Have you ever wondered what’s the best way to clean a BMX bike?
It’s very simple, and you don’t need any fancy stuff to get it done.
For the past 20+ years, I have been cleaning my bike just using a dry cloth.
That’s it!
Rarely would I wet the cloth to get rid of some stains. Why?
Because I pick up a cloth frequently to wipe up my bike, so it’s fresh all the time.
Hey, I care about my bike because only then will it care about me and help me enjoy more successful sessions.
How To Clean A BMX Bike With A Dry Cloth
I usually start with the wheels because they take the longest.
And yes, I clean all the spots between the spokes.
Nothing looks worse than a wheel with crisp rim walls, but the middle of the rim is all dirty.
From then on, I don’t really have any rules that I follow.
I just try to get in all the spots to thoroughly clean all the dust, tiny pebbles that might get stuck, etc.
From time to time, I’ll also investigate the tires to remove any glass stuck into them to avoid flats.
If you do it regularly, it might even take you less than ten minutes – five, and you’re ready to rock and roll.
To be honest, it took me a little extra time because I don’t clean the rims between spokes every time.
Also, if rain catches you, I HIGHLY suggest that you pick up that dry cloth as soon as you get home and wipe your bike.
Don’t leave your bike sitting, all wet!
You don’t want any rust to start forming, right?
And yes, it can happen, especially on the bolts and even on the frame and other parts where the welds are. These are especially crucial to be rust-free.
The only extra thing I do, but not every time, is grease my chain.
Use that same cloth you just cleaned your bike with to wipe the chain before you apply grease or any bike lube you plan to use.
Conclusion: Don’t Neglect Your BMX Bike!
Don’t be one of those dudes with all dirty and rusty bikes unless it’s intentional, like in the Trey Jones case.
(That rusty frame he sometimes rides actually looks really rad. Interestingly, his signature Cult frame in raw intentionally doesn’t have any coating – yes, so it can rust.)
But even if you do decide to keep your bike rusty, I recommend you replace it more often because you never know what’s going on inside of it.
However, for most of us, let’s keep those bikes clean and tidy, always ready for a killer session.
Further reading:
- How-to: BMX bike maintenance!
- How to store a BMX bike?
- Overcoming fear in BMX (best tips!)
- 14 Easy beginner BMX tricks (basics!)
- 28 Common beginner BMX mistakes (to avoid)
