Motorcycle wash?

**Metalor** · 19th August 2009, 13:39

Ok you jokers. I am in need of your advice.

This is the VERY FIRST TIME I am gonna be cleaning my bike, so what should I use. I see that muc-off stuff in every bike shop so I take it it does the job?

The guys at Holeshot gave my bike a bit of a blast with this alkaline based washed and it reacted with the aluminium swingarm so has these white streaks on it now... reckon a bit of Autosol will get this off? I tried Meguiars metal polish but that didn't really help much.

I did have some meguiars car wash to use on me bike but my old flat mate used it all... oh, and the ex used it to wash MY car too

Notice she is now an EX-girlfriend... maybe got sick of washing my car??

Also, is it a silly idea to use a waterblaster? Obviously not gonna do it right up close to blast the shit out of the clear coat but just a bit worried I may get water in the electrics or other places it's not supposed to go :P

What would you guys recommend?

**vifferman** · 19th August 2009, 13:45

I dunno 'botu MUc-off, but I thought it was for dirt (or very dirty) bikes? I would wash it with ornery car wash, go easy with the water blaster (or better still, unless it's very muddy, don't use it but use a hose instead). It's easy for the waterbalster to force water into wheel bearings or the chain rollers, or into electrical bits.
If you are cleaning chain spooge or tar off the wheel rims or swingarm, it's better to use kero (or whatever) on a rag, rather than squirting it on, as if it gets on the tyres it will soak into the surface of the rubber. Then the first ride you have in the wet will be very exciting. By the same token, keep anything containing silicon away from the tyres.
Don't be tempted to clean the chain with degreaser! Always use kerosene.

**Metalor** · 19th August 2009, 13:51

Cheers mate. Did the chain the other day, don't have a rearpaddock stand so jimmy'd one side of the swingarm up so the rear wheel could spin freely.

Used kerosene.... amazing the difference it makes. Chain looks brand new! Then a bit of chain wax one it's heated and wallah!

Hmmm.. might go and buy some el cheapo car wash then... just wanna get most of the road grime off all the heard to reach places.

**ManDownUnder** · 19th August 2009, 13:52

I don't really know that much about the topic to be honest - but turtle wax and bucket with a brushy thing tends to do the business. And don't wash you chain, then your screen in that order... with the same brush...

I know - the wisdom is overwhelming... you can thank me later

**p.dath** · 19th August 2009, 14:04

What sort of rims do you have?

Things like kero can strip paint if you have painted rims. If they are painted, try a bit on a cloth. If the cloth changes to the colour of the paint then stop using it. Otherwise it is probably fine.

I tend to use a mild car wash and wax these days. I've had bad experiences with chemicals in the past.
Avoid using waxes on your seat as well (makes it slippery to sit on!).

**grusomhat** · 19th August 2009, 14:11

CRC will get off any oil or grime around the engine and I believe it's pretty safe on everything (
'cept tyres)

Otherwise a good wash with soap and then wax afterward should be enough.

Supercheap have cans of degreaser 4 for $10 but I don't know if it's any good. Anyone know? Wouldn't mine some myself.

**vifferman** · 19th August 2009, 14:55

Originally Posted by p.dath

Things like kero can strip paint if you have painted rims.

What?
Mebbe if your rims are painted with house paint, or fence stain.
Real motorcycles have rims that are either powdercoated, or (more usually) painted with automotive lacquer.

Originally Posted by grusomhat

CRC will get off any oil or grime around the engine and I believe it's pretty safe on everything (
'cept tyres)

CRC and WD40 are essentially mostly refined kerosene anyway.

Originally Posted by grusomhat

Supercheap have cans of degreaser 4 for $10 but I don't know if it's any good. Anyone know? Wouldn't mine some myself.

Why would you need to use degreaser?

If you look after your chain properly, you won't have screeds of chain spooge needing removing, so unless your bike is leaking like a sieve, it shouldn't need degreasing.
The big problem with degreaser (apart from getting it into the inside of chain rollers, bearings, etc., is that when it's used it forms a lovely emulsion of soap, grunge and water. The surface of tyre tread tends to grab this emulsion and be relucatant to let go. It's easier to not get it on there in the first place than to have to try to remove it afterwards.

**sharky** · 19th August 2009, 15:20

Plug the exhaust up with a rag (or you can splash out and buy a proper butt plug thingy) then wash same way as you would a car.

**StoneY** · 19th August 2009, 15:33

Best wheel cleaner I seen yet- tar- chain goo- road dirt- barke pad dust- good old Mr Muscle Orange Citris in a bottle

DONT spary the back wheel on off chain side- spry ya rag (it strips ya chain lube too otherwise)

**jetboy** · 19th August 2009, 15:39

I clean my bike after I work on it every time - to clean up the greasey shit my hands leave everywhere plus any spillages, drips etc.

I use Kerosene for the chain and sprockets - it works a treat - but I lube that sucker up straight away after cleaning.

I use BrakeKleen for the majority of degreasing (with fairings off) around the engine, wheels etc. It's bloody mint at removing the crap on your rear wheel like chain lube, which seems to attract all sorts of dirt. I wash the degreaser off ASAP after using to avoid paint fade/strip etc, and have had zero problems since.

Seriously I find BrakeKleen to be the best spray cleaner, I just spray and walk away....then hose off with water. Scrubbing is sometimes required for built up gunk as can be found in your chain sprocket housing etc.

I use normal car wash liquid for the wheels (incl tires incase I oversprayed brakekleen onto them) and fairings after I have cleaned everything else.

Then I polish anything metal like levers, foot pegs, swing arm, frame etc with metal polish or other polish.

Its a shame the bike is 20 years old otherwise she'd look mint!

**vifferman** · 19th August 2009, 15:52

Originally Posted by StoneY

Best wheel cleaner I seen yet- good old Mr Muscle Orange Citris in a bottle

Worst cleaners so far:
Simple Green (next to useless, but because it's caustic it can make the paint and alloy streaky).
Some [insert brand name I can't remember] Wheel cleaner and protectant; it was supposed to be applied twice: the first time to clean the wheels, the second to leave a coating that protected them from brake dust and road spooge. In fact, all it did was leave a silicon (?) coating on my tyres that made them very slippery on even damp roads.

Best wheel cleaner: Wurth Intensive Rim Cleaner. A pink, pleasant-smelling gel that needed little more than spraying on diluted, leaving for a wee while, and hosing off.

Originally Posted by jetboy

I find BrakeKleen to be the best spray cleaner

I found that Nulon brake cleaner (and presumably other brands too?) are great for removing chain spooge from new carpet after you've walked it inside on your bike boots.

Also removes coke spilled on carpet, stains from clothes, and .... hmmm... brake dust and road spooge from brakes, of all things.

It's basically drycleaning fluid in an aerosol can - very useful stuff!

**jetboy** · 19th August 2009, 15:55

Originally Posted by vifferman

I found that Nulon brake cleaner (and presumably other brands too?) are great for removing chain spooge from new carpet after you've walked it inside on your bike boots.

THANK YOU! I've tried everything to get the marks out of my carpet! Now I can stop blaming my flatmates for the dodgy black footprints in our lounge which are conveniently the same size as my shoes....

**Devil** · 19th August 2009, 15:57

Originally Posted by vifferman

I found that Nulon brake cleaner (and presumably other brands too?) are great for removing chain spooge from new carpet after you've walked it inside on your bike boots.

Oh you've done that too huh!

Yeah, anything with Wurth on it is normally damn good shite.
Even their washer fluid.