CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 21:59

Hi guys and gals.

My bike has a lil surface crap on my swing arm on my CBR400rr. I would like to know how you guys keep your alloy parts clean. I have been told normal soap and a scrubing brush will clean alloy up real good but it dosnt seem to have the power!!!

Any ideas

Cheers

**gav** · 27th April 2005, 22:00

Paint it black?

Dunno, maybe some decent mag wheel polish or something?

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 22:04

Don't want to paint it black...I have tried Autosol but that dosnt seem to work as that is a polish not a cleaner...maybe I should try some different soaps.. or maybe kero.

**SuperDave** · 27th April 2005, 22:06

Kerosene. I used it recently on my bike and was very impressed, cleaned all the metal parts, chain and wheel rims with no problem at all. I didnt use it on my fairings or or tank - I was told it dulls the paints glossy finish.

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 22:12

Oh ok...I might try kero then....with a scrubing brush. Give it a good ol clean!

**bugjuice** · 27th April 2005, 22:14

protect everything around the swing arm that you don't want the crap taken off (ie chain, brakes, sprocket etc) and go a little nutty with degreaser. Or even take the back wheel off.. Degrease the crap out of it, wash it off, then soap and water, then if you want, most external metal polishes should bring it up. Repco should have some good stuff..

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 22:18

Ive also tried a degreaser but that didn't do any thing really. Metal polish seems to move a little but not all the crap...I need a good powerful soap..

**StoneChucker** · 27th April 2005, 22:28

No need to dismantle, paint or otherwise go mad

Like SuperDave said, kerosene is the BEST by far. Use that, and a toothbrush on your chain, swingarm, foot pegs, exhaust pipes/can, engine case, wheel rims or literally anywhere you want to clean. The only place I don't use kerosene on is the paintwork (fairings and tank), plastics/soft materials (controls, seat, instruments, etc...) and brake pads.

For that, and everything else after the kerosene, use a good wash/degreaser. CT-18 is a wonder product. Got it recommended to me by Andrew at Roadsafe, and haven't looked back since. Simple, rinse bike off, spray a concentrated solution EVERYWHERE on bike (after kerosene rounds), leave for 20 mins, rinse off again, wash with less concentrated solution and cloth, rinse off, chamois dry, oil (chain, moveable parts), polish, silicone (just about everything except fairings and tank), pledge (windscreen, headlights and wheel rims - takes any micro scratches out of the screen, protects rims and makes all 3 look mint) and you're set. Clean, protected bike that will stay that way since ages ago! (Like L&P)

PS: The silicone not only protects, but improves the look as well. Some bike shops spray the whole bike in silicone to improve looks for potential customers. I wouldn't do that, prefer polish on paint but both work I guess.
Does run, and then wash off in the rain tho, but thats ok since I know ALL of you wash your bike after it's been in the rain

*EDIT* Forget about a "strong soap". Trust me, no soap is strong enough to remove the crud around the chain, back wheel and swingarm. The kerosene even dissolves tar which gets stuck there after rides on hot days. Some stubborn marks may not come off with the first contact of the toothbrush (yes, use this, best for accessability/abrasiveness combination). For those, dip the toothbrush in kerosene, scrub the mark and leave for 5 mins, possibly re-applying kerosene on after a min or two. When you come back and scrub, it will come right off.

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 22:34

Very nice StoneChucker.. I will do as your say....when u say Plegde do u mean use the product Pledge??

Cheers for all ya help guys

**GROOMER** · 27th April 2005, 22:36

Originally Posted by kneescraper

Don't want to paint it black...I have tried Autosol but that dosnt seem to work as that is a polish not a cleaner...maybe I should try some different soaps.. or maybe kero.

Car window polish (commercial quality)...its more of a polish than a liquid, and although its not gritty, it gets all sorts off. Not as rough as a cutting cream but works really well. The one I have used is made by pacer, but someone else must do something similar

**StoneChucker** · 27th April 2005, 22:39

Originally Posted by kneescraper

Very nice StoneChucker.. I will do as your say....when u say Plegde do u mean use the product Pledge??

Cheers for all ya help guys

Hehe yes, the product pledge - The furniture polish

And, once you're done there, you can use that on the outside and inside of your helmet visor too, does the same thing (and it smells good too).

PS: Check the bottom of my main post, I added a bit by editing, which you may have missed.

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 22:41

Ahhhh...great stuff mate!!!! I will do as you say Stonechucker, this weekend....I cant wait to get my CBR looking as good as new...well I hope hehe. Your a life saver mate!

**kneescraper** · 27th April 2005, 22:42

Just saw ya Woaahh easy tigher title....nice

hahahahahah

**StoneChucker** · 27th April 2005, 23:17

Um...

You do know that silicone doesn't hide/remove dents and gravel rash don't you

Whatever the condition of your bike, that will make it look it's best (in my opinion). On my bike, that takes me 4 hours to do a good job. Take into consideration that my bike is new, and I'm obsessive compulsive

Do you have some CRC can oil? When I said moveable parts, I meant things like side stand hinges, foot peg springs, control buttons (sparingly), ignition/other key mechanisms that sort of stuff. Don't get the CRC on any cables (clutch/throttle) though, it dries them out.

PS: Like I said, oil after you've dried the bike. Pretty annoying when you spend 1.5 hours polishing/siliconing the bike and you oil something and get oil spray on your nice clean bike...

**Mencius** · 27th April 2005, 23:29

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Whatever the condition of your bike, that will make it look it's best (in my opinion). On my bike, that takes me 4 hours to do a good job. Take into consideration that my bike is new, and I'm obsessive compulsive

Stoney,

Just how much would it cost a lovely young maiden like myself to get you to come and clean my bike?

Ang, ashamed......