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Any highly (or evenly remotely) recommended dos or don'ts when washing your bike? I'll be washing it at home (not on the road quite yet) with a normal water hose and cleaners.
In addition to what Travis mentioned, I've found that using a "wash and wax" soap helps prevent further corrosion and rust while reducing water spots. Be sure to take the bike for a short ride after washing it to get the water out of the chain, brakes, and other areas, and then lube the chain when you get back.
if you put pod filters on your bike, chances are you have a crank case filter. Be sure to either keep water away from there or zip tie a little bag over it so you dont get any water in your engine....
I need to at least give it one good severe cleaning because the previous owners let it go to hell, basically, and didn't clean it or maintain it at all. Afterwards, I will try to keep it up by wipe-downs and such.
Should I cover any electricals with plastic bags or any other parts that should be covered?
If it's real bad you will need to hose it. Yes cover anything that could get water in it( carbs, holes in exhaust if you have any) vaseline will work good on electronic connections.
Bah, just hose it down and scrub it. I ride that thing in downpours. Motorcycles are made to get wet and keep going.....unless you've done a bunch of "mods" that take away the weather tightness the clever engineers built in.
My father in law uses wash and wax just like a car but the kicker is that he uses a leaf blower to dry it off instead of having to drive the clean wet bike on the dirty road
Dont put to much water pressure when washing near the axles. Blowing out a bearing seal isnt a fun thing to realize happened later when you're doing 65mph on the highway.