Top eco-friendly motorbike cleaners

We all want to keep our bikes clean. Not only is it the best way to pride and joy looking its best but it’s an important part of its maintenance schedule and a vital way to ensure it’s performing to its best ability, too.

But these days, it’s increasingly important to look after the environment too, and many traditional cleaning products, by being solvent or acid-based, can be potentially disastrous here, not just to drains and the water systems, but to the atmosphere and in terms of packaging as well.

Which is where the new breed of ‘eco-friendly’ automotive cleaning products, many of them specifically designed for use on motorcycles, come in.

These are often alkaline or water-based, so pose no threat to the environment, are available with refills, so have potentially less waste packaging and are often designed to tackle specific cleaning tasks on your bike.

Related: Best motorcycle cleaning brushes

But what, exactly, is out there? What do they do, what are they made of and what do you get for your money? Here’s our pick of some of the best currently available to help you choose...

It can be used neat for particularly stubborn debris or diluted for less hardcore muck and to go a longer way. It is acid and caustic-free and can be used by professionals, industry and regular bikers alike.

Pros:

Citrus based

Biodegradable

Good value

Cons:

Unfamiliar brand

It’s claimed to be fully biodegradable as again it’s alkaline based with no acids, solvents or CFCs, is even friendlier to the environment by not shipping around unnecessary water and is designed and made in the UK.

Pros:

From Guy Martin

‘Mix your own’ design

Easily applied

Con:

Not as proven as some

It is suitable for all types of bike both on and off-road, won’t damage rubber or alloy (so is suitable for all types of chain, including O, X and Z-ring types), is fully water soluble and biodegradable so is friendly to the environment. It even comes with a lush watermelon fragrance – what’s not to like?

Pros:

Respected brand

Easy to use

Watermelon fragrance

Con:

Not the cheapest (but not bad)

This means it has the added benefit of therefore also not damaging any glue in the filter (as it’s not solvent-based) and by cleaning the filter, ensures a longer service life for both the filter and your bike’s engine.

Pros:

Reputable brand

Extends the life of your air filter and engine

Easy to use

Con:

A little pricier than some

Both contain what they call ‘muck munching microbes and enzymes for powerful eco-friendly cleaning’ and are suitable for all types of bikes and motorbike. Although not as well known as others, they’re well rated.

Pros:

Double pack

Well rated

Simply spray on and wash off

Con:

Not as well-known as some

It’s easy to use; is claimed to remove dirt and protects against corrosion, is usable on all surfaces and is biodegradable. It gets very good ratings from users, as well. Simply spray, wait, agitate slightly for stubborn dirt and rinse off.

Pros:

Leading brand

Simple to apply

Usable on all surfaces

Con:

Refills not available

The nano-technology bit refers to its claim to break down dirt on a molecular level; its alkaline-based formula is free of all acids, solvents and CFCs so is fully biodegradable; its famous pink fluid is safe on all surfaces and, in this economy pack form, is great value, too!

Pros:

Highly rated

Refill-pack value

Other sizes available

Con:

Doesn’t come with spray dispenser

Again, it’s effective on all surfaces, too, and being alkaline based and biodegradable, inflicts no harm on the environment whatsoever.

Pros:

Respected brand

Easy to apply and rinse off

Specially developed for bikes

Con:

Refills not available

It’s claimed to cut through the toughest of grime, including waterproof grease and lube residue leaving your bike chain running smooth and it’s easy to spray on, leave, then rinse off so takes no time at all to use. Best of all, it’s fully-biodegradable so is completely friendly towards the environment.

Pros:

Aimed at performance bikes

Spray-on, rinse-off design

Highly rated by buyers

Con:

Aerosol type so not refillable

It comes with its own spray bottle dispenser with refill packs available, is alkaline based, as are many others, so contains no environmentally harmful solvents or acids, and is easily applied, left, agitated as required and then rinsed off.

Pros:

Proven and respected brand

Refills available

Easy to apply

Con:

Not the cheapest

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