Products to effortlessly bring a motorcycle back to sparkling condition are a popular buy for time-stressed bikers, with multiple cleaners promising the best results. Any new cleaner on the market has to have a USP to stand out from the crowd and to justify a prime position on dealers’ shelves.
Motoclean Bike Wash’s distinctive feature is that it is a gel, rather than a liquid, which the firm says helps it to cling to grease and grime for longer, allowing it to work more effectively. It should also drip less, resulting in reduced wastage and a cleaner driveway. The pH neutral formula is non-acidic and biodegradable, establishing its eco-friendly credentials, and claims to leave a high-gloss finish without watermarks on paint, plastics and chrome.
Trying it on a grubby BMW, I followed the instructions to the letter – wet the bodywork, spray on the Motoclean Bike Wash, leave for five minutes for it to get to work (agitating with a brush or sponge for stubborn dirt) and then rinse off.
And the result? Well, the gel’s thick consistency means it sticks to the bodywork as promised, with no drips sullying the tarmac, but it also means that it doesn’t spray out evenly, so it needs to be spread around to give an all-over coverage of the thick lather.
After leaving the gel to do its thing for the stipulated five minutes I thoroughly rinsed everything off with a hose. Initial results were mixed. Most of the dirt rinsed off, but it didn’t leave the bike completely clean, with notable watermarks and streaks evident as the bike dried. This wasn’t a big problem, but it meant the fairing and tank required another wipe over with a microfibre cloth to bring it up to scratch and ready for some wax or polish.
Overall, the finished results were good, but it wasn’t quite as effortless as I had hoped. Washing my test bike more regularly would probably reduce the elbow-grease required, and Motoclean’s drip-free formulation reduces wastage meaning a £14.99 1-litre bottle will provide numerous applications.
Motoflow Distribution; 01854Â 611188; www.motoclean.co.uk
Before cleaning
