New to new bike! What do you do?

[Tink]

Polish & wash (I was told by a few guys, that is what they do when they get a new bike).

POINT: How many of you actually spend time polishing / washing etc your bike!

I just can't get my head around how often some do it...

I guess there are good points, like protecting the paint... and?

[slofox]

If I ever have enough spare time to wash and polish the bike, I'll RIDE it instead...:devil2:

[Tink]

If I ever have enough spare time to wash and polish the bike, I'll RIDE it instead...:devil2:

POINT EXACTLY, I would prefer to ride it... than polish it! :scooter:

[Pussy]

POINT EXACTLY, I would prefer to ride it... than polish it!

That's fair enough....
But you ought to polish your BIKE regularly....

[The Everlasting]

I give it a polish once a week,keeps it looking shiny!

Just the other day a dude in a cage said "is that a new bike"?

[Cloggy]

I enjoy cleaning my bike, I find it relaxing and rewarding. Once you're done, you stand back and admire the shine and cleanliness.
It also draws your attention to bits which need attention or maintenance.

[slofox]

I give it a polish once a week,keeps it looking shiny!

Just the other day a dude in a cage said "is that a new bike"?

Second last time my bike was in the shop for service they said to me..."Your bike was pretty DIRTY!!! :angry:"

So last time it was going in I actually DID clean it...

[george formby]

Polish & wash (I was told by a few guys, that is what they do when they get a new bike).

POINT: How many of you actually spend time polishing / washing etc your bike!

I just can't get my head around how often some do it...

I guess there are good points, like protecting the paint... and?

It's when you clean it that you notice all the little things that need attention like loose fairing screws, exhaust mounts, WOF tag has fallen off etc & do basic maintenance like lubricating levers, footrest pivots etc. It's also when I check fluids, tires, brakes etc properly.
I clean mine when the ash tray is full.

[mrchips]

I enjoy cleaning my bike, I find it relaxing and rewarding. Once you're done, you stand back and admire the shine and cleanliness.
It also draws your attention to bits which need attention or maintenance.

+ 1

I like to be able to run my over the mechanical bits withouth having to scrape off inches of crud + I just can't stand a dirty bike.

[nosebleed]

Polish & wash (I was told by a few guys, that is what they do when they get a new bike).

POINT: How many of you actually spend time polishing / washing etc your bike!

I just can't get my head around how often some do it...

I guess there are good points, like protecting the paint... and?

There are no "rules". Just do what ever is right for you.
Many photo's on the AF1 forum look like the bikes are kept in bank vaults and only brought out to have their photo taken.
Whereas there is one kiwi member whose bike looks like a support vehicle for Ewan and Charly.

If you wanna wash n wax it, do so. If not, don't.

[slofox]

...WOF tag has fallen off...

Or your reg sticker...:oops:

[george formby]

Or your reg sticker...:oops:

I use lock nuts now. Gotta love thumpy thumpy engines, keep life interesting & my exhaust rattling. Their is always something coming undone somewhere, particularly now I'm riding on lumpy roads too. At least the bike is getting proper filthy & deserves a spa treatment.

[Smallfishnz]

Keeping it clean and tidy also helps with re-sale value, I also read somewhere that if you don't keep your headlight lens clean it can reduce light output by 30% and as others have said it is a good chance to see if anything is about to fall off

[Rhys]

wash it then take it for a ride to dry it :innocent:

[John_H]

I wash it every two or three weeks. A lot of people on here will say in a very condescending way that they Ride their bike while others wash it which is ridiculous. I ride my bike any opportunity I get, I just happen to love keeping it clean and looking after it as it's my pride and joy - You can do both!

[Gone Burger]

POINT EXACTLY, I would prefer to ride it... than polish it! :scooter:

I ride mine... all the time. Spend all my spare time on it so she sure gets plenty of use. BUT.. If it's dirty when I get home after my ride its gets a wash and a polish. Polish it every week, and clean it almost after every other ride. Keeps it looking beautiful. That was part of the deal for me getting a cruiser - am a sucker for bling but thet bling has to be well kept.

So with the summer we have been having so far, with VERY few dry days around, it's getting washed every single ride. - Actually makes it easy to keep... leave it too long and you have a hell of a mission on your hands getting burnt on dirt etc off the pipes blah blah blah.

Its blinging... :sunny:

[Tink]

I ride mine... all the time. Spend all my spare time on it so she sure gets plenty of use. BUT.. If it's dirty when I get home after my ride its gets a wash and a polish. Polish it every week, and clean it almost after every other ride. Keeps it looking beautiful. That was part of the deal for me getting a cruiser - am a sucker for bling but thet bling has to be well kept.

So with the summer we have been having so far, with VERY few dry days around, it's getting washed every single ride. - Actually makes it easy to keep... leave it too long and you have a hell of a mission on your hands getting burnt on dirt etc off the pipes blah blah blah.

Its blinging... :sunny:

:) Everybody has made some very valid posts, mechanical, and now yours getting dirt off a dirty dirty bike hehe... I think she might get a wash today after the ride. Off to meet Fat Max and the on the beach dessert eating pie thingy... lol:woohoo:

Thanks

[boman]

I keep mine clean...Heck, I dont wash my ute...And my woman is pretty dirty to. So I guess something has too be clean.



:woohoo::shutup::love::devil2:

[sinfull]

New bike proceedure for me is

Change ya oil, filter, coolant (if ya have it) lube the chain ! Note milage down and ride !

Things like pressures, chain tension, levels are daily

Cleaning ? Not often but Spraying the bike in CRC or WD40 often makes it easy to clean, if i want to clean clean it, i use a two part mix of crc and a light degreaser in a washdown can on the compressor and coat it in that, hose it off, then hook up the air gun and blow any paint or chrome dry so ya don't get the water marks !
Can of brakecleen on the callipers and discs to make sure no overspray got in there and i'm off ! No elbow grease and no rubbing the paint !
Some guys i know use silican spray to keep it clean, others spend hours polishing up paint etc

[Gone Burger]

:) Everybody has made some very valid posts, mechanical, and now yours getting dirt off a dirty dirty bike hehe... I think she might get a wash today after the ride. Off to meet Fat Max and the on the beach dessert eating pie thingy... lol:woohoo:

Thanks

Hehe that a girl - enjoy your new ride! And the pie run - might join ours down here today too. But make sure FM isn't drunk.. when he fuzes his eyes he might think you are a pie too - then there is just no stopping him.

[junkmanjoe]

when i get home i give the 950 a good ole bubble wash.:yes:. do basic repairs..

give the plastics a rub down with paint care product..:niceone:

i think you need to give your bike a little :love: every now and then...takes me around 20mins to clean the 950...its a big bike...:scooter:

JMJ

[Genie]

I ride every opportunity I get...'tis my reward for a life well done.

My bike, well I wash it after most rides, those insects can stick you know. I think of the wash as part of the ride...cooling down period for both of us, sharing a little love my bikes way. I like to keep it tidy....thouhg yesterday before the wash I actually took photos of it being dirty...the dirt looked so good!

[Tink]

I keep mine clean...Heck, I dont wash my ute...And my woman is pretty dirty to. So I guess something has too be clean.


:woohoo::shutup::love::devil2:

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMm:facepalm:


New bike proceedure for me is

Change ya oil, filter, coolant (if ya have it) lube the chain ! Note milage down and ride !

Things like pressures, chain tension, levels are daily

Cleaning ? Not often but Spraying the bike in CRC or WD40 often makes it easy to clean, if i want to clean clean it, i use a two part mix of crc and a light degreaser in a washdown can on the compressor and coat it in that, hose it off, then hook up the air gun and blow any paint or chrome dry so ya don't get the water marks !
Can of brakecleen on the callipers and discs to make sure no overspray got in there and i'm off ! No elbow grease and no rubbing the paint !
Some guys i know use silican spray to keep it clean, others spend hours polishing up paint etc

Good Points!!!!


Hehe that a girl - enjoy your new ride! And the pie run - might join ours down here today too. But make sure FM isn't drunk.. when he fuzes his eyes he might think you are a pie too - then there is just no stopping him.

haha

[DMNTD]

Dunno exactly why but every time I buy a new bike I give is 7 coats of wax on body work and rims....then just once per week after that unless I haven't been out riding that particular one.

[la 102]

+ 1

I like to be able to run my over the mechanical bits withouth having to scrape off inches of crud + I just can't stand a dirty bike.

+1 gotta keep the chrome shining :)

[BuzzardNZ]

invest in some protection, of the tank variety I mean ;) I have the basic sticky tank protection thing to stop your jacket zip scratching the part of the tank closest to the seat, but wish I had put extra stuff on the sides, as some wanker put a decent sized scratch on the side of my tank.

Some bikes paint can be very difficult to match and very expensive even for a small touch-up pot ( I was quoted $500 )

For now, I'm going to get some stompgrip tank pads and just cover it up so it doesn't rust :violin:

[Crazy Steve]

Polish & wash (I was told by a few guys, that is what they do when they get a new bike).

POINT: How many of you actually spend time polishing / washing etc your bike!

I just can't get my head around how often some do it...

I guess there are good points, like protecting the paint... and?

Maybe a photo of you on the bike with your Tits out ?

That would surely work for most of the guys on this site ! !

Crazy Steve.

[Fatt Max]

POINT EXACTLY, I would prefer to ride it... than polish it! :scooter:

Phoooaaaarrrr yeah I bet you fecking do.......

Sorry, are you talking about your motorcycle...??...sorry, wrong thread, wrong fecking website actually....

....sorry......

[wysper]

wash it then take it for a ride to dry it :innocent:

course, then you got to wash it again because you have just taken it out for a ride, then you have to take it for a ride to dry it, then you have to wash it because you have been on a ride.....

oh.... I see your cunning play... very clever!

[Tink]

Maybe a photo of you on the bike with your Tits out ?

That would surely work for most of the guys on this site ! !

Crazy Steve.

Ha... smart arse! In your dreams baby lol :bleh:


Phoooaaaarrrr yeah I bet you fecking do.......

Sorry, are you talking about your motorcycle...??...sorry, wrong thread, wrong fecking website actually....

....sorry......

LOL... see and your wonder why woman have brains and men have balls!


course, then you got to wash it again because you have just taken it out for a ride, then you have to take it for a ride to dry it, then you have to wash it because you have been on a ride.....

oh.... I see your cunning play... very clever!

HAHA... ye me likey that plan NOT... ride ride...and more riding! Ok I will wash it tomorrow... :(

[jim.cox]

Time spent washing is time better spent spent riding, IMHO

I'm a rider, not a polisher :)

[avgas]

Wait...............
























.........the come new as well?