CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

[kneescraper]

Hi guys and gals.

My bike has a lil surface crap on my swing arm on my CBR400rr. I would like to know how you guys keep your alloy parts clean. I have been told normal soap and a scrubing brush will clean alloy up real good but it dosnt seem to have the power!!!

Any ideas

Cheers

[gav]

Paint it black? :msn-wink:
Dunno, maybe some decent mag wheel polish or something?

[kneescraper]

Don't want to paint it black...I have tried Autosol but that dosnt seem to work as that is a polish not a cleaner...maybe I should try some different soaps.. or maybe kero.

[SuperDave]

Kerosene. I used it recently on my bike and was very impressed, cleaned all the metal parts, chain and wheel rims with no problem at all. I didnt use it on my fairings or or tank - I was told it dulls the paints glossy finish.

[kneescraper]

Oh ok...I might try kero then....with a scrubing brush. Give it a good ol clean!

[bugjuice]

protect everything around the swing arm that you don't want the crap taken off (ie chain, brakes, sprocket etc) and go a little nutty with degreaser. Or even take the back wheel off.. Degrease the crap out of it, wash it off, then soap and water, then if you want, most external metal polishes should bring it up. Repco should have some good stuff..

[kneescraper]

Ive also tried a degreaser but that didn't do any thing really. Metal polish seems to move a little but not all the crap...I need a good powerful soap..

[StoneChucker]

No need to dismantle, paint or otherwise go mad :killingme
Like SuperDave said, kerosene is the BEST by far. Use that, and a toothbrush on your chain, swingarm, foot pegs, exhaust pipes/can, engine case, wheel rims or literally anywhere you want to clean. The only place I don't use kerosene on is the paintwork (fairings and tank), plastics/soft materials (controls, seat, instruments, etc...) and brake pads.

For that, and everything else after the kerosene, use a good wash/degreaser. CT-18 is a wonder product. Got it recommended to me by Andrew at Roadsafe, and haven't looked back since. Simple, rinse bike off, spray a concentrated solution EVERYWHERE on bike (after kerosene rounds), leave for 20 mins, rinse off again, wash with less concentrated solution and cloth, rinse off, chamois dry, oil (chain, moveable parts), polish, silicone (just about everything except fairings and tank), pledge (windscreen, headlights and wheel rims - takes any micro scratches out of the screen, protects rims and makes all 3 look mint) and you're set. Clean, protected bike that will stay that way since ages ago! (Like L&P)

PS: The silicone not only protects, but improves the look as well. Some bike shops spray the whole bike in silicone to improve looks for potential customers. I wouldn't do that, prefer polish on paint but both work I guess.
Does run, and then wash off in the rain tho, but thats ok since I know ALL of you wash your bike after it's been in the rain :niceone: :msn-wink:

*EDIT* Forget about a "strong soap". Trust me, no soap is strong enough to remove the crud around the chain, back wheel and swingarm. The kerosene even dissolves tar which gets stuck there after rides on hot days. Some stubborn marks may not come off with the first contact of the toothbrush (yes, use this, best for accessability/abrasiveness combination). For those, dip the toothbrush in kerosene, scrub the mark and leave for 5 mins, possibly re-applying kerosene on after a min or two. When you come back and scrub, it will come right off.

[kneescraper]

Very nice StoneChucker.. I will do as your say....when u say Plegde do u mean use the product Pledge??

Cheers for all ya help guys

[GROOMER]

Don't want to paint it black...I have tried Autosol but that dosnt seem to work as that is a polish not a cleaner...maybe I should try some different soaps.. or maybe kero.

Car window polish (commercial quality)...its more of a polish than a liquid, and although its not gritty, it gets all sorts off. Not as rough as a cutting cream but works really well. The one I have used is made by pacer, but someone else must do something similar

[StoneChucker]

Very nice StoneChucker.. I will do as your say....when u say Plegde do u mean use the product Pledge??

Cheers for all ya help guys
Hehe yes, the product pledge - The furniture polish :niceone: And, once you're done there, you can use that on the outside and inside of your helmet visor too, does the same thing (and it smells good too).

PS: Check the bottom of my main post, I added a bit by editing, which you may have missed.

[kneescraper]

Ahhhh...great stuff mate!!!! I will do as you say Stonechucker, this weekend....I cant wait to get my CBR looking as good as new...well I hope hehe. Your a life saver mate!

[kneescraper]

Just saw ya Woaahh easy tigher title....nice :) hahahahahah

[StoneChucker]

Um... :confused:

You do know that silicone doesn't hide/remove dents and gravel rash don't you :msn-wink:

Whatever the condition of your bike, that will make it look it's best (in my opinion). On my bike, that takes me 4 hours to do a good job. Take into consideration that my bike is new, and I'm obsessive compulsive :wait:

Do you have some CRC can oil? When I said moveable parts, I meant things like side stand hinges, foot peg springs, control buttons (sparingly), ignition/other key mechanisms that sort of stuff. Don't get the CRC on any cables (clutch/throttle) though, it dries them out.

PS: Like I said, oil after you've dried the bike. Pretty annoying when you spend 1.5 hours polishing/siliconing the bike and you oil something and get oil spray on your nice clean bike...

[Mencius]

Whatever the condition of your bike, that will make it look it's best (in my opinion). On my bike, that takes me 4 hours to do a good job. Take into consideration that my bike is new, and I'm obsessive compulsive :wait:

Stoney,

Just how much would it cost a lovely young maiden like myself to get you to come and clean my bike? :lol:

Ang, ashamed......

[StoneChucker]

Stoney,

Just how much would it cost a lovely young maiden like myself to get you to come and clean my bike? :lol:

Ang, ashamed......
Hmm... I see potential for a possible side business here.
I read your post too fast, and thought you were sweet talking me and saying I was a lovely young man... Had you said that, it would have been free :msn-wink: Since you didn't, I'll get back to you with the price :shifty:

hehehe :killingme

[scumdog]

Ahhhh...great stuff mate!!!! I will do as you say Stonechucker, this weekend....I cant wait to get my CBR looking as good as new...well I hope hehe. Your a life saver mate!

Like a lot of things in life it's best if you clean your bike regularly 'cos it takes less time as less spooge'n'crud has built up.

Spray silicone over lower front of engine etc where road-spooge get flung onto by the front wheel - makes it easier to get tar/cow-shit/dead possum off. Make sure NONE gets on to the tyres and brake systems. :no:

[StoneChucker]

Spray silicone over... Make sure NONE gets on to the tyres and brake systems. :no:

Guaranteed to make you go faster though if you DO get it on those parts...
(Seriously, don't... Do like scumdog says!)

[Mencius]

Hmm... I see potential for a possible side business here.
I read your post too fast, and thought you were sweet talking me and saying I was a lovely young man... Had you said that, it would have been free :msn-wink: Since you didn't, I'll get back to you with the price :shifty:

hehehe :killingme

Oh, but you are a lovely young man *insert fluttering eyelids smilie here*

Bear in mind when you come back with a price that I have no *actual* money, and would have to barter goods for services, so to speak :devil2:

Ang

[StoneChucker]

Oh, but you are a lovely young man *insert fluttering eyelids smilie here*

Bear in mind when you come back with a price that I have no *actual* money, and would have to barter goods for services, so to speak :devil2:

Ang
LOL :msn-wink: I'm going to stop THIS conversation right now, before I bring myself into ill-repute (or, more so than I already have :whistle: )

[Mr Skid]

Oh, but you are a lovely young man *insert fluttering eyelids smilie here*

Bear in mind when you come back with a price that I have no *actual* money, and would have to barter goods for services, so to speak :devil2:

Ang

Ewwh yuck! Get a room you two! :bleh:

[Pixie]

No need to dismantle, paint or otherwise go mad :killingme
Like SuperDave said, kerosene is the BEST by far. Use that, and a toothbrush on your chain, swingarm, foot pegs, exhaust pipes/can, engine case, wheel rims or literally anywhere you want to clean. The only place I don't use kerosene on is the paintwork (fairings and tank), plastics/soft materials (controls, seat, instruments, etc...) and brake pads.

For that, and everything else after the kerosene, use a good wash/degreaser. CT-18 is a wonder product. Got it recommended to me by Andrew at Roadsafe, and haven't looked back since. Simple, rinse bike off, spray a concentrated solution EVERYWHERE on bike (after kerosene rounds), leave for 20 mins, rinse off again, wash with less concentrated solution and cloth, rinse off, chamois dry, oil (chain, moveable parts), polish, silicone (just about everything except fairings and tank), pledge (windscreen, headlights and wheel rims - takes any micro scratches out of the screen, protects rims and makes all 3 look mint) and you're set. Clean, protected bike that will stay that way since ages ago! (Like L&P)

PS: The silicone not only protects, but improves the look as well. Some bike shops spray the whole bike in silicone to improve looks for potential customers. I wouldn't do that, prefer polish on paint but both work I guess.
Does run, and then wash off in the rain tho, but thats ok since I know ALL of you wash your bike after it's been in the rain :niceone: :msn-wink:

*EDIT* Forget about a "strong soap". Trust me, no soap is strong enough to remove the crud around the chain, back wheel and swingarm. The kerosene even dissolves tar which gets stuck there after rides on hot days. Some stubborn marks may not come off with the first contact of the toothbrush (yes, use this, best for accessability/abrasiveness combination). For those, dip the toothbrush in kerosene, scrub the mark and leave for 5 mins, possibly re-applying kerosene on after a min or two. When you come back and scrub, it will come right off.
I'd be wary of applying any petroleum based product to polycarbonate(headlight and windscreen).You won't see a visible effect ,but the material will be weaked with each application.Pledge has petroleum products in it as do most household polishes.just use soap and water on these parts.

[Lou Girardin]

Hi guys and gals.

My bike has a lil surface crap on my swing arm on my CBR400rr. I would like to know how you guys keep your alloy parts clean. I have been told normal soap and a scrubing brush will clean alloy up real good but it dosnt seem to have the power!!!

Any ideas

Cheers

I use Simple green and elbow grease, works for me.

[TonyB]

Ask Dangerous what he uses (I'm pretty sure it's Wynns degreaser). His bike always looks like new. Even the bloody rear shock is clean. Bastard! Makes my bike look unloved :confused:

[StoneChucker]

Ask Dangerous what he uses (I'm pretty sure it's Wynns degreaser). His bike always looks like new. Even the bloody rear shock is clean. Bastard! Makes my bike look unloved :confused:
You obviously haven't seen my bike most of the time... Can anyone say anal? :killingme

[Mencius]

Can anyone say anal? :killingme

*glances around* Are you sure you want to say that in a place like this? :shifty:

:killingme

Ang

[Mencius]

Ewwh yuck! Get a room you two! :bleh:

Geeze the minds of some of the folk around here! I was merely suggesting I could do some washing and ironing in exchange for a clean motorcycle........ :D

Ang

[FEINT]

I use WAX to clean up the rims and I use WAX on the fairing and all. I use degreaser on everything else except the plastics.

WAX makes the rims look real good!

[TLDV8]

Kerosene and

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/manurewa/808.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/tldv8/98tls2/websize/Stock1x.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/tldv8/98tls2/websize/Stock2x.JPG

[TLDV8]

http://photos.imageevent.com/tldv8/98tls2/websize/Stock3x.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/tldv8/98tls2/websize/Stock5x.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/tldv8/98tls2/websize/Stock7x.JPG

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/manurewa/OhlinsBracket1.jpg

[FEINT]

that looks really really clean! I have to get some of that Silicone Spray!!!! :yes: :niceone:

Here is what my previous bikes mags looked like after degreasing then washing with soap. After the mags dried, used WAX to remove to grime and buff the wax off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/feintnz/clean01.jpg

Used BRASSO on the headers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/feintnz/clean02.jpg

[scumdog]

Sheeitt! And I thought my Hogly Sportster was awkward to clean!!

Yup, that blue top CRC silicone stuff is just the cats-vagina for keeping you scoot spooge-free