Cleaning The Motorcycle; Storing The Bike Away - Ducati ST4s Owner's Manual

Cleaning the motorcycle

To preserve the finish of metal parts and paintwork,
wash and clean your motorcycle at regular intervals,
anyway according to the road conditions you ride in.
Use specific products only. Prefer biodegradable
products. Avoid aggressive detergents or solvents.
Important
Do not wash your motorcycle right after use. When
E
the motorcycle is still hot, water drops will evaporate
faster and spot hot surfaces.
Never clean the motorcycle using hot or high-pressure
water jets.
Cleaning the motorcycle with water cleaners may lead to
seizure or severe failure of front fork, wheel hub
assembly, electric system, front fork seals, air inlets or
exhaust silencers and adversely affect the operation of
motorcycle safety features.
Clean off stubborn dirt or exceeding grease from engine
parts using a degreasing agent. Be sure to avoid contact
with drive parts (chain, sprockets, etc.)
Rinse with warm water and dry all surfaces with chamois
leather.
Warning
Braking performance may be impaired immediately
after washing the motorcycle.
Never grease or lubricate the brake discs. Loss of
braking and further accidents may occur. Clean the discs
with an oil-free solvent.
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Storing the bike away

If the motorcycle is to be left unridden over long periods,
it is advisable to carry out the following operations before
storing it away:
clean the motorcycle;
undo the drain plug with its seal and empty the fuel tank;
pour a few drops of engine oil into the cylinders through
the spark plug seats, then crank the engine by hand a
few times so a protective film of oil will spread on
cylinder inner walls;
place the motorcycle on the supplied service stand;
remove the battery and keep it well charged and
efficient. Battery should be checked and charged
whenever the motorcycle has been left unridden for over
a month;
protect the motorcycle with a suitable canvas available
from Ducati Spare Parts Department. This will protect
paintwork and let condensate breathe out.