt variants on the motorcycle place particularly high demands on cleaning and care products. Only products that completely remove the most diverse types of dirt and at the same time do not damage the material in any way can be considered as first-class care products.
S100 Motorcycle Cleaners consist of specially developed cleaning components (so-called surfactants), which infiltrate both oil and grease contamination and remove it from the material. In addition, complexing agents supplement the formulas. They “coat” dirt particles in such a way that they can easily be rinsed off with a water jet.
Such cleaning processes take some time. Especially with stubborn dirt. The cleaning product must therefore not run off the treated surface prematurely. In response to this need, S100 Moto Wash features a Super Gel Formula. Even on vertical surfaces, it sticks longer without drying and can develop its full effect. Even extreme dirt does not stand a chance.
The material itself stays unaffected. S100 Moto Wash does not contain any aggressive ingredients. This means that the surfaces are optimally protected.
Cheap motorcycle cleaners are usually very simple in composition. Often, highly effective substances that are absolutely harmful to the material and the environment – such as acids – are used. This initially gives the impression of a quick cleaning effect. But in reality, the material is attacked. This results in damage to the paint or staining of metal parts and in some cases can even have an effect on the health of the user. Application deficiencies, such as an uneven spray pattern or a low yield, also indicate a low-quality product.
S100 Cleaning Products are precisely adapted to ALL important requirements through continuous research and extensive test series. The focus is on the cleaner itself – but the choice of the best spray gun, the material of the cleaner bottle or even the quality of folding boxes and labels also play a role.
This ensures that S100 Cleaners meet the highest quality requirements at all times.
Painted metal or plastic parts on the motorcycle are exposed to widely fluctuating temperatures and weather conditions. Weathering and UV radiation cause them to weather over time. But the ravages of time also gnaw away at matt, unpainted plastics. Materials that become dull and unaesthetic due to scratching and weathering can, however, be restored to perfect condition.
Weathered layers of paint scatter the incident light. Our eye perceives this as a veil. By applying a high-quality paint polish, the paint surface is smoothed – while the fine, weathered paint layer is removed. As a result, the light is no longer scattered and the paint reappears in a rich, deep colour.
When light is reflected without scattering, that's when gloss is created. This light reflection can be greatly increased with the right polish. The paint gets a brilliant shine.
Good paint polishes do not just cover scratches in the paint, but remove them. The finest abrasives are used for this purpose. They must be adjusted in such a way that fine scratches are permanently removed, but the paint is not additionally attacked.
In addition to polishing, complete paint care always includes sealing. It acts like an additional protective layer and keeps dirt and fine scratches away from the paint. Thanks to optimal coordination between silicone and wax components, you can achieve an easy application and at the same time an ideal long-term effect. S100 Paint and Plastic Polish gives all painted metal and plastic parts a perfect high gloss. Scratches and weathered layers of paint are removed. At the same time, the surface is effectively sealed.
Unpainted, smooth and textured plastic parts need special care because they lack the protective layer of paint. If care is lacking, the plasticisers in the plastic volatilise due to heat, UV radiation or chemicals. The result: the plastic becomes brittle and fragile and increasingly fades visibly.
For all smooth, hard plastic parts such as mudguards or windscreens, S100 Paint and Plastic Polish is best suited for regular care. For faded plastics (painted or unpainted), as well as motorcycle parts made of metal, we recommend S100 Colour Refresher for visual enhancement. The
S100 Colour Refresher refreshes faded surfaces.
Insect remains on the front of the motorcycle are an annoying problem. If they remain there for a long time, they become stubbornly attached and can only be removed with difficulty. On an unprotected paintwork, damage caused by insect remains occurs after a very short time. They must be removed as quickly as possible.
This is where S100 Moto Wash comes to the rescue. In contrast to many liquid products that run off or dry quickly, S100 Moto Wash even sticks to vertical surfaces thanks to its super gel formula and can thus remove insect residues more effectively. Its optimal combination of active ingredients completely dispenses with aggressive ingredients without impairing the cleaning performance. Please also refer to our chapter on S100 motorcycle cleaning products.
Metal parts are important on the motorcycle because they often provide stability. To protect these metals from corrosion, they are in most cases provided with an appropriate coating. Paint, anodised or chrome coatings are the most common. Sometimes bare, unprotected aluminium parts are also used.
Aluminium is used to reduce the weight of the motorcycle. That is why it is found in central places such as the frame, swingarm or rims.
Aluminium parts can be divided into the following groups:
Retrofit parts for motorcycles are often made of uncoated, highly polished aluminium. However, aluminium is a very sensitive material. Without an appropriate protective coating, it quickly becomes dull and unsightly. Even contact with tap water can result in clear stains and traces of corrosion.
Due to this high sensitivity, the formation of stains on bare aluminium cannot be safely ruled out with ANY cleaning agent.
S100 Moto Wash with material protector has been designed with the highest possible protection for bare aluminium. However, a one hundred percent guarantee cannot be given. Experience shows that there are no concerns with bare aluminium. Nevertheless, we feel obliged to point out the possibility of staining with this sensitive material.
Always use particularly mild cleaning agents to clean unprotected aluminium and pay careful attention to the application instructions as well as the care recommendations of the motorcycle manufacturer.
How to recognise bare aluminium?
Do a polishing test with a mild product. For example S100 Paint and Plastic Polish or A1 Speed Polish. A bare aluminium surface shows black abrasion, an anodised or painted surface does not.
Here, the aluminium gets several layers of paint as protection. S100 Motorcycle Cleaning Products can be used for cleaning painted aluminium parts without any problems.
In an electrochemical process, an artificial aluminium oxide layer is created on the bare aluminium. This layer protects the material from humidity and environmental influences. S100 Motorcycle Cleaning Products can also be used for cleaning anodised aluminium parts without any problems.
S100 Motorcycle Cleaners can therefore be used for all types of coated metals (painted, anodised or chrome-plated).
Older, weathered or dull metal parts can be restored to a good condition by regular care, e.g. with S100 Metal Polish.
As-new, bare aluminium parts that have been prepared with a metal polish or damaged metal parts should be treated regularly with S100 Corrosion-Protectant. Thanks to the self-healing protective film that S100 Corrosion-Protectant builds up, lasting protection is guaranteed even on surfaces that are mechanically stressed (e.g. by stone chipping).
For faded plastics (painted or unpainted), as well as motorcycle parts made of metal, we recommend S100 Colour Refresher for visual enhancement. The S100 Colour Refresher refreshes faded surfaces.
In addition to normal road dirt and brake wear, very stubborn dirt caused by chain lubricants often occurs on motorcycle rims, especially on the rear wheel rim. They are particularly difficult to remove.
The S100 Moto Wash is particularly well suited for this purpose. Unlike many liquid products that run off quickly or dry up, S100 Moto Wash even sticks to vertical surfaces thanks to its Super Gel Formula and can work for longer.
Its optimal combination of active ingredients completely dispenses with aggressive ingredients without impairing the cleaning performance. Please also refer to our chapter on S100 Motorcycle Cleaning Products.
Note:
Motorcycle rims come in many designs. Most are painted or anodised. Sometimes, however, rims made of bare, unprotected aluminium are used. You can read more about cleaning and care in the chapter on aluminium.
UV radiation damages paint surfaces and causes them to lose gloss and colour depth.
Direct UV radiation:
Direct UV radiation destroys the binders in the paint. If they are missing, colour depth and gloss are gradually lost. The paint fades and becomes matt and unattractive.
Indirect UV radiation:
UV radiation produces aggressive radicals. As soon as these radicals come into contact with the binders and dyes in the varnish, they destroy the colour. Here, too, gloss and colour depth are increasingly lost and a matt, bleached-out effect is created.
What is recommended for protection against UV radiation?
The S100 Paint and Plastic Polish as well as A1 Speed Wax Plus 3 contain ingredients that form a fine, durable protective film on the paint. It protects the colour pigments and binders in the paint from direct contact with aggressive radicals. This prevents them from breaking down the binding agents and destroying the colour pigments. Colour depth and gloss are retained noticeably longer and the gradual fading of the paint is significantly delayed.
Really thorough cleaning is important to begin with. This way, dirt, grease or abrasion cannot adhere to the material over the winter and possibly cause damage due to weather influences or simply due to the long time.
For all painted parts, treatment with S100 Paint and Plastic Polish and subsequent sealing with S100 Gloss Wax Spray is recommended.
You should pay special attention to the chain. To prevent corrosion, clean the chain thoroughly with S100 Chain Cleaner and then lubricate with S100 White Chain Spray. Last but not least, it is best to protect the metal parts on the motorcycle with S100 Corrosion-Protectant. So even rust film has no chance.
Ideally, the motorcycle should not get dusty. Simply cover it and, if possible, put it in a dry, temperature-controlled room. However, use a breathable cover. This will also rule out corrosion caused by condensed moisture. This way you can start again cleanly next spring.
1. Do not use acidic or strongly alkaline cleaners. They attack the material and can even cause harm to health.
2. Never use cleaning agents in the blazing sun or on heated surfaces. They then dry out too quickly and can no longer be effective. In extreme cases, cleaning products can even burn onto the surfaces and cause unsightly stains.
3. Always follow the application instructions on the cleaning product. They have a great influence on the product’s performance.
4. Adhere to the specified exposure times.
5. Before washing the motorcycle, check that all accessories are clean and in full working order. Do not use dirty sponges or worn brushes. Clean all accessories in between washes.
6. Remove aggressive dirt such as insect remains, bird droppings or tree sap and similar dirt as soon as possible. They can visibly damage an unprotected paint after only 10 minutes. Sealing with S100 Insect Protector prevents this extreme effect.
7. Always rinse off cleaning products very thoroughly until no more foam is visible. If you clean only partially, always rinse the neighbouring parts thoroughly as well.
8. For sensitive surfaces, always test the care product in advance for compatibility.
9. Make sure you clean the surface thoroughly before polishing or waxing. Otherwise, dirt particles will come off during polishing or waxing and scratch the paintwork.
10. Always have damaged rims or other metal parts professionally repaired. For regular protection, treat metal with a corrosion protection.