To clean or not to clean?

[Road kill]

Every time I ride it.

I also carry a cleaning rag with me when ever I ride so when I stop for any length of time I can give her a quick wipe down so she stays looking good.

On non riding days I usually go over both bikes just to make sure there's no smears on the chrome or road dirt on the under side of the engine or swing arms I might of missed during the standard cleaning.

On the "very rare" occasion I get caught in the rain I go over the bike with compressed air and a bunch of cleaning rags as soon as I get home.

I won't even park next to a dirty bike an you can bet the farm that I won't talk to the grub who owns it.

[Oakie]

I always wash mine the day before a good rainfall. It's not planned that way ... it just seems to happen.

[Akzle]

I always wash mine the day before a good rainfall. It's not planned that way ... it just seems to happen.

can you come over and wash your bike.... paddocks need the rain. it's getting brown. browner than my trousers. they're corduroy. and brown, are they brown.

[The End]

Still got a bike after all those wheelies?

[Zamiam]

I bought it to ride not to polish so every February 29 :-)

[george formby]

when it rains...

Yarp. I find that drizzle just streaks the dust which is unsightly. Proper rain is good. Waterblasting? Private road, flat chat, in a down pour.

[Ocean1]

... so it's really difficult to wash my bike (without incurring a $200 fine from the D'Auckland Cuncil).

How does that work Viffer? Don't they like water in their gutters?

[Coldrider]

Mine has never been cleaned.

[nzspokes]

Every Saturday, I commute about 300ks a week. Use it as a time to look for problems starting.

And I like it shiny.

[actungbaby]

ok everyone on here is a bike nut, so how often to you clean your bike??

On serious note i forgot to add what i do to wash it

I rince the dirt dust of important so dont scatch the paint

Then wash with bike cleaner or car wash well always used car wash

products , rince again oh pays not to wash in direct hot sun

Then get good qaulity shammy (best things ever)

Dry then and this most important part use good wax poilish

That way the water will run off the paint work

Not sure what poilish to use as mostly had soild paints a asusme

Bikes still do and not the clear coated finishs cars have

If u wax and keep that up u have to clean much less than ever

week even if it rains alot use amour on the plastics not the seat

though and never on the tires

Yes and u want take pride in your bike as keep it re sale value

and dont like ratty looking anythings

oh ps

Try keep old rag to clean any oil of the swing arm or wheels after you oiled the chain

as dirt just love the oil and attracts it makes real mess yuk,

but you want take care that before clean the bike u dont want cloth that got

any grit or again you chould even lighty sratch the paint esp its metalic nothing looks

worse, so i start at the handle bars work through tank seat rear ights front etc

finish on the wheels do the same for cars too, then can deal with brake dust last

[Berries]

I have always kept mine very clean. Can't see the point in buying a new bike and letting it go to shit.

I thought that way back in 2004 when it was new. Now my daily ride gets washed by the bike shop when it goes in for a WoF, and that's it. Having tank water makes excuses easy.

[Tryhard]

Every couple of weeks. I only ride it once or twice a week for about 2 - 5 hrs a time.
I dont tend to use the hose or a cut and polise just Mequiars Liquid Wax and Armourald (not too sure how to spell)

[Laava]

I have one beautiful clean and polished bike with rego on hold that I never ride so never need to wash. And two semi filthy bikes that I ride regularly. I always have clean underpants tho, this is very important apparently!

[mrchips]

I treated my bikes to a wash at Christmas. Otherwise rain seems to keeps em looking clean + Scottoiler keeps the chain in good check.

I don't feel so bad when a work Colleague's commuter bike has never had a wash in the 4 years he's owned it. Any fairing scrappage gets touched up with a 1" paint brush & what looks like green 'fence paint' + he gave it an oil change 3 years ago. It's rusty as fuck yet it stills keeps a rollin

[Tryhard]

I treated my bikes to a wash at Christmas. Otherwise rain seems to keeps em looking clean + Scottoiler keeps the chain in good check.

I don't feel so bad when a work Colleague's commuter bike has never had a wash in the 4 years he's owned it. Any fairing scrappage gets touched up with a 1" paint brush & what looks like green 'fence paint' + he gave it an oil change 3 years ago. It's rusty as fuck yet it stills keeps a rollin

Is she a Honda or a Suzi?