silly newbie question

[katfan97]

My bike looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 1-2 years.  I really want to "polish" it up.  Ideas?  Can you take it to a car wash?  I read in the manual you have to do this and that to degrease...etc, etc.  I really just want to get it done.  Wash/scrub, dry, polish, especially all the aluminum.  Thanks,

[Meighan]

My bike looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 1-2 years.  I really want to "polish" it up.  Ideas?  Can you take it to a car wash?  I read in the manual you have to do this and that to degrease...etc, etc.  I really just want to get it done.  Wash/scrub, dry, polish, especially all the aluminum.  Thanks,

I just put on my bikini and ride it on through the automatic car wash  :mrgreen:

... KIDDING!!!

Read this thread, it should help:

http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10774

[perfdrug]

i bought some suzuki degreaser, and it'll clean the hell outta everything on the engine. it sprays in a very thin jet, but then foams to clean everything really well. i just spray my engine down with that, go get the hose and bucket and my Mr. Clean Autodry gun, etc, and then hose off the degreaser, and it's pretty clean. then, after a good soaping, it's brilliant. i've had my share of engine troubles, but my paint is still so nice.

[Cal Price]

Most of that aluminium is steel painted to look like aluminium. treat it like you would any bodywork, avoid preasure washes but a hose should be ok. Then the occasional buckets of warm soapy should do the trick. If you hose avoid the obvious like the pipe etc. A nylon brush can be handy around the engine but avoid bashing the idle speed adjuster.

[katfan97]

Most of that aluminium is steel painted to look like aluminium. treat it like you would any bodywork, avoid preasure washes but a hose should be ok. Then the occasional buckets of warm soapy should do the trick. If you hose avoid the obvious like the pipe etc. A nylon brush can be handy around the engine but avoid bashing the idle speed adjuster.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to change the airfilter and give her a good cleaning this weekend

[perfdrug]

take pics!

[crash]

take pics!

you're dirty... trying to get pics of a bike in the nude!  

i just came from washing my gs... got bit by some bug in the process  

the only thing i always have trouble with is the ribbed portion of the engine in the very front... there are pebbles stuck b/n the ribs that i couldn't get out w/ a brush  :x

other than that, it's so fresh & so clean  :mrgreen:

[mp183]

Don't use de-greaser around your chain.  It will swell the o-rings and ruin your chain.  I can't give you any other advice.  It's been so long since I washed mine I forget how it's done.

[Flash]

I just put on my bikini and ride it on through the automatic car wash  :mrgreen: ....

Girl, you are sooooo wrong. You TEASE!!!!

[crash]

doh!

i spent over an hour last night washing my bike. then i left it outside to try, b/c the stupid weather channel said it was going to be sunny all saturday. what did i find upon waking up today? rain!

[mp183]

After you wash it don't let it sit.  Take it out and ride it to dry it off.  Otherwise everything has a tnedency to rust.