Keeping my bike shiiiney

[Rosie]

I've recently bought a Kawasaki KR150, and the previous owner kept it exceptionally clean and shiney, so I feel I should too. Do I need to buy special bike wash/polish, or would general car wash/polish products be ok? The car polishes I looked at today didn't mention whether they are ok on plastic, and I'm a bit suspicious of the wash-and-wax or spray products, lest I end up with nicely waxed tyres and brake rotors :pinch:
What do other people use? Or avoid using...? I've never owned a car new enough to be worthy of polishing, so this is all new to me.

Thanks,
Rosie.

[Fishy]

Here you go Rosie... something I posted a while back.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=22833

[Rosie]

Here you go Rosie... something I posted a while back.

Heh heh, oh yeah, that "search forums" thingee is useful isn't it :doh:
thanks.

[MD]

Too right Rosie, keep it clean. A shiney bike passes it WOF, less likely to attract Police attention (Ok maybe not that one), less weight and drag so more fuel efficient (I'm getting desperate now for excuses) and you wont need to carry a make up mirror in your purse. Which is handy for us blokes that don't have a purse.
But seriously I'm a nutter at keeping the bike like new. helps at the end of ownership when you sell it. Furniture polish like Pledge is great on the plastics. A bit of turps helps to clean the wheel rims.
MD

[sunhuntin]

i bought a product from super cheap auto called brite-shine or something similar....its bright yellow, you wont miss it! and its kinda like a wadding material with cleaner in it...gets melted boot/glove off, rust, bugs you name it. even cow shit [with aid of a hose!] costs around $10, but lasts years. can be reused even when dirty to a certain extent. [you can tell i love this stuff!] great for chrome, aluminium, the mirrors and lights. just keep it off the paint as much as possible.

yep, also use pledge. for stubborn bits of crap on the metal, i spray the pledge and then use the wadding to scrub away rather than a towel...double strength! thats good for really fussy buggers like me who clean the bottom of the bike....on my back half underneath a still warm engine, lol.

[Potzman]

Hey Rosie!
hope bike is still going well:2thumbsup
I used to just use mothers car polish/wash on the plastics and tank. the white wheels were anoying to keep clean, used to use a bit of kero+ pledge with a constant hosing, tooth brush is also handy.
It was always very rewarding to clean that bike tho as it came up so shiny and new :-)

[Bonez]

Rags, neapol, kero, soap and warm water. And a bit of elbow grease for good measure.

[98tls]

crc 808 silicone spray,awsome stuff.just dont get it on your tyres.a guy put me on to it the other day its amazing,bought the old TL up like new.

[JWALKER]

i gotta admit im still used to the soapy water and a good rag

[notme]

crc 808 silicone spray,awsome stuff.just dont get it on your tyres.a guy put me on to it the other day its amazing,bought the old TL up like new.

Hell yeah, use a silicone spray for the plastics (be CAREFUL around brakes, hand controls, footpegs.....)

Bugs tend to splat on the plastic then mostly slide right off :Punk:and rain beads off quicker.