New to new bike! What do you do?

**Gone Burger** · 6th February 2011, 07:50

Originally Posted by Tink

POINT EXACTLY, I would prefer to ride it... than polish it!

I ride mine... all the time. Spend all my spare time on it so she sure gets plenty of use. BUT.. If it's dirty when I get home after my ride its gets a wash and a polish. Polish it every week, and clean it almost after every other ride. Keeps it looking beautiful. That was part of the deal for me getting a cruiser - am a sucker for bling but thet bling has to be well kept.

So with the summer we have been having so far, with VERY few dry days around, it's getting washed every single ride. - Actually makes it easy to keep... leave it too long and you have a hell of a mission on your hands getting burnt on dirt etc off the pipes blah blah blah.

Its blinging...

**Tink** · 6th February 2011, 07:53

Originally Posted by Katiepie

I ride mine... all the time. Spend all my spare time on it so she sure gets plenty of use. BUT.. If it's dirty when I get home after my ride its gets a wash and a polish. Polish it every week, and clean it almost after every other ride. Keeps it looking beautiful. That was part of the deal for me getting a cruiser - am a sucker for bling but thet bling has to be well kept.

So with the summer we have been having so far, with VERY few dry days around, it's getting washed every single ride. - Actually makes it easy to keep... leave it too long and you have a hell of a mission on your hands getting burnt on dirt etc off the pipes blah blah blah.

Its blinging...

Everybody has made some very valid posts, mechanical, and now yours getting dirt off a dirty dirty bike hehe... I think she might get a wash today after the ride. Off to meet Fat Max and the on the beach dessert eating pie thingy... lol

Thanks

**boman** · 6th February 2011, 07:57

I keep mine clean...Heck, I dont wash my ute...And my woman is pretty dirty to. So I guess something has too be clean.

**sinfull** · 6th February 2011, 07:57

New bike proceedure for me is

Change ya oil, filter, coolant (if ya have it) lube the chain ! Note milage down and ride !

Things like pressures, chain tension, levels are daily

Cleaning ? Not often but Spraying the bike in CRC or WD40 often makes it easy to clean, if i want to clean clean it, i use a two part mix of crc and a light degreaser in a washdown can on the compressor and coat it in that, hose it off, then hook up the air gun and blow any paint or chrome dry so ya don't get the water marks !
Can of brakecleen on the callipers and discs to make sure no overspray got in there and i'm off ! No elbow grease and no rubbing the paint !
Some guys i know use silican spray to keep it clean, others spend hours polishing up paint etc

**Gone Burger** · 6th February 2011, 07:58

Originally Posted by Tink

Everybody has made some very valid posts, mechanical, and now yours getting dirt off a dirty dirty bike hehe... I think she might get a wash today after the ride. Off to meet Fat Max and the on the beach dessert eating pie thingy... lol

Thanks

Hehe that a girl - enjoy your new ride! And the pie run - might join ours down here today too. But make sure FM isn't drunk.. when he fuzes his eyes he might think you are a pie too - then there is just no stopping him.

**junkmanjoe** · 6th February 2011, 08:01

when i get home i give the 950 a good ole bubble wash.

. do basic repairs..

give the plastics a rub down with paint care product..

i think you need to give your bike a little

every now and then...takes me around 20mins to clean the 950...its a big bike...

JMJ

**Genie** · 6th February 2011, 08:04

I ride every opportunity I get...'tis my reward for a life well done.

My bike, well I wash it after most rides, those insects can stick you know. I think of the wash as part of the ride...cooling down period for both of us, sharing a little love my bikes way. I like to keep it tidy....thouhg yesterday before the wash I actually took photos of it being dirty...the dirt looked so good!

**Tink** · 6th February 2011, 08:08

Originally Posted by boman

I keep mine clean...Heck, I dont wash my ute...And my woman is pretty dirty to. So I guess something has too be clean.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMm

Originally Posted by sinfull

New bike proceedure for me is

Change ya oil, filter, coolant (if ya have it) lube the chain ! Note milage down and ride !

Things like pressures, chain tension, levels are daily

Cleaning ? Not often but Spraying the bike in CRC or WD40 often makes it easy to clean, if i want to clean clean it, i use a two part mix of crc and a light degreaser in a washdown can on the compressor and coat it in that, hose it off, then hook up the air gun and blow any paint or chrome dry so ya don't get the water marks !
Can of brakecleen on the callipers and discs to make sure no overspray got in there and i'm off ! No elbow grease and no rubbing the paint !
Some guys i know use silican spray to keep it clean, others spend hours polishing up paint etc

Good Points!!!!

Originally Posted by Katiepie

Hehe that a girl - enjoy your new ride! And the pie run - might join ours down here today too. But make sure FM isn't drunk.. when he fuzes his eyes he might think you are a pie too - then there is just no stopping him.

haha

**DMNTD:Me** · 6th February 2011, 09:07

Dunno exactly why but every time I buy a new bike I give is 7 coats of wax on body work and rims....then just once per week after that unless I haven't been out riding that particular one.

**la 102** · 7th February 2011, 18:52

Originally Posted by mrchips

+ 1

I like to be able to run my over the mechanical bits withouth having to scrape off inches of crud + I just can't stand a dirty bike.

+1 gotta keep the chrome shining

**BuzzardNZ** · 7th February 2011, 19:19

invest in some protection, of the tank variety I mean

I have the basic sticky tank protection thing to stop your jacket zip scratching the part of the tank closest to the seat, but wish I had put extra stuff on the sides, as some wanker put a decent sized scratch on the side of my tank.

Some bikes paint can be very difficult to match and very expensive even for a small touch-up pot ( I was quoted $500 )

For now, I'm going to get some stompgrip tank pads and just cover it up so it doesn't rust

**Crazy Steve** · 9th February 2011, 07:21

Originally Posted by Tink

Polish & wash (I was told by a few guys, that is what they do when they get a new bike).

POINT: How many of you actually spend time polishing / washing etc your bike!

I just can't get my head around how often some do it...

I guess there are good points, like protecting the paint... and?

Maybe a photo of you on the bike with your Tits out ?

That would surely work for most of the guys on this site ! !

Crazy Steve.

**Fatt Max** · 9th February 2011, 07:27

Originally Posted by Tink

POINT EXACTLY, I would prefer to ride it... than polish it!

Phoooaaaarrrr yeah I bet you fecking do.......

Sorry, are you talking about your motorcycle...??...sorry, wrong thread, wrong fecking website actually....

....sorry......

**wysper** · 9th February 2011, 11:27

Originally Posted by Rhys

wash it then take it for a ride to dry it

course, then you got to wash it again because you have just taken it out for a ride, then you have to take it for a ride to dry it, then you have to wash it because you have been on a ride.....

oh.... I see your cunning play... very clever!

**Tink** · 9th February 2011, 13:27

Originally Posted by Crazy Steve

Maybe a photo of you on the bike with your Tits out ?

That would surely work for most of the guys on this site ! !

Crazy Steve.

Ha... smart arse! In your dreams baby lol

Originally Posted by Fatt Max

Phoooaaaarrrr yeah I bet you fecking do.......

Sorry, are you talking about your motorcycle...??...sorry, wrong thread, wrong fecking website actually....

....sorry......

LOL... see and your wonder why woman have brains and men have balls!

Originally Posted by wysper

course, then you got to wash it again because you have just taken it out for a ride, then you have to take it for a ride to dry it, then you have to wash it because you have been on a ride.....

oh.... I see your cunning play... very clever!

HAHA... ye me likey that plan NOT... ride ride...and more riding! Ok I will wash it tomorrow...