How to best clean your bike?

[Donzzz]

So I bought my Gixxer 600 K7.. The guy (nice chap) lives in Welly. I flew down and rode it back to Aucks today!!!

A fantastic road trip. Me, my new bike and the open road. Not the best weather must say, freakin whole country was racked with a bloody thunderstorm, still managed to find lots of sunny breaks though. The wet/windy stretch through Tongariro national park very nearly made me turn around, but I trudged along...

So I'm back in Auckland now, a proud accomplishment on one hand and a dirty bike on the other. This is my first 600cc, first time I rode 7 hours at a stretch and the worst weather I've ever endured on two wheels all in the same day by the way. I would say I'm a little pleased. If you have any stories share please.

So back to my question: How do I best clean it? I'm saying no to hosing it down, also saying no to weilding a toothbrush for the next 3 hours. Looking for some tips, tricks, best practices and whatever-you-do-dont-do-this's

Thanks guys, and special thanks to those KBers who gave me some good advise prior to this purchase.

Donny

[Marmoot]

Hose it down, then wash it with a bucket of warm water and good carwash soap (meguiar or turtle wax) with a clean soft sponge. Then dry it with a good clean chamois.
Apply good wax (I use Meguiar gold class) on the painted plastic parts, let dry (10-15 minutes minimum), then wipe off with a clean microfibre cloth ($2 at Bunnings, can be washed with hot water and let dry).
Wipe unpainted metal parts (swingarm) with CRC or WD40 to clean any oil/chainlube residue.
Wipe the black unpainted plastic parts (mirrors etc) with a cloth sprayed with Armorall plastic protectant.
I'm not sure about wheels. I'm still fooked with cleaning wheels. I hate it. I normally just ignore them.
Don't do anything to the tyres. Leave them alone.
Methods I use 10 years so far. Still brand new look.
Happy to show results if you want.

[trailblazer]

i do exactly the same but since im a car painter i am able to get my hands on far superior wax's than mequiars. For my wheels i use an car wash brush that goes on the end of the hose. It seems to work fine for my bike but im still a newbie to this so my theory will probably change as time goes on.
congrats on the new purchase and your journey today. I to went for a ride in the worst conditions i have ridden in today but mine was by choice as i got bored sitting round the house so decided to put my gear on and go for a gentle ride. Got to get used to the rain somehow.

[Laava]

Happy to show results if you want.

Happy to see the results you get on my bike! Say 9.00am tomorrow? I'll make you a coffee. I'm good like that.

[Gone Burger]

Good thread - I'll be taking all this advice myself. Got my 1 week old bike home today from a ride and its filthy. Will be spending the day tomorrow making her shine again. Got a bag of Meguires products in the garage that I'll use after washing it. Good advice.

[Marmoot]

Happy to see the results you get on ...

You want me to polish your WHAT????

By the way, a lot of people recommend waxing once every 3-6 months.
From what I experienced, this is if you own a Fiat Panda that you don't love.
I wax mine once or twice every week or two weeks, and after 10 - 15 coats you'll notice the difference. And it's so much easier to keep clean afterwards. After riding in the rain, sufficiently waxed all you need to do is hose it down with water and wipe it clean (don't even need to soap it).

[hayd3n]

You want me to polish your WHAT????

By the way, a lot of people recommend waxing once every 3-6 months.
From what I experienced, this is if you own a Fiat Panda that you don't love.
I wax mine once or twice every week or two weeks, and after 10 - 15 coats you'll notice the difference. And it's so much easier to keep clean afterwards. After riding in the rain, sufficiently waxed all you need to do is hose it down with water and wipe it clean (don't even need to soap it).

how can i drop the soap if i dont need it??

[YellowDog]

I find Pledge furniture polish is good for removing the squished bugs and real sticky stuff like chain lube and road tar.

It doesn't give ultra-violet protection so you do need to put a proper polish on after wards. Works well on alloys too :yes:

[Taz]

What is bike cleaning? Sounds like womans work.

[CookMySock]

Basically you sit down with a bucket of hot water and a quality detergent and rip into it. It's going to take a while. There's no simple way to do a good job.

A few tricks I use ;

Squirt the loose shit off with the waterblaster first. Take care not to directly squirt things like alloy-finned coolers, and bearing seals - you will fuck them instantly.

Use a detergent that actually works! Many car cleaning products are just slimy bubbly bottles of crap that just soften the water and don't dissolve jack shit. Find a cleaner than actually dissolves dirt and removes it. Test on a really stubborn patch of dirt and you will see what I mean. See if you can find a workshop that uses the yellow Tergo handwash (the one that smells like lemons) and "borrow" a couple of pumps of it - try this stuff when getting stubborn shit off - its fooken magic!

Keep the amount of water down and the temperature up . Use the detergent mixed as concentrated as you can.

Other than that, its just sitting next to your bike with the rag and bucket of hot water and going for it.

Steve

[Maki]

DO NOT go anywhere near your bike with hot water!!! unless you want it to rust. Use cold water ONLY. Do not use household detergents either because they may contain salt, which also leads to rust.

Hose the bike down with cold water, use a sponge and a product intended for cleaning cars or bikes to get the gunge off and then wax it.

[Kickaha]

How do I best clean it?

Paying a groomer to do it always worked for me

[Virago]

DO NOT go anywhere near your bike with hot water!!! unless you want it to rust. Use cold water ONLY...

That's a new one on me. How does hot water cause rust?

[dipshit]

So back to my question: How do I best clean it? I'm saying no to hosing it down, also saying no to weilding a toothbrush for the next 3 hours. Looking for some tips, tricks, best practices and whatever-you-do-dont-do-this's

I like Muc-off cleaner for the swingarm and under tail section. There's lots of swingarm on a GSXR to clean! Muc-off makes it easy.

[Donzzz]

Wow thats just brilliant, thanks guys, katiepie and the other girl (you know who you are Laava) haha

Well today is just as good as any other, infact better since there's some fooken sun. If you see a blinding, burn-a-hole-in-yo-retinas shining Black Gixxer on the roads soon, you know your advice came in handy...

[Donzzz]

Wow, some car washing liquid, FW1 wax spray, armourall grease remover and half an hour of scrubbing later... this beauty looks new!!!

By the way Chamois leather is overrated, some microfibre and terry cloth did the job the best

[p.dath]

Wow, some car washing liquid, FW1 wax spray, armourall grease remover and half an hour of scrubbing later... this beauty looks new!!!

By the way Chamois leather is overrated, some microfibre and terry cloth did the job the best

Haven't been following the rest of the thread, but be carefull if you put any polish on the seat or on the tank where you knees/legs grip. Polish can make these two areas very slippery, and make it more difficult to stay on the bike/control the bike.

[Rogue Rider]

So I bought my Gixxer 600 K7.. The guy (nice chap) lives in Welly. I flew down and rode it back to Aucks today!!!

A fantastic road trip. Me, my new bike and the open road. Not the best weather must say, freakin whole country was racked with a bloody thunderstorm, still managed to find lots of sunny breaks though. The wet/windy stretch through Tongariro national park very nearly made me turn around, but I trudged along...

So I'm back in Auckland now, a proud accomplishment on one hand and a dirty bike on the other. This is my first 600cc, first time I rode 7 hours at a stretch and the worst weather I've ever endured on two wheels all in the same day by the way. I would say I'm a little pleased. If you have any stories share please.

So back to my question: How do I best clean it? I'm saying no to hosing it down, also saying no to weilding a toothbrush for the next 3 hours. Looking for some tips, tricks, best practices and whatever-you-do-dont-do-this's

Thanks guys, and special thanks to those KBers who gave me some good advise prior to this purchase.

Donny

Cleaning your bike can be a chore, or it can be a fun man time, time out to groom the beast and check on maintenance.
For me I wash my bike at least once a fortnight, with spray and wipes in between, depending on how dirty she is.

Firstly, I spray the bike with the hose, then a sponge bath with specialized car washing suds. I et it settle for a few minutes, then give it a lite brushing with a soft bristled car wash brush.
A simple hose off follows, then a warm wax application over the top. Alternatively to the wax, is to shammy dry, then spray and wipe with blue trigger bottle pledge.
For the nooks and crannies, I use my wife's tooth brush lol....... and a little degreaser.

If you have a cruiser and you have tarnished/ oxidized alloy, just use a scotch brite pad and some autosol. Be vigourous with the scotch pad and it will bring up a super finish. You can also use 1000 grit plus wet and dry sandpaper with an autosol polish after. This restores alloy to new.
For chrome bits of corrosion, simply use autosol and a rag, gently rub affected areas to a new chrome finish. If your selling your bike, its really worth while spending an hr or 2 tarting up the bike for sale. It will give a cracker finish.

[rie]

what colour? never mind. it is suzuki and inevitably the paint will fade to a pooey version of its former glory unless you take care of it. namely, keep it clean; keep it out of the sun; invest in a good wax.

[Virago]

DO NOT go anywhere near your bike with hot water!!! unless you want it to rust. Use cold water ONLY...


That's a new one on me. How does hot water cause rust?

No response...? I've scoured the interweb for anything to back up your claim, without any luck.

[blackdog]

for wheels i use a spray bottle of that orange cleaner stuff (generously) and then just hose off. good as new.....

[Cloggy]

I can't find any bits on my bike that could actually rust. All of it is either alloy or plastic (except the nuts and bolts and some small brackets.
But for most of the bike I use cold water as well. Can't see the point in using hot water.
To get through greasy bits I use Simply Green diluted with water and a paintbrush. Works very well on the wheels to get most of the road grime, brake dust and chain lube off. Then to get them really clean I wipe the wheels and any other parts which were covered in greasiness with a rag moistened with kerosene.
I use a compressor to blow water out of nooks and crannies where it could corrode the aluminium if left sitting.

[blackdog]

I can't find any bits on my bike that could actually rust. All of it is either alloy or plastic (except the nuts and bolts and some small brackets.
But for most of the bike I use cold water as well. Can't see the point in using hot water.
To get through greasy bits I use Simply Green diluted with water and a paintbrush. Works very well on the wheels to get most of the road grime, brake dust and chain lube off. Then to get them really clean I wipe the wheels and any other parts which were covered in greasiness with a rag moistened with kerosene.
I use a compressor to blow water out of nooks and crannies where it could corrode the aluminium if left sitting.

second the simple green....it's either that or the orange, whichever karleen has in the cupboard at the time ;)

[Redstar]

I use Brasso on the Down pipe and Crome works a treat also natuarally avoid spraying water down the Can and few weeks ago removed the Primary chain gog cover and degreased that and got all the grit out away from the chain guide. its the dirt you cant normally see that does all the damage mechanically most paintwork is laquered and frankly polishing makes it sparkle but really has no real impact. some of the Jappers like mine have marginal crome so a bit or polish on that is a good plan.
Powerwashers are no no if you want it to start again. Oh and after a wash take it for a spin that will evaporate all the water and will dry the bike and its a bloddy good excuse to F@@K off for a while

[dipshit]

I like using microfibre clothes like this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm03Dgu_yXA ... for drying the bike after washing it. It stops getting water marks.

[CookMySock]

Cleaning your bike can be a chore, or it can be a fun man timeFun man time, LOL. :killingme


time out to groom the beast and check on maintenance.I save that for the shower!

Steve

[Bulldog]

wd40 OR crc if you must will get tar off everytime. My race car always gets filthy with melted rubber and other general black stuff, comes right off with wd40 without wrecking paint. I used this under the rear guards on my motard as it's yellow under there!

[Movistar]

Works very well on the wheels to get most of the road grime, brake dust and chain lube off. Then to get them really clean I wipe the wheels and any other parts which were covered in greasiness with a rag moistened with kerosene.

Kero on a rag works mint!
I do this last, after the bikes been dried off, and sometimes later on in the evening or the next day, so that it stays on the wheels and doesn't run onto the tyres if it happens to bead with any left over water!
You can get fine scrathes on the rims from doing this, but a good polish usually sorts this out.

[firefighter]

Haven't been following the rest of the thread, but be carefull if you put any polish on the seat or on the tank where you knees/legs grip. Polish can make these two areas very slippery, and make it more difficult to stay on the bike/control the bike.

You can get a non-slip polish for leather by meguiars for your seat. I found this out the hard way too.....(well not really but did have an interesting ride)

[Blinkwing]

Brilliant thread. Wish I read it sooner as I went shopping yesterday for cleaning materials. Ah well.

[firefighter]

Brilliant thread. Wish I read it sooner as I went shopping yesterday for cleaning materials. Ah well.

Just make sure you get some kero. It's cheap and is really awesome for cleaning your chain, and wiping shit off everything. (chain/rims/swingarm etc)

it took me ages before I finally got around to getting some. Wish i'd got it earlier but glad I use it now. At $6 a big bottle that'll last forever it's really a must buy.

Chain looks brand new everytime and it takes bugger-all time.

[Brian d marge]

Wife(TM) work well for me

Stephen

[Blinkwing]

Just make sure you get some kero. It's cheap and is really awesome for cleaning your chain, and wiping shit off everything. (chain/rims/swingarm etc)

it took me ages before I finally got around to getting some. Wish i'd got it earlier but glad I use it now. At $6 a big bottle that'll last forever it's really a must buy.

Chain looks brand new everytime and it takes bugger-all time.

Kero what? Kerosene?

What do you clean it with? And how? (Take chain off & dip it in kerosene or just dab it on chain?)

Hopefully it'll get that large gunk of tar off the front of my bike & melted rubber from previous owner's boots ... :D

[NighthawkNZ]

How to best clean your bike...

Get some one else to clean it... ;)

or

208578

208579

208580

These are the best way of getting it done...

[firefighter]

Kero what? Kerosene?

What do you clean it with? And how? (Take chain off & dip it in kerosene or just dab it on chain?)

Hopefully it'll get that large gunk of tar off the front of my bike & melted rubber from previous owner's boots ... :D

Yes kerosene. Your chain mostly but it does the rims well and other road spooge. I used it just the other day to get all the crap off my rims and clean my chain/sprockets/swingarm. It all comes off easy, soapies failed on the rims btw.

Your chain is very easy, but you will need an old toothbrush, a rag and about 10 mins. Longer first time, and if you are like me you will take off all the covers and get in everywhere. (it's a bike it needs more love than a car)

Put bike up on your paddock stand, another essential purchase, $80 from a guy in paeroa, get one.

Dip brush in kero, and with generous slather give the links a quick scrub, and use a rag to wipe down and around the rest, use plenty of kero it's cheap and works well.

Basically, scrub the top and bottom with the rag behind the chain to stop excess kero from flying everywhere (namely your tyre), give it a wipe then move it around. (seriously get a paddock stand).

Here's mine I did only a few days ago. Notice hoe clean the rims/sprocket and chain are. You are supposed to take it for a ride to get rid of excess kero and warm up the chain, but I just spin the wheel a bit, spray on some wax and let it sit, then after my next ride when I get home, I spray some more wax on while the chain is still warm and let it sit. (usually when I get home from work)

Also bear in mind that chain has been waxed, so it's not going to be as shiny as when it was first cleaned, and that this is a 10year old bike, with 40k on it. The kero cleans it up really well.

[Tunahunter]

Get yourself one of those chain cleaning brushes - they work well


Kero what? Kerosene?

What do you clean it with? And how? (Take chain off & dip it in kerosene or just dab it on chain?)

Hopefully it'll get that large gunk of tar off the front of my bike & melted rubber from previous owner's boots ... :D

[dogsnbikes]

I use the following

Motul moto wash,sponge,clean rag,CRC808,kerosene,glass cleaner,air compressor and water

First I rinse the bike with water then spray it with the motul moto wash,and hit any tar with kero I use to do my chain but the scottoiler looks after that now

once I have completed that I let it soak for about the time it takes to have a smoke then I wash the bike with a wet sponge and then hose it off,

Blow dry with aircompressor or leaf blower or let drip dry in a shaded area removing excess water with old towel

and finish bike off with the CRC808 just all over the plastics its just bling bling

And lastly I hit the mirrors and screen and light lenses with a small amount of glass cleaner

[Cayman911]

so you're supposed to clean the chain aswell? i see...... all ive done to mine is oil it....... but its only got under 4k km's on it so far..

after how long? or when it looks like what?

[firefighter]

Get yourself one of those chain cleaning brushes - they work well

Maybe, but an old toothbrush is just as good, and a lot cheaper! I was going to get one, then went at it with the kero, the old brush and a rag and it's quick enough really.


so you're supposed to clean the chain aswell? i see...... all ive done to mine is oil it....... but its only got under 4k km's on it so far..

after how long? or when it looks like what?

Well it's just part of the maintenance. I do it everytime I clean the bike, which is overkill........so is the fact that I buy an expensive chain! Some people do'nt, and claim long life out of them just by lubing them, I just like a clean bike, and it's not clean if it's not all clean. I like to play around with the bike anyway, and it only takes me 10 mins to do the chain, and a filthy swingarm and chain makes me feel like I have'nt cleaned the bike properly.

4000kms without cleaning the chain for me is a lifetime......Maybe every 1000kms?

[sinfull]

CRC

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Adifvvgji_o&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Adifvvgji_o&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[Tunahunter]

Maybe, but an old toothbrush is just as good, and a lot cheaper! I was going to get one, then went at it with the kero, the old brush and a rag and it's quick enough really.



Well it's just part of the maintenance. I do it everytime I clean the bike, which is overkill........so is the fact that I buy an expensive chain! Some people do'nt, and claim long life out of them just by lubing them, I just like a clean bike, and it's not clean if it's not all clean. I like to play around with the bike anyway, and it only takes me 10 mins to do the chain, and a filthy swingarm and chain makes me feel like I have'nt cleaned the bike properly.

4000kms without cleaning the chain for me is a lifetime......Maybe every 1000kms?
But what about your nails, doesn't the polish come off?

[firefighter]

But what about your nails, doesn't the polish come off?

Do'nt have any nails on my bike.

[rocketman1]

Basically you sit down with a bucket of hot water and a quality detergent and rip into it. It's going to take a while. There's no simple way to do a good job.

A few tricks I use ;

Squirt the loose shit off with the waterblaster first. Take care not to directly squirt things like alloy-finned coolers, and bearing seals - you will fuck them instantly.

Use a detergent that actually works! Many car cleaning products are just slimy bubbly bottles of crap that just soften the water and don't dissolve jack shit. Find a cleaner than actually dissolves dirt and removes it. Test on a really stubborn patch of dirt and you will see what I mean. See if you can find a workshop that uses the yellow Tergo handwash (the one that smells like lemons) and "borrow" a couple of pumps of it - try this stuff when getting stubborn shit off - its fooken magic!

Keep the amount of water down and the temperature up . Use the detergent mixed as concentrated as you can.

Other than that, its just sitting next to your bike with the rag and bucket of hot water and going for it.

Steve

Steve,
My advice is that you dont touch a road bike with a water blaster, in the hand of an experienced few maybe off road bikes.
I have seen more damage done to bike with water blalsters than any other impliment. Your dead right not to touch the wheels bearings and radiators, but there are seals and gaskets all over bikes that seem to get stuufed by WB's.
What do most people do after a water balst ,....... put the bike away without giving it a good run, to dry out the water hiding in all these places..RUST / CORROSION all starts with water. I chose to have my bikes a bit dirtier an know that water hasnt been blasted into all it crevices.

[aprilia_RS250]

Agree for no hosing. I see it as it water getting into those hard to get to spots that will never get dirty anyway which might start rusting. My process is:

1. Use tyre foam first, the shit that makes your wheels look like they've driven through snow. Let it sit and dislolve the brake dust, oil, grime and with a gentle stream from a hose rinse then dry. I get a lot of oil on the back especially if after I lubed up the chain, no matter how well I do it excess oil still seems to squirt out and stick to rear rim. So I apply it twice sometimes.
2. Luke warm water and sponge to scrub of dust, dirt, bugs and dry of with a clean microfibre towel. Use soap on oily parts i.e front of bike, all around the chain etc. Clean water does the job on main fairings. Make sure you dry immediately, water that dries off due to evaporation does ruin the paint and cause streaks.
3. WD40 is an excellent cleaning agent for oil streaks around the metal bits around the chain (don't use it for lubing the chain up), gear lever, exhaust etc. It also prevents rust and help to clean shit off later.
4. Use basic window cleaner for screen and mirrors, do not use paper towels etc as that will make those small scratch marks. Only Microfibre.
5. Given my bike only sees clear sunny skies I sometimes apply the plastic UV protection formula on side view mirrors, plastic around the dash etc. Looks really smart and by the time I get to this stage I usually can't help pitching a tent.
6. And if I have an extra pair of underpants I'll spray on tire shine for the extra "hot shit" effect.
7. You admire the bike for a while, growl a bit, make "oh yeah" remarks while you sip your well deserved beer and then, this always happens, try and NOT get to this stage. You start noticing those little spots you may have missed, haven't scrubbed off properly, streaks etc. Now if you do find your self in this stage double the time it has taken you to do stages 1-6, because that's roughly how long stage 7 will take until you're fully satisfied.

[SVboy]

Not liking the tyre shine idea.....very slippery stuff-keep away from the tyres at ALL costs. Do agree with rim cleaning foam, great for cleaning wheels.

[Corse1]

All good advice with only a couple of additions.....
Silcone spray for the black plastic parts. Sray on to a rag and polish. they come up like new and resist aging from the sun.
For those with plastic protection skins use Plexus plastic protectant spray. Almost makes the protection invisible. Also gtreat for fairing screens.

[CookMySock]

Steve, My advice is that you dont touch a road bike with a water blaster, in the hand of an experienced few maybe off road bikes. I have seen more damage done to bike with water blalsters than any other impliment. Your dead right not to touch the wheels bearings and radiators, but there are seals and gaskets all over bikes that seem to get stuufed by WB's. What do most people do after a water balst ,....... put the bike away without giving it a good run, to dry out the water hiding in all these places..RUST / CORROSION all starts with water. I chose to have my bikes a bit dirtier an know that water hasnt been blasted into all it crevices.I guess. I have no problems squirting shit off under guards and so on. You just have to think, thats all. One oopsie and you have a radiator with flattened fins, or a bearing full of water. I'm certainly not going to clean all the loose shit off with a rag or brush - thats just a pain in my assholes.

Rust is more a product of wet dirt than the water itself. Clean parts with just water on them don't seem to rust. Parts covered in dirt that have a film of water on them will rust real quick.


Silcone spray for the black plastic parts. Sray on to a rag and polish. they come up like new and resist aging from the sun.Ick, don't like. :crazy:

Silicone attracts the dust and is slimey and yuck. Use Turtlewax Ice - achieves the result you are after, doesn't attract dust, isn't slippery and greasy, and actually smells nice.

Steve

[Corse1]

Ick, don't like. :crazy:

Silicone attracts the dust and is slimey and yuck. Use Turtlewax Ice - achieves the result you are after, doesn't attract dust, isn't slippery and greasy, and actually smells nice.

Steve

Might try the Ice when the silicone runs out but I have had no problem with dust, slimey and yuck. Put it on the plastic used for chain guards, rear fender, mirror stalks etc. Just brings it back to new.

[Eyegasm]

Ok, So what are the good brands to buy?

What kind of cleaner, Wax etc

And what is this foam stuff?

I have a build up of gunk on the rims that I want to get off with the minimum amount of elbow grease.
Also want to give the bike one hell of a clean instead of the current one I give it.

Also have a crack in the paint, what would be a good sealant to stop any corrosion/rust?

Cheers
Eyegasm

[aprilia_RS250]

I use the armor all stuff for tyres/rims. But to be honest I rather get one of thesehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFK3plZrks&feature=related

[SVboy]

Any of the $10 ish mag wheel foams from the Wharehouse or Repco. I use WURTH-just because it was on special! Shake, spray rims-scrub with a nylon dish brush and toothbrush and hose off=clean rims. I also use PACER degreaser[bought in 5l bulk] to spray spooge off swingarms etc. I use MOTHERS carwash and MOTHERS wax on paint and Armourall spray on the plastics. Kero on the chain-but no waterblaster thanks!

[Blinkwing]

Question - I was filling up tyres with air for the first time the other day and I somehow managed to burn the air hose on my exhaust pipe. Now there's an ugly lump of melted plastic on my exhaust pipe ...

Any idea how to remove this shit?

[Marmoot]

If it is chrome, try soft chrome polish compound (e.g., Autosol) with a clean or relatively-clean rag.

[jasonzc]

to the painter guy~

what wax do u use then? im keen for some good wax for the bike!

[BigOne]

Ive done this for years, and my bikes look good after years

Wet the bike down. It needs to stay wet during washing, and for this reason, late in the evening out of direct sun is good...
Spray the bike all over with C18 truck wash, diluted 1/10. You can get it at Supercheap Auto, use a household cleaner sprayer.
leave it for at least 30min
go over it with the carwash brush, a bucket of hot water with another dose of truckwash
spray over with the hose. I sorted out a hot-water hose from the washing machine taps, and it makes a HUGE difference, way better than cold water.
dry the bike off with old nappies or an old towel.
use a bit of kero on a rag to get tar spots off
any good car wax next
I use Pledge as well, dust does not stick to it, and it's kind to paint, non-abrasive.

that's all!

[Magna83]

dry the bike off with old nappies or an old towel.


Why would you want to cover your bike in shit after spending all that time cleaning it! :killingme

[george formby]

Lots of good advise on cleaning & I only got as far as the 3rd page so sorry if this is a repeat. Where possible I clean my bike in the evening (to avoid direct sun) when i know the roads are clean & dry, after the wash & a once over with a cloth or chamois to get off excess water I take it for a run to dry it off properly. Takes no time to get the bike bone dry & ready for a polish or if your lazy like me a good squirt of silicon spray for that twinkly finish.

[george formby]

Question - I was filling up tyres with air for the first time the other day and I somehow managed to burn the air hose on my exhaust pipe. Now there's an ugly lump of melted plastic on my exhaust pipe ...

Any idea how to remove this shit?

Kerosene or very carefully with a Stanley knife blade if the pipe is chrome.

[robo555]

His stain was way back in May this year...

Anyway for others who want to know, #00 or #0000 steel wool works well for cleaning burnt on stains off chrome. The chrome may get ever so cloudy after, which a metal polish will take care of.

[Blinkwing]

Kerosene or very carefully with a Stanley knife blade if the pipe is chrome.

I left it as it was, it's all gone now on it's own. :yes:

[baptist]

IMHO the best products for any automotive or motorcycle cleaning is Autoglym http://www.autoglym.co.nz/ I have used it for all vehicles for years (even distrubuted it for several years) it is a complete range of easy to use stuff that really works.

Silicone :sick:, I guess it does a job but there are two types, reactive and non reactive, the reactive stuff (usually cheaper) can, over years of use, actually eat into paint surfaces etc and cause serious damage to the finish. Autoglym Vinyl rubber care is an emulsion product that works very well. Also Autosol can be a little harsh for some applications, look for metal polish.

The only down side to autoglym is the initial cost, but it does last for a long time.

Look them up, and no I do not have any connections with the company anymore so no "perks" coming my way:crybaby:.

[Morepower]

Cleaning bike vs Riding Bike ................mine is very dirty

[cheshirecat]

I've been using Bell 6 in 1 for some three years and it's great. Wouldn't touch crc. You can even get it on the discs and they still work. I ride all year round and the bike still looks good.

[Staticam]

Question - I was filling up tyres with air for the first time the other day and I somehow managed to burn the air hose on my exhaust pipe. Now there's an ugly lump of melted plastic on my exhaust pipe ...

Any idea how to remove this shit?

Yeah I know you got it sorted, but what I've done in the past is get the exhaust good and hot then wipe the burnt plastic/rubber off with a well folded piece of cotton flannel (might be a good idea to use an oven glove too).

[DIN PELENDA]

How do I best clean it?
Donny

Don't do it, just clean your chain grease it, put some petrol in tank and ride it. Lot of you new bikers spend more time cleaning bikes then ride it. Fuck I'm sick of cleaning bikes, that what rain is for.

[Muppet]

Go to Pacer in Sydenham Christchurch. They have stuff called Grapewash, buy 5 litres and is very cheap puts a gloss shine on your bike no need for a wax afterwards. They also sell a plastic vinyl treatment like armourall only for 1 litre is cost about $18 as opposed to armourall 500 mls for much more

[Flip]

Well this is what I do......

Bike:

1, Wet the bike down.

2, Wash the bike with either hot water with turtle wax or spray the bike with Pacer Truck cleaner mixing it up with the water blaster. I use a special Mothers soft cotton brush on the painted surfaces and then a old car wash brush on the wheels and around all the dirty bits.

3, I hose the bike off, and dry with a towel. I keep some special drying towels espcially for vehicles.

Tires:

I black tires with nugget and a shoe brush (Don't laugh it works and stays black for months). I clean the white wall tires if necessary on the Roady with Jiff liquid and a rag.

Motor:

If I want a show room shine on my black motor I spray it with CRC silicon spray.