Bike wash help

**DMNTD:Me** · 7th August 2007, 10:47

Originally Posted by The Stranger

By the time I got half way through that I was thinking about putting up a poll for an anal smilie.

LOL...you've seen the results on the ZX and RSVR mate.Well worth it to protect the investments.
Anal...maybe but I only do it once a week
Oh and I still don't wash the S'duke either...

Originally Posted by scumdog

It's spelled 'chamois' kiddies, 'chamois'

Thanks teach...

**The Stranger:Me** · 7th August 2007, 10:47

Originally Posted by scumdog

Soooo, got a dirty unkempt bike eh??

Let me see - Clean the bike or ride the bike - Hmm.

**The Stranger:Me** · 7th August 2007, 10:56

Originally Posted by DMNTD

Anal...maybe but I only do it once a week
..

Ahh, so that's why Nodrog was keen to move in with you guys.

**ManDownUnder** · 7th August 2007, 11:05

The MDU (aka fat rat's butt) guide to washing bikes... to be done every 12 months whether your bike needs it or not.

Hose your bike down. Hot or cold, wet or dry. It doesn't matter. Bikes are designed to operate (i.e. be HOT) in all weather. It'd be no good if the first rain on a hot engine caused it to crack/warp/break.

Go for gold.

Hose the bike down - get the dirt wet. Get a brush and spent 5 mins max wandering around it getting dirt off everything. Start with the cleaer stuff (windscreen, indicators, lights), move onto body work and fairing, then onto rims, then onto chainshite.

No point starting on something filthy then smearing remnants onto the relatively clean bits now is there?

Hose bike off.

Start bike and ride it for 5 mins wamrm/dry the engine and blow the water off the bike, dry the brakes too (i.e. put 'em on a couple of times.

DONE

**Pwalo** · 7th August 2007, 11:37

I always clean my SV every time I ride it. If it's wet I very gently dry it off with an old soft bath towel.

I then clean the wheels, swing arm, rear shock, rear under tray, radiator piping with a pledge disposable cloth.

Quick squirt of pledge (lemon scented of course) over the body work, buff off, quick polish for the can, and all is lovely. Ten to twenty minutes.

If I have to oil the chain, its WD40 on the rag, quick wipe over the chain, and then spray on chain oil (Q8 at the moment).

So far I haven't used water to clean the bike, although with spring rolling round it'll be time to clean out behind the front sprocket cover, and grease the suspension bearings.

**inlinefour** · 7th August 2007, 11:55

Originally Posted by EJKDDORAI

Hello peoples. I got back from my Uni and I was going to wash my bike.
But when I was about spray fresh cold water, these doubts and questions flooded into my mind

Is it safe to wash a bike just after a ride? (i.e. hot engine and exhaust)
Is it safe to spray water on the chain?
Do I need to respray oil on the chain after the wash?
Then with what oil? would cooking oil do the job? lol

And what else should I avoid/ have caution while washing my bike?
Some information would help

Thanks

EJ

Wait until I bike is cold before you start washing. If its hot and you spray water on it the metal might react badly to the quick change in temperature and warp or crack, I've seen exhausts do this a couple of times. Give the bike a bloody good wash all over, if its set up right there should be no problems getting a bit of water into the can or the airbox. Once rinsed off well, to make sure all the grime and cleaning products are off the bike you can give the bike a shammy, stops the water drop marks or if your like me and dont really care, just let it dry. Leave the bike in a windy/sunny place and forget about it for an hour or two. Then get out the chain wax, oil can etc etc and lube the chain, all the cables and any other moving parts that could do with it. I also give some parts a going over wwith CRC, but remember when the engine heats up some of it will burn off. Once this is done and I've checked the airbox and can for unwanted H2O, I fire up the bike and let it heat up. I ususally tended to put the CBR600RR back into the garage once done, however if it was the DRZ400 or CR125R I took it down the domain and plastered some freash dirt/muck on the bike. I like the look of a used bike, to the point that I'd get given shit about the bug splat on the CBR. My attitude about bikes is that they are there to be ridden, not just ornaments. However in saying that I used to have 11 motorcyces and up until my accident resulting in being in a wheelchair, I intended on increasing the number to about 10 times that amount as I enjoy restoring bikes. Either way itds up to you bro how you clean your bike, the above text is just how I did it. IL4 out.

**Kittyhawk** · 7th August 2007, 11:59

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

The MDU (aka fat rat's butt) guide to washing bikes... to be done every 12 months whether your bike needs it or not.

Hose your bike down. Hot or cold, wet or dry. It doesn't matter. Bikes are designed to operate (i.e. be HOT) in all weather. It'd be no good if the first rain on a hot engine caused it to crack/warp/break.

Go for gold.

Hose the bike down - get the dirt wet. Get a brush and spent 5 mins max wandering around it getting dirt off everything. Start with the cleaer stuff (windscreen, indicators, lights), move onto body work and fairing, then onto rims, then onto chainshite.

No point starting on something filthy then smearing remnants onto the relatively clean bits now is there?

Hose bike off.

Start bike and ride it for 5 mins wamrm/dry the engine and blow the water off the bike, dry the brakes too (i.e. put 'em on a couple of times.

DONE

Oh, dear god NO! Right, when do you want your sponge bath hmm?

Originally Posted by oldrider

Obviously, I married the wrong woman!!

Do you do out calls to the South Island?

It's a lovely day here today, if you can't make it, I will have to go on without you. Damn it!

John.

Haha! Im just a biker!

**bucket boy** · 7th August 2007, 12:16

u look like youve got it sorted dmntd my bike always needs cleaning from gravel road ill bring it around

**Sanx** · 7th August 2007, 16:22

Hmmm, DMNTD and KittyHawk both pimping themselves out to wash and wax bikes. Hard choice. Which of you two looks better in a bikini?

**EJK** · 7th August 2007, 16:27

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Wait until I bike is cold before you start washing. If its hot and you spray water on it the metal might react badly to the quick change in temperature and warp or ................ being in a wheelchair, I intended on increasing the number to about 10 times that amount as I enjoy restoring bikes. Either way itds up to you bro how you clean your bike, the above text is just how I did it. IL4 out.

Thanks! that really helped

Now my bike is Sparkling clean!

**Busy** · 7th August 2007, 21:24

I was following this thread in hope to find a good way to wash/polish a black bike, but have found the answer. Take it for a service at holeshot and they polish it for you

Go Holeshot

**90s** · 9th August 2007, 15:44

Mt Eden bikes does a bikini wash weekend I seem to remember ...

But my advice is this - learn from my stupidity. Do not EVER use washing up liquid on a bike, engine parts you have stripped down, brake parts etc. Yes, you get the grease off ... but then the highly concentrated salts start to pit and corrode aluminium and other fancy metals. Even after you have thoroughly rinsed them.

Why did no-one tell me all those years ago first!

**swbarnett** · 9th August 2007, 16:05

The last word in bike washing - S100. Best product I've ever used. Rinse bike, spray with S100, rinse bike, Done. Even gets 90% of the gunk off the wheels.

You can then go on to detailing if you like (they even have damn good products for that).

Not the cheapest but well worth it IMHO.

BTW: Colemans sells it.

**Cave Cleaner** · 9th August 2007, 16:13

I just use a sponge and warm water. with a small amount of car wash in it. Then I use paper towels to remove most of the moisture. Once all dry I use a good polish and clean rags. I dont use the hose at all, unless very muddy, and only then on the wheels Best done after the motor has cooled down too.