How to Clean Motorcycle Windshields & Fairings

Since your motorcycle’s windshields and fairs are typically made of plastic materials, they can sometimes be more prone to damage and wear than other stronger material parts.

Luckily, they’re pretty easy to clean and refresh.

How to Clean Motorcycle Windshields & Fairings

The plastic on your motorcycle’s windshields and fairings has a tendency to yellow or get hazy over time.

Some regular cleaning is the best way to keep these parts in good condition.

To clean your motorcycle windshield and fairings:

• Use warm water and mild soap or a plastic-specific cleaner to clean off any dirt and grime.
• Use a soft cloth. Avoid using squeegees, paper, or anything abrasive.
• Wipe dry and apply a plastic-safe wax to protect it.

Find our recommendations for the best motorcycle cleaners.

How to Remove Scratches from Motorcycle Windshields

Scratches and scuffs are easy to remove from your motorcycle’s windshields and fairings. To do so:

• Make sure the area is clean and dried.
• Get a fine grit plastic buffing compound.
• Hand buff the scratches with a soft cloth using a small circular motion.
• Wipe any remaining compound off.
• Apply a protective wax with another soft cloth.

If you have lots of scratches or particularly deeper scratches, you may need to start the process with high-girt (800 – 1000) wet sand paper before the fine rubbing compound.

How to Paint Motorcycle Fairings

If your fairings have become excessively scratched or damaged, you might want to paint them.

Since your fairings are plastic and relatively easy to remove and separate from the rest of the bike, painting them is not too difficult.

To paint your motorcycle fairings:

• Remove them from the bike.
• Clean any dirt and grime from the fairings.
• Prepare the surface for paint by sanding the fairings. 300-400 grit should suffice. This will give the paint and primer a good surface to stick to.
• Tape up any connection points.
• Apply your primer in a few thin coats and allow to dry.
• Apply your color paint in thin layers. Wait for each coat to dry completely before applying the next.
• You can wet sand after the first coat of color for a smooth, shiny finish.
• 3 to 5 total coats should be enough.
• Finish with a protective clear coat in 2-3 thin layers.

Check out our recommendations for some of the best paint for your motorcycle.

What are motorcycle fairings?

Motorcycle fairings are the plastic body panels on your bike.

Fairings are designed to control the flow of air as you ride.

These can help reduce drag and reduce the push of wind you feel on your body and the bike as speeds increase.

Fairings make for a much more comfortable ride and allow you to maintain the proper riding position.