The best motorcycle waterless washes for dry cleaning between washes to keep your bike gleaming

Sometimes, thoroughly cleaning your motorbike with a full wash, dry, polish and wax, is not just essential to maintain its finish but can be eminently satisfying. The process of turning a filthy bike, particularly in wintertime, back into a showroom-shiny example can be extremely rewarding, however it isn’t always practical to do a complete top to bottom clean, so a waterless bike wash can be a great way to keep on top of it between washes.

What is a waterless wash for?

For some, a cursory blast with a pressure washer is enough to get rid of as much grime and dead insects as possible. However, while this might make things look better on the surface, it doesn’t necessarily get rid of stubborn dirt and the paintwork, while appearing in good condition, is more likely far from it.

If you have only limited time and you want to bring back the shine, then a waterless motorcycle wash can have your bike looking cleaner and shinier in moments, without the need for hoses, shampoos or sponges.

Related: Top motorcycle cleaning and maintenance sprays

A waterless wash will have various properties; it should loosen dried-on insect debris and road grime. It should dissolve grease and tar on the lower portions of the bike. It should remove all offending dirt and leave a clean, streak-free finish.

All you need is a decent microfibre cloth and a clean bike is just moments away.

Our top tested waterless washes

How MCN tests cleaning products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands miles and we want to use that wisdom to make sure you buy cleaning products that are worth the money.

We ride year-round and in all conditions, and so we get a lot of bikes dirty. That means a LOT of washing for our test bikes and our own machines and so we get through cleaner and cleaning accessories quickly.

We use cleaning products just how you do, not in a lab and not in controlled conditions but in the real world.

If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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What our scores mean

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. In order to be included in a buying guide, a product must achieve an overall score of at least four stars.

Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.

2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.

3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.

4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.

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