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I just cleaned behind the plastic side covers on my 2010 RKC. I used simple green and a baby bottle brush. I left the fuse box cover on the bike while cleaning. There were no problems. I used a gentle spray from a garden hose to rinse everything off and took it for a ride immediately after the cleaning so that it would dry out quickly.
I have discovered the electrical relays on my bike are a sealed type from the factory. Water can't get into the internal parts. I didn't take any special precautions on the right side.
I use Goop hand cleaner (no pumice or abrasive) on almost everything. It will lift greasy grime easily after rubbing it in, then wipe it off, follow with a little water to rinse and you don't need to be concerned what it gets on. Use a tooth brush were needed. I've used it to get oil out of jeans an it works pretty well there too.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.