TUGA Chemie Biker's Super-Teufel® Motorcycle Cleaner 1000ml

Motorcycle Cleaner: Biker's Super-Teufel as a pH-neutral Gel Formula with Iron Remover

What is Biker's Super-Teufel? An acid-free, pH-neutral to slightly alkaline motorcycle cleaner from TUGA Chemie GmbH with a thixotropic gel formula. The pH value is between 6.5 and 7.5 — gentle on paint, glass, rubber and plastic. The primary active ingredient, Sodium Thioglycolate, dissolves baked-on brake dust and rust film by iron complexation, while SLES and Capryl Glucoside emulsify insect remains, chain grease, and road grime. Not approved for unsealed aluminum, black-chromated components, and open bearings — observe maximum spray distance to open wheel bearings.

Biker's Super-Teufel® is TUGA Chemie's motorcycle all-rounder, utilizing the decades-proven gel foundation of the Alu-Teufel family for a two-wheel-optimized complete wash. The formula is based on Sodium Thioglycolate as a chemically active reducing agent, a surfactant backbone of Sodium Laureth Sulfate (anionic) and Capryl Glucoside (non-ionic sugar surfactant), and Xanthan Gum as a pseudoplastic thickener.

TUGA Chemie, based in Osnabrück, Germany, has been manufacturing these formulas for decades, supplying commercial detailers, workshops, and ambitious private customers in the DACH region.

Three cleaning mechanisms operate in parallel: First, Sodium Thioglycolate binds iron(II) and iron(III) ions from baked-on brake dust and rust film into water-soluble iron thioglycolate complexes — this is crucial for motorcycles with open brake systems and exposed sprockets. Second, SLES and Capryl Glucoside dissolve lipophilic contaminants like chain grease and road grime through micelle formation. Third, Xanthan Gum holds the gel statically on vertical fairings because the viscosity decreases under spray pressure and immediately increases again upon impact — allowing the surfactants to penetrate the contamination for several minutes without the product running off prematurely.

Unlike purely liquid competitors such as Liqui Moly Motorbike Cleaner or Nigrin Technischer Reiniger, the TUGA gel formula adheres significantly longer to heavily ribbed engine parts and cylinder cooling fins — manual scrubbing with brushes is reduced to the chain and heavily encrusted rim edges.

• Three mechanisms in one pass. Insect remains (proteins/chitin), chain grease (lipids), and brake dust (inorganic iron oxides) are chemically undermined in parallel. The active indicator effect is less pronounced here than with Alu-Teufel Spezial, because the contamination on motorcycle parts is more heterogeneous than pure brake dust on rims — cleaning completeness is shown by the rinse pattern, not by color change.
• €14 per liter in 1-L container, €11 in 5-L canister. Market leader Dr. Wack S100 Total Reiniger Plus is around €26.65 per liter — a 40 percent price difference for comparable cleaning performance. Koch-Chemie motorcycle cleaner (self-drying) at €19.99/L, Meguiars EZ Clean (US import) from €29.60/L, GYEON modular system of APC + Iron + Bathe often over €30/L for specialty chemicals. SONAX Xtreme motorcycle cleaner similar price (~€15/L), but a more watery consistency without Xanthan adhesion.
• Increasingly as an all-purpose weapon for e-bikes, quads, and car engine bays in 2026. Off-label use in the DACH market is growing — pedelecs with complex wired mid-motors, ATV profile tires, and engine bay plastics benefit from the same three-mechanism approach. Strict caution when applying to e-bikes: never directly on the display, battery contacts, or open connectors.

Practical tip from Detailing1: In our workshop, the most common cause of baked-on damage to a bike is the "Hot-Surface-Error" — customers drive directly into the wash bay and spray the cleaner onto still-hot exhaust manifolds or cylinder heads. The thermal energy causes the gel to evaporate suddenly ("Flash-Cure"), and the surfactants and inorganic salts bake into the surface, leaving stubborn white spots. Rule of thumb: 30 minutes cooling time after each ride, 45 minutes for carbon-ceramic brakes. Plus the reality of consumption: a standard wash requires about 100 ml, for heavily soiled adventure bikes up to 170 ml — those who want to get by with 50 ml will be frustrated with incomplete cleaning. Strictly maximum contact time of 5 minutes, never take a coffee break while the gel is on the fairing.

Pre-rinse, spray from bottom up, wait three minutes, wipe off.

The standard workflow begins with a high-pressure pre-rinse. Loose road dust, insect remains, and chain dust are roughly removed so that the gel doesn't have to penetrate a layer of dirt before reaching the actual fairing. Avoid spraying into open wheel bearings, carburetor intake channels, or steering head bearings — the pressure is sufficient to damage seals or force water through cracks.

The bike should be cooled to ambient temperature. If in direct sunlight, move it to the shade or wash in the morning or evening hours. Spray Biker's Super-Teufel evenly from 20 to 30 centimeters away, from bottom to top, onto fairing parts, rims, sprocket, and fork tubes. This direction is important: working from top to bottom creates concentration gradients and streaks.

Allow to soak for three to five minutes. The reddish-purple discoloration of the gel (due to iron-thioglycolate complexation) indicates where brake dust and rust film have been dissolved. For heavily encrusted areas (chain, cylinder cooling fins, inner rim), agitate with a soft detailing brush or a specialized wheel cleaning brush — use circular motions, no pressure, to distribute the gel more evenly.

Then rinse thoroughly with high pressure. First from bottom to top (loosens the lower fairing edge), then with clear water from top to bottom (safely flushes all residues to the bottom). Never wipe dry as long as there is still a cleaning film on the surface — microfiber cloths would drag dissolved dirt particles across the paint.

The most common source of error is insufficient mechanical assistance for caked-on chain grease. Pure spraying only dissolves the top layer — the lower part of the sprocket remains sticky because the surfactants cannot penetrate. A dedicated chain brush with bristles is indispensable here.

Paint, glass, rubber, and plastic yes. Unsealed aluminum and trim strips with caution.

Biker's Super-Teufel is approved for painted fairings (all common clear coats), glass visors and windscreens, rubber hoses and boots, and all plastic components from front cowlings to rear fairings. The pH-neutral profile prevents the leaching of plasticizers from rubber components — a significant difference from strongly alkaline APCs like Sonax MultiStar or Koch-Chemie Mzr.

Strictly excluded or at least requiring testing are unsealed aluminum components (polished rim flanges, bare swingarms, anodized parts with damaged surfaces). The reactive Sodium Thioglycolate matrix can cause oxidation on non-passivated aluminum surfaces — visible as dull, milky spots that cannot be reversed by any polish. Clear-coated aluminum rims (standard on modern motorcycles), however, are safe.

Black-chromated trim strips and galvanized stickers are a second special case. The thin chromate layer is susceptible to any reduction chemistry — keep a safe distance or cover with tape before application. Visible carbon parts (often on sports bikes) are approved, provided the clear coat is intact.

Touchscreen displays on modern motorcycle cockpits (KTM, Ducati, BMW) are an absolute taboo. The alkaline-reductive surfactants attack anti-reflective coatings and oleophobic coatings — visible as permanent matting or clouding. Here, cover with film before washing or frame with tape.

The important limitation for professional use: never spray onto open bearings, exposed timing chain tensioners, or directly into carburetor intake channels. The surfactants would dissolve lubricants from the bearings — even with short exposure, secondary damage can occur that only becomes visible after weeks.

Spring detailing, insect high season, and the 5-L argument.

Demand for high-quality motorcycle cleaners in the DACH market follows two clear peaks. The first is during spring detailing between March and May, when road salt corrosion, standing water marks, and bearing dust need to be washed away after the winter break. Those who don't regularly maintain their bike in winter will face doubly difficult to remove contamination after six months of storage — baked-on brake dust plus road salt residue plus oxidized chain dust.

The second peak is in midsummer (June to August), when insect remains on front fairings and helmet visors become the primary cleaning task. Insect proteins cross-link under UV radiation and heat on the paint surface — those who wait until the next tour will find the material already baked on. Weekly maintenance during the main season is the standard for ambitious touring riders.

The 1-liter spray bottle at around 13 to 14 euros is a convenient entry point for one or two bikes in a private household. With weekly washing and a consumption of around 60 to 100 ml per complete cleaning (fairing, rims, chain), one liter is sufficient for about ten to fifteen cleaning cycles — a quarterly supply for everyday use.

The 5-liter canister at around 56 euros saves about 20 percent per liter and is the right size for workshops, smaller detailers, and households with multiple machines. The price per liter then comes to about 11.20 euros — almost 25 percent less than the 1-L container. The pump head of the 1-liter bottle can be unscrewed and transferred to a separate empty bottle, which is then refilled from the canister — the established solution, as the original 5-L canister itself is not suitable for spraying.

Safety note for professional use: The product falls under GHS07 with hazard statements H302 (harmful if swallowed) and H317 (may cause allergic skin reactions). Due to its aqueous base, the VOC content is negligibly low for professional users — the cleaner is also suitable for mobile detailing services in enclosed garages with limited ventilation. Nitrile gloves are mandatory for frequent use, especially for sensitive skin.

Related: Car shampoos compared • Biker's Felgen-Teufel (Rim Pre-Cleaner) • Shampoo-Teufel (Car Wash)

Application of Biker's Super-Teufel Motorcycle Cleaner

Complete wash in one go, from cockpit to rear wheel

The bike should be cooled to ambient temperature – wait at least 30 minutes after riding on the highway or pre-cool with cold high-pressure water. If in direct sunlight, move it into the shade – black fairings can reach 50 degrees in 10 minutes, where the gel evaporates too quickly.

First, rinse roughly with a high-pressure water jet. This removes loose road dust, insect cadavers from the front fairing, and chain dust. Never spray directly into open wheel bearings, carburetor intake ducts, or steering head bearings – the pressure can damage seals or force water through cracks.

Spray Biker's Super-Teufel evenly from bottom to top onto all fairing parts, rims, sprockets, and fork tubes from a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters. Let it soak for three to five minutes – the reddish-purple discoloration of the gel (due to iron thioglycolate complexation) shows where brake dust and flash rust have been dissolved.

For encrusted chain grease on the sprocket or cylinder cooling fins, agitate with a soft detailing brush or a motorcycle rim brush. Then rinse residue-free with high pressure – first from bottom to top (loosens the lower fairing edge), then with clear water from top to bottom.

Notes: Strictly not for unsealed aluminum (polished rim flange, bare swingarms), black-chromed decorative strips, or touchscreen displays of modern cockpits. Never spray directly into open bearings – the surfactants would dissolve lubricants from the bearings, visible only weeks later as consequential damage. Maximum exposure time 5 minutes, never on hot engine blocks or in direct sunlight. Store frost-free between 5 and 30 degrees, shelf life 24 months after opening.