Always try out a small area, ideally in an out of the way part of the bike, before diving in. No matter what cleaner you use, be sure to test it first. If you do a quick clean regularly, then you don’t have to do a full clean as often. Then you can move on to getting that matte nice and shiny. Unless it’s a perfectly dry day on asphalt, giving your bike a quick hose down is always better than letting dirt harden on your frame. No matter what cleaner you use, be sure to gently clean off any surface grit or dirt off your bike. Don’t let dirt dry on your bike! We all do it, but we really shouldn’t. Things like sweat, sunscreen or embrocation – from knees rubbing the top tube – and road grit can cause wear or damage to your bike’s finish. It also makes regular maintenance crucial. That means what you use to clean a matte bike is important. Matte is a porous finish, where gloss paint is sealed. Why is cleaning a matte bikes so hard? Well, it’s a completely different finish than gloss frames.

All the very expensive components we bolt onto them can also be quite delicate, especially if not treated right.Īfter sorting though all the advice, seeking wisdom from some seasoned mechanics, and some real world comparison cleaning, here’s what we’ve found. Bikes, where high end frames can weigh just hundreds of grams, are much more fragile than their motorized counterparts. Bicycles, even ebikes, aren’t motorbikes though.

Much of what we fond was brought over from automotive or other industries. So, what’s the trick to restoring your Matte frame’s shine? Turns out, there is a whack of conflicting advice out there. If you own a matte cyclocross, gravel or mountain bike, on the other hand, you’ve probably noticed dirt seems to magically cling to the surface, even when you think you’ve done a thorough post-ride clean. If you only ride on dry roads, that’s rarely a problem. Matte look great, that is, until they get at all dirty or dusty. Find that shine: confusion and cleaning matte bikes They stick out in a sea of gloss bikes and add character to a frame, but are tricky to clean.

White canyon disk wipe