Bike wash help

[EJK]

Hello peoples. I got back from my Uni and I was going to wash my bike.
But when I was about spray fresh cold water, these doubts and questions flooded into my mind :shit:

Is it safe to wash a bike just after a ride? (i.e. hot engine and exhaust)
Is it safe to spray water on the chain?
Do I need to respray oil on the chain after the wash?
Then with what oil? would cooking oil do the job? lol

And what else should I avoid/ have caution while washing my bike?
Some information would help :)

Thanks

EJ

[The Lone Rider]

I don't know what you should or shouldn't do, due to X or Y

But on my bike I dont use a hose except for on the wheels. I get a clean rag and hand wipe everything else down, rinsing it several times as I go. And I have a shammee (is that's what its called) cloth that I dry it with.

Then depending on how dirty it was and when I last cleaned it and what I last did when I cleaned it, I might either use a solvent free polish cloth over all the paint and chrome, or if I'm going for more I use turtle wax and chrome polish.. one cloth for wax on, one cloth for wax off. One cloth for chromage on, one for off.

To top it off I have leather cleaner that I spray on the seat and sissy bar. Let it sit for a while and then rub it off.

Then I have wheel cleaner for the alloys. Spray on, leave for awhile, then hose off and then wipe off. Also use the wheel cleaner on the shiny metal but not chrome parts of the bike.

My end pipes are stainless steel, and previously I had been using chrome polish. However the other day was at my mums helping pack things, and I grabbed her Brasso and Silvo and tried both. Brasso cleaned it from the tarnishing, Silvo gave it a huge shine.

Oh and finially I sometimes black my tire rims.

I most of those things on my car as well lol.

But thats just me :P

[BMW]

I wash mine cold and then be careful where the hose is aimed and make sure it is not on high pressure. Then let the bike warm up after a clean to ensure no water in the wrong places!

[Kittyhawk]

Washing a bike properly takes alot of time. Took 4 hours on sat for me then I took it for a ride in the rain after!

This is what I use for my bike

Rear paddok stand
Toothbrush
Sponge
Bucket of water
degreaser
car wash cleaner
chain oil or wax
Tire and mag cleaner.
kerosene
little tray
Polish
chamios cloth
old rags

Sponge the bike down with water first, then apply the degreaser to tire rims chain and axel, anywhere where oil is found.

Add the carwash to the bucket and sponge the bike down again removing dust dirt and grime.

Spray the bike in the foam (tire and mag cleaner) like on the brakes etc let it soak. (sponge off after)

Sit down on your ass fill the tray with kerosene and start cleaning the chain with the toothbrush, by dipping the toothbrush in the kerosene.

Any tar, or oil splatters, run the toothbrush over them and it will get rid of the marks, dont use kerosene on fairings, or anything which isnt metal.

When the chain is done etc, get a bucket of water and sponge this over the entire bike.

Never use a high pressure hose because if you do this on the chain, it will cause it to rust from inside to out.

Dry the bike once its been sponged down and cleaned.

Start the bike, run it for 10 mins in gear, let the chain warm up. Be careful when having a bike in gear on a paddok stand as it could jump.

Stop the bike, check temperature of chain, apply the lube. Give it a min or so to semi set, and start the bike again.

Let it run till the chain is completely lubed.

Apply polish and buff.

Best time to lube a chain is after a ride because its hot and this give a better bonding reaction to wax/chain oil.

PM me if you want your bike to get a sponge bath.

[EJK]

Thanks, they really helped :)



PM me if you want your bike to get a sponge bath.

lol!

[DMNTD]

FFS make sure you DO wet you bike with the HOSE and not a damp rag/sponge as it may and prolly will scratch your paint due to dust/dirt on your bike....this is a fact!

Stage 1:
Ideally if you have a centre stand or paddock stand use it.
I rinse the bike lightly but thoroughly with water trying my best not to shoot any down my can. :mellow:
I then give the bike its first wash to get the worst of the crap off.
I then use kerosene(prefer as easier to manage then degreaser imho) and a toothbrush to clean my chain/sprocket(also wipe with kero soaked rag after initial scrub)) and anywhere there maybe some tar...ie rims etc.
I then rinse kerosene'd areas with soapy water left over from the first wash I've done and pay extra attention to the rims.
I then rinse thoroughly with hose....however whenever I rinse I use a light mist as opposed to blasting the bike.

Stage 2:
Time to make it look good...
After bike has partially dried(shows everything you missed on the first "wash") ,I wash the bike properly with fresh soapy water(I use Mother's products) washing the rims properly but last as I prefer the cleanest/soapiest water to be utilised on the paint/body work.
Start bike and leave running to help dry any water that may have entered exhaust system/electrics and it also rattles drops out from those annoying places so it doesn't mess up you wax job.
At this stage whilst bike is running on the paddock stand I put into gear(front brake on!!!) and allow to turn over to put some heat into the degreased chain and it'll also spin excess water from the chain and rim...will become obvious later. If never done this before make sure you have someone else there too.
Dry bike with either shami(sp) or better still using an air gun!!
Making sure that the bike is NOT in direct sunlight I then apply a thin coat of wax and allow to dry....approx 4mins
I have a buffer which I find excellent but if you don't have one used an old towel or similar to buff....circular motions ideally.
I usually apply another thin coat of wax but hey...that's me.
I then use Amour All for the mirrors(mine are plastic?),however I spray the Amour All onto a rag first to ensure that I don't get over spray onto my nice shiny wax job.
I then restart bike on paddock stand,engage 1st gear and allow the chain to reheat...approx 3-4mins.
I then apply chain wax to the centre of the chain aiming from up by the heel guard or close as I can to the front sprocket. This minimises the chances of wax flicking onto your rear tyre and rim too.

The whole process takes me less than an hour but end up with a freaking good looking bike!

LOL...ffs now I see it written down I can see why people think I'm pedantic...or were they saying anal? :shutup:

Oh BTW....I do this for a job

[The Stranger]

By the time I got half way through that I was thinking about putting up a poll for an anal smilie.

I am sure Gayheemeboy has one we could use.

[scumdog]

It's spelled 'chamois' kiddies, 'chamois'

I've got the heads of same hanging on the wall.

But the skin you use for drying your bike isn't off one of them.

BTW Make sure you use a cod-oil cured chamois - they work waaay better than the man made plactic synthetic excuses for a drying rag that re labelled 'chamois'.:yes:

[scumdog]

By the time I got half way through that I was thinking about putting up a poll for an anal smilie.

Soooo, got a dirty unkempt bike eh??:whistle:

[vifferman]

Meh... don't overthink it.
Firstly - DON'T use degreaser on the wheel rims, unless you apply it with a rag. Kero is good for getting off tar and chain spooge. Don't use one of those special cleaners that are "specially designed to stop brake dust sticking". The one I used contaminated the tyres.

If the chain is cleaned and properly lubed before you wash the bike (do it immediately after a ride), then it's perfectly OK to get detergent or cleaners on it.

I squirt my bike all over with the hose (when cold, usually), to get off gross mud etc. and moisten the dust'n'dirt on it, then wash it with car shampoo or wash'n'wax (using a softbrush for the wheels, engine, etc., and a cloth or mitten for the rest), a bit at a time and rinse each bit off. If your bike can't take being washed, then it's not fit to be out in the rain, so don't worry too much about spraying it, BUT don't use a high pressure hose or waterblaster, as this can force water in places it wouldn't normally go.

Occasionally, I treat the instrument panel and other plasticky bits with Plexus (Pledge is just as good, and far cheaper), and even more occasionally, I'll wax the paintwork. Don't clean or treat the seat with anything like ArmorAll, as it'll make it slippery and won't do the vinyl any favours.

[Mr Merde]

Cold water on a hot motorbike.

Mmmmm

What happens when it rains?

Does the cold water keep off the bike?

Firstly I take the hose to the whole bike. then I use warm soapy water, then I use a chamois cloth to dry the bike. leave it to airt cool and then polish (but not in direct sunlight).

[Crisis management]

That was educational, and I thought I was doing ok riding thru a big puddle every other day......

Good points DMNTD, learnt a few things there, thanks! :Punk:

[vifferman]

BTW Make sure you use a cod-oil cured chamois - they work waaay better than the man made plactic synthetic excuses for a drying rag that re labelled 'chamois'.:yes:
Agreed. The natural 'chamois' is actually lambskin (I think), and has far superior properties than those plasticky things masquerading as them; an old towel is better than one of those.

[oldrider]

Washing a bike properly takes alot of time. Took 4 hours on sat for me then I took it for a ride in the rain after!

This is what I use for my bike

Rear paddok stand
Toothbrush
Sponge
Bucket of water
degreaser
car wash cleaner
chain oil or wax
Tire and mag cleaner.
kerosene
little tray
Polish
chamios cloth
old rags

Sponge the bike down with water first, then apply the degreaser to tire rims chain and axel, anywhere where oil is found.

Add the carwash to the bucket and sponge the bike down again removing dust dirt and grime.

Spray the bike in the foam (tire and mag cleaner) like on the brakes etc let it soak. (sponge off after)

Sit down on your ass fill the tray with kerosene and start cleaning the chain with the toothbrush, by dipping the toothbrush in the kerosene.

Any tar, or oil splatters, run the toothbrush over them and it will get rid of the marks, dont use kerosene on fairings, or anything which isnt metal.

When the chain is done etc, get a bucket of water and sponge this over the entire bike.

Never use a high pressure hose because if you do this on the chain, it will cause it to rust from inside to out.

Dry the bike once its been sponged down and cleaned.

Start the bike, run it for 10 mins in gear, let the chain warm up. Be careful when having a bike in gear on a paddok stand as it could jump.

Stop the bike, check temperature of chain, apply the lube. Give it a min or so to semi set, and start the bike again.

Let it run till the chain is completely lubed.

Apply polish and buff.

Best time to lube a chain is after a ride because its hot and this give a better bonding reaction to wax/chain oil.

PM me if you want your bike to get a sponge bath.

Obviously, I married the wrong woman!!

Do you do out calls to the South Island?

It's a lovely day here today, if you can't make it, I will have to go on without you. Damn it! :gob: John.

[The Stranger]

Is it safe to wash a bike just after a ride? (i.e. hot engine and exhaust)


Pass, but I wouldn't, particularly an air cooled bike.



Is it safe to spray water on the chain?


Yes



Do I need to respray oil on the chain after the wash?


Yes



Then with what oil? would cooking oil do the job? lol


No, not cooking oil.
There are many chain lubes available from any motorcycle store and as many different opinions. I use a wax as it tends to collect less grit and washes off in water. Being a lazy bastard I appreciate the free clean each time I ride in the rain.

[DMNTD]

By the time I got half way through that I was thinking about putting up a poll for an anal smilie.
LOL...you've seen the results on the ZX and RSVR mate.Well worth it to protect the investments.
Anal...maybe but I only do it once a week :mellow:
Oh and I still don't wash the S'duke either...


It's spelled 'chamois' kiddies, 'chamois'
Thanks teach...

[The Stranger]

Soooo, got a dirty unkempt bike eh??:whistle:

Let me see - Clean the bike or ride the bike - Hmm.

[The Stranger]

Anal...maybe but I only do it once a week :mellow:
..



Ahh, so that's why Nodrog was keen to move in with you guys.

[ManDownUnder]

The MDU (aka fat rat's butt) guide to washing bikes... to be done every 12 months whether your bike needs it or not.

Hose your bike down. Hot or cold, wet or dry. It doesn't matter. Bikes are designed to operate (i.e. be HOT) in all weather. It'd be no good if the first rain on a hot engine caused it to crack/warp/break.

Go for gold.

Hose the bike down - get the dirt wet. Get a brush and spent 5 mins max wandering around it getting dirt off everything. Start with the cleaer stuff (windscreen, indicators, lights), move onto body work and fairing, then onto rims, then onto chainshite.

No point starting on something filthy then smearing remnants onto the relatively clean bits now is there?

Hose bike off.

Start bike and ride it for 5 mins wamrm/dry the engine and blow the water off the bike, dry the brakes too (i.e. put 'em on a couple of times.

DONE

[Pwalo]

I always clean my SV every time I ride it. If it's wet I very gently dry it off with an old soft bath towel.

I then clean the wheels, swing arm, rear shock, rear under tray, radiator piping with a pledge disposable cloth.

Quick squirt of pledge (lemon scented of course) over the body work, buff off, quick polish for the can, and all is lovely. Ten to twenty minutes.

If I have to oil the chain, its WD40 on the rag, quick wipe over the chain, and then spray on chain oil (Q8 at the moment).

So far I haven't used water to clean the bike, although with spring rolling round it'll be time to clean out behind the front sprocket cover, and grease the suspension bearings.

[inlinefour]

Hello peoples. I got back from my Uni and I was going to wash my bike.
But when I was about spray fresh cold water, these doubts and questions flooded into my mind :shit:

Is it safe to wash a bike just after a ride? (i.e. hot engine and exhaust)
Is it safe to spray water on the chain?
Do I need to respray oil on the chain after the wash?
Then with what oil? would cooking oil do the job? lol

And what else should I avoid/ have caution while washing my bike?
Some information would help :)

Thanks

EJ

Wait until I bike is cold before you start washing. If its hot and you spray water on it the metal might react badly to the quick change in temperature and warp or crack, I've seen exhausts do this a couple of times. Give the bike a bloody good wash all over, if its set up right there should be no problems getting a bit of water into the can or the airbox. Once rinsed off well, to make sure all the grime and cleaning products are off the bike you can give the bike a shammy, stops the water drop marks or if your like me and dont really care, just let it dry. Leave the bike in a windy/sunny place and forget about it for an hour or two. Then get out the chain wax, oil can etc etc and lube the chain, all the cables and any other moving parts that could do with it. I also give some parts a going over wwith CRC, but remember when the engine heats up some of it will burn off. Once this is done and I've checked the airbox and can for unwanted H2O, I fire up the bike and let it heat up. I ususally tended to put the CBR600RR back into the garage once done, however if it was the DRZ400 or CR125R I took it down the domain and plastered some freash dirt/muck on the bike. I like the look of a used bike, to the point that I'd get given shit about the bug splat on the CBR. My attitude about bikes is that they are there to be ridden, not just ornaments. However in saying that I used to have 11 motorcyces and up until my accident resulting in being in a wheelchair, I intended on increasing the number to about 10 times that amount as I enjoy restoring bikes. Either way itds up to you bro how you clean your bike, the above text is just how I did it. IL4 out. :Punk:

[Kittyhawk]

The MDU (aka fat rat's butt) guide to washing bikes... to be done every 12 months whether your bike needs it or not.

Hose your bike down. Hot or cold, wet or dry. It doesn't matter. Bikes are designed to operate (i.e. be HOT) in all weather. It'd be no good if the first rain on a hot engine caused it to crack/warp/break.

Go for gold.

Hose the bike down - get the dirt wet. Get a brush and spent 5 mins max wandering around it getting dirt off everything. Start with the cleaer stuff (windscreen, indicators, lights), move onto body work and fairing, then onto rims, then onto chainshite.

No point starting on something filthy then smearing remnants onto the relatively clean bits now is there?

Hose bike off.

Start bike and ride it for 5 mins wamrm/dry the engine and blow the water off the bike, dry the brakes too (i.e. put 'em on a couple of times.

DONE

Oh, dear god NO! Right, when do you want your sponge bath hmm?


Obviously, I married the wrong woman!!

Do you do out calls to the South Island?

It's a lovely day here today, if you can't make it, I will have to go on without you. Damn it! :gob: John.

Haha! Im just a biker!

[bucket boy]

u look like youve got it sorted dmntd my bike always needs cleaning from gravel road ill bring it around

[Sanx]

Hmmm, DMNTD and KittyHawk both pimping themselves out to wash and wax bikes. Hard choice. Which of you two looks better in a bikini?

[EJK]

Wait until I bike is cold before you start washing. If its hot and you spray water on it the metal might react badly to the quick change in temperature and warp or ................ being in a wheelchair, I intended on increasing the number to about 10 times that amount as I enjoy restoring bikes. Either way itds up to you bro how you clean your bike, the above text is just how I did it. IL4 out. :Punk:

Thanks! that really helped :)
Now my bike is Sparkling clean! :)

[Busy]

I was following this thread in hope to find a good way to wash/polish a black bike, but have found the answer. Take it for a service at holeshot and they polish it for you :D

Go Holeshot

[90s]

Mt Eden bikes does a bikini wash weekend I seem to remember ...

But my advice is this - learn from my stupidity. Do not EVER use washing up liquid on a bike, engine parts you have stripped down, brake parts etc. Yes, you get the grease off ... but then the highly concentrated salts start to pit and corrode aluminium and other fancy metals. Even after you have thoroughly rinsed them.

Why did no-one tell me all those years ago first!

[swbarnett]

The last word in bike washing - S100. Best product I've ever used. Rinse bike, spray with S100, rinse bike, Done. Even gets 90% of the gunk off the wheels.

You can then go on to detailing if you like (they even have damn good products for that).

Not the cheapest but well worth it IMHO.

BTW: Colemans sells it.

[Cave Cleaner]

I just use a sponge and warm water. with a small amount of car wash in it. Then I use paper towels to remove most of the moisture. Once all dry I use a good polish and clean rags. I dont use the hose at all, unless very muddy, and only then on the wheels Best done after the motor has cooled down too.

[Cave Cleaner]

Oh yeah. I learnt that trick many years ago, and it will leave streaks on your paintwork as well. A goos carwash is not that expensive.

[Busy]

Someone must know of someone that has taken a bike through a carwash :gob:

[mazz1972]

Mt Eden bikes does a bikini wash weekend I seem to remember ...

But my advice is this - learn from my stupidity. Do not EVER use washing up liquid on a bike, engine parts you have stripped down, brake parts etc. Yes, you get the grease off ... but then the highly concentrated salts start to pit and corrode aluminium and other fancy metals. Even after you have thoroughly rinsed them.

Why did no-one tell me all those years ago first!

Would the same apply to Dynamo laundry liquid? We have some friends who wash their trail and dual purpose bikes with it.

We use a weak solution of degreaser on the trail bikes and car wash on the dualies.

[skidMark]

hose..... rag...brush and toothbrush if ur really bored...if i'm in a hurry.....waterblaster...lol

[Pancakes]

Who are these people that wash their bikes after every ride? Not commuters clearly, traffic wind and rain. Builds character!