Bike cleaning?

[krasher]

Any tips?
They seem to get quite dirty
Then, they seem to rust.

At the moment it goes like this:

Clean with hose and brush....
....then, 2hrs later...spray on crc to stop stuff rusting as the water won't dry cos its now freezing cold and dark.

Any better ideas or have I got it sussed? Water blasting wasn't much faster. Did that last week.

Chain doesn't really clean with hose and brush though. Need a water blaster for that perhaps. Any better ideas?

[BM-GS]

You've said it yourself: don't do the hose & brush bit, then it stops the rusting... I've had bikes that looked like they were buried in a field for much of their lives which scrubbed up nice approx every year.

To keep a bike rust-free from the beginning you'd have to check it from the showroom floor to make sure all the nooks & crannies are painted. Steel frames are a bugger for this, and the rust starts on a lot of bikes after the first wet ride. Better quality bikes get a better job done on them to start with (or are made with higher-spec materials), and have fewer rust problems later. Generally.

Slather chain with lube after a ride (hot chain boils off the solvent stuff faster, so there's less "fling" than when lubing chain immediately before a ride). Or buy a shaftie. Or use a Scottoiler-type widget that lubes your chain as you ride.

Nope, bikes have thin paint and nearly no grease on them when they arrive at the dealer, so it really pays to go over your brand-new pride & joy before you get it wet. Or buy from someone who did.

All I can think of...

[B0000M]

sort of what he said....

honda's dont rust
chain oil helps
a good clean helps.

at the end of the day theres not much you can do.

[kezzafish]

a lot of people spray on Dynamo (liquid stain remover you get from supermarket)...rinse bike with water... spray on dynamo... leave to soak... wash off... you'd be amazed how much dirt this gets off. and it's a real quick jobbie... also you don't get wet and cold 'cos you don't have to touch the bike. some peeps recon it rips grease in wheel bearings to hell but i've never had a problem so yaaa sucks booo to them. Don't clean your chain... just keep it soaked in fresh chain lube or old engine oil if you're a cheap ass

[ArcherWC]

1, wash the bike off to get most of the mud etc off
2, spay with watered down liquid laundry detergent (dynamo is best but most any will do)
3, leave for quarter of an hour to "soak"
4, rinse off
5, lube and CRC as required

[chop]

CT18 truck wash from TWL is the key! That stuff is magic!! Also the June DRD magazine has an article on bike washing, man that DRD is a great read has some real choice articles!

[flyingcr250]

CT18 truck wash from TWL is the key! That stuff is magic!! Also the June DRD magazine has an article on bike washing, man that DRD is a great read has some real choice articles!

ha ha ha believe it or not i was just reading the march 2009 issue about the 450 shoot out. i knew id seen your avatar somewere before.

[kezzafish]

ha ha ha believe it or not i was just reading the march 2009 issue about the 450 shoot out. i knew id seen your avatar somewere before.

what do ya think of "intermediate Off road guy"??? i like boys with beards... oooooh nice. lol

[flyingcr250]

what do ya think of "intermediate Off road guy"??? i like boys with beards... oooooh nice. lol

youd be in to the power ranger too then, bit of a fuzzy face sandwitch

i sorta guessed that was chop. (intermediate offroad guy)

[socialites]

One word....MOTOMUCK

[chop]

Intermediate was power ranger taking the piss... Thought itd be a laugh! Kezza you just like boys in general beard or no beard!

[Reckless]

There was a huge thread on this about a month ago do a search!

[krasher]

Good idea! Cheers.

[slofox]

what's "cleaning"?

[takitimu]

Intermediate was power ranger taking the piss... Thought itd be a laugh! Kezza you just like boys in general beard or no beard!

Wound you up good eh