How to best clean your bike?

**Donzzz** · 16th May 2010, 18:05

Wow, some car washing liquid, FW1 wax spray, armourall grease remover and half an hour of scrubbing later... this beauty looks new!!!

By the way Chamois leather is overrated, some microfibre and terry cloth did the job the best

**p.dath** · 16th May 2010, 18:09

Originally Posted by Donzzz

Wow, some car washing liquid, FW1 wax spray, armourall grease remover and half an hour of scrubbing later... this beauty looks new!!!

By the way Chamois leather is overrated, some microfibre and terry cloth did the job the best

Haven't been following the rest of the thread, but be carefull if you put any polish on the seat or on the tank where you knees/legs grip. Polish can make these two areas very slippery, and make it more difficult to stay on the bike/control the bike.

**Rogue Rider** · 16th May 2010, 18:17

Originally Posted by Donzzz

So I bought my Gixxer 600 K7.. The guy (nice chap) lives in Welly. I flew down and rode it back to Aucks today!!!

A fantastic road trip. Me, my new bike and the open road. Not the best weather must say, freakin whole country was racked with a bloody thunderstorm, still managed to find lots of sunny breaks though. The wet/windy stretch through Tongariro national park very nearly made me turn around, but I trudged along...

So I'm back in Auckland now, a proud accomplishment on one hand and a dirty bike on the other. This is my first 600cc, first time I rode 7 hours at a stretch and the worst weather I've ever endured on two wheels all in the same day by the way. I would say I'm a little pleased. If you have any stories share please.

So back to my question: How do I best clean it? I'm saying no to hosing it down, also saying no to weilding a toothbrush for the next 3 hours. Looking for some tips, tricks, best practices and whatever-you-do-dont-do-this's

Thanks guys, and special thanks to those KBers who gave me some good advise prior to this purchase.

Donny

Cleaning your bike can be a chore, or it can be a fun man time, time out to groom the beast and check on maintenance.
For me I wash my bike at least once a fortnight, with spray and wipes in between, depending on how dirty she is.

Firstly, I spray the bike with the hose, then a sponge bath with specialized car washing suds. I et it settle for a few minutes, then give it a lite brushing with a soft bristled car wash brush.
A simple hose off follows, then a warm wax application over the top. Alternatively to the wax, is to shammy dry, then spray and wipe with blue trigger bottle pledge.
For the nooks and crannies, I use my wife's tooth brush lol....... and a little degreaser.

If you have a cruiser and you have tarnished/ oxidized alloy, just use a scotch brite pad and some autosol. Be vigourous with the scotch pad and it will bring up a super finish. You can also use 1000 grit plus wet and dry sandpaper with an autosol polish after. This restores alloy to new.
For chrome bits of corrosion, simply use autosol and a rag, gently rub affected areas to a new chrome finish. If your selling your bike, its really worth while spending an hr or 2 tarting up the bike for sale. It will give a cracker finish.

**rie** · 17th May 2010, 14:31

what colour? never mind. it is suzuki and inevitably the paint will fade to a pooey version of its former glory unless you take care of it. namely, keep it clean; keep it out of the sun; invest in a good wax.

**Virago** · 22nd May 2010, 18:30

Originally Posted by Maki

DO NOT go anywhere near your bike with hot water!!! unless you want it to rust. Use cold water ONLY...

Originally Posted by Virago

That's a new one on me. How does hot water cause rust?

No response...? I've scoured the interweb for anything to back up your claim, without any luck.

**blackdog** · 22nd May 2010, 19:05

for wheels i use a spray bottle of that orange cleaner stuff (generously) and then just hose off. good as new.....

**Cloggy** · 22nd May 2010, 19:11

I can't find any bits on my bike that could actually rust. All of it is either alloy or plastic (except the nuts and bolts and some small brackets.
But for most of the bike I use cold water as well. Can't see the point in using hot water.
To get through greasy bits I use Simply Green diluted with water and a paintbrush. Works very well on the wheels to get most of the road grime, brake dust and chain lube off. Then to get them really clean I wipe the wheels and any other parts which were covered in greasiness with a rag moistened with kerosene.
I use a compressor to blow water out of nooks and crannies where it could corrode the aluminium if left sitting.

**blackdog** · 22nd May 2010, 19:13

Originally Posted by Cloggy

I can't find any bits on my bike that could actually rust. All of it is either alloy or plastic (except the nuts and bolts and some small brackets.
But for most of the bike I use cold water as well. Can't see the point in using hot water.
To get through greasy bits I use Simply Green diluted with water and a paintbrush. Works very well on the wheels to get most of the road grime, brake dust and chain lube off. Then to get them really clean I wipe the wheels and any other parts which were covered in greasiness with a rag moistened with kerosene.
I use a compressor to blow water out of nooks and crannies where it could corrode the aluminium if left sitting.

second the simple green....it's either that or the orange, whichever karleen has in the cupboard at the time

**Redstar** · 22nd May 2010, 19:37

I use Brasso on the Down pipe and Crome works a treat also natuarally avoid spraying water down the Can and few weeks ago removed the Primary chain gog cover and degreased that and got all the grit out away from the chain guide. its the dirt you cant normally see that does all the damage mechanically most paintwork is laquered and frankly polishing makes it sparkle but really has no real impact. some of the Jappers like mine have marginal crome so a bit or polish on that is a good plan.
Powerwashers are no no if you want it to start again. Oh and after a wash take it for a spin that will evaporate all the water and will dry the bike and its a bloddy good excuse to F@@K off for a while

**dipshit** · 22nd May 2010, 21:06

I like using microfibre clothes like this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm03Dgu_yXA ... for drying the bike after washing it. It stops getting water marks.

**CookMySock** · 22nd May 2010, 21:13

Originally Posted by Kitt Wyatt

Cleaning your bike can be a chore, or it can be a fun man time

Fun man time, LOL.

Originally Posted by Kitt Wyatt

time out to groom the beast and check on maintenance.

I save that for the shower!

Steve

**Bulldog** · 23rd May 2010, 00:02

wd40 OR crc if you must will get tar off everytime. My race car always gets filthy with melted rubber and other general black stuff, comes right off with wd40 without wrecking paint. I used this under the rear guards on my motard as it's yellow under there!

**Movistar** · 23rd May 2010, 20:43

Originally Posted by Cloggy

Works very well on the wheels to get most of the road grime, brake dust and chain lube off. Then to get them really clean I wipe the wheels and any other parts which were covered in greasiness with a rag moistened with kerosene.

Kero on a rag works mint!
I do this last, after the bikes been dried off, and sometimes later on in the evening or the next day, so that it stays on the wheels and doesn't run onto the tyres if it happens to bead with any left over water!
You can get fine scrathes on the rims from doing this, but a good polish usually sorts this out.

**firefighter** · 23rd May 2010, 21:05

Originally Posted by p.dath

Haven't been following the rest of the thread, but be carefull if you put any polish on the seat or on the tank where you knees/legs grip. Polish can make these two areas very slippery, and make it more difficult to stay on the bike/control the bike.

You can get a non-slip polish for leather by meguiars for your seat. I found this out the hard way too.....(well not really but did have an interesting ride)