Cleaning the engine and keeping it that way....and more...

[juggernaught]

Recently i posted in the Monster board looking for a cable for my bike.  I posted a pick of my bike to specify the part.  The good thing was a guy in Seattle had the part and sold it to me at a fraction of it's worth.  The bad thing was that i received lots of responses commenting on what a "Dirty Duc" i owned.  My first thought was "man...are the people on GSTwin less judgemental or what"  Thus i hang out here more.  My second thought was..."man is my bike dirty" followed by my third thought "man....i need a new deodorant".  But back to the task at hand.  A series of questions to the Guru's and Gurette's

A)  What to use to clean the engine on a naked bike without harming it.

B)  Best way to clean the rims and even tires if possible (i know about  the        of Armor All)

C) Best method of cleaning brake disks

D) Ways to keep the gas tank looking all buff and glisteny while offering protection from the elements.

All replies are encouraged and appreciated.

ps....man....does my dog have stinky breath....

[davipu]

on the painted parts I use mothers wax in the red can.  any kind of citrus based cleaner is fine for the motor, brakes and wheels.
feel free to use one of my great reasons that I don't clean my bike.
1 the dirt hides the scratches.
2 yeah, yeah, I was planning on doing it tommarrow.
3 if today is wednesday, and I am going to go ride on saturday I can wait till sunday to wash her. ( note only works on wednesdays)
4 dude, do I Buddha Loves You about how the sun reflects off of yours and blinds me.
5 if I cared more about what she looked like than riding her, than I whould.
6 while your cleaning, I'm riding.
7 if mine is next to yours who's do you think they will steal first.
8 I think fixing it is more important.
9 did I ask for your opionion?
10 when you start cleaning it for me it'll get clean.
11 what's the point, it'll just get dirty tommarrow?
12 my bike is not a status symbol dickhead, it's my way of life and I like my bikes and my women a little dirty.

[Ry_Guy]

:lol:  I tend to accept most of davipu's postulates. If I'm not mistaken, some of that oil/grime can in fact prevent some oxidizing on the metal parts of your engine and frame. She sure does shine with a good bath though. I've been using windex on the gas tank and tail. It seems to work just fine  :dunno:

[juggernaught]

Thanx guys...i feel better already...

[scratch]

A)  What to use to clean the engine on a naked bike without harming it.

A clean 100% cotton sock pulled over your hand, and using your pinkie to get in between the fins (labor intensive, but it's the best deterant to cleaning my bike).

B)  Best way to clean the rims and even tires if possible (i know about  the        of Armor All).

Another clean sock and warm water with car soap (I prefer Turtlewax, allthough I have been using Liquid Wrench on a sock lately). You can 'clean up' your tire sidewalls using Protectant 2001 sprayed on a sock (not the same one, and hopefully this one is clean too).

C) Best method of cleaning brake disks.

Ride.

D) Ways to keep the gas tank looking all buff and glisteny while offering protection from the elements.

Non-carnuba wax dries quicker and so makes the process quicker. Prefer a wax that is not a 'cleaner' type. Use 100% cotton towel for application and buffing; a light colored towel is prefered here.

[juggernaught]

Scratch...you rock..!!  Now if only Kerry had some form of video series.... :dunno:   Well..Kerry rocks anyways...

[Dragonfly]

MOTHERS ALL WHEEL CLEANER!!!!!!1


I use the stuff all the time. Spray it everywhere its not painted.... Swingarm, front and rear wheels and brakes. And all the spots that get alot of road grime. Let it set for about 30-40 secs (10-20 for any sensitive areas) and hose it off... VERY quick and looks pretty good for a quick job.

Then any heavily dirty areas you can use a brush or whatever you use as a usual cleaning method.

[cummuterguy]

i have a dirty bike, but at least i still have all my socks...lol

[davipu]

hey scratch, any other uses for socks?

[juggernaught]

Good to know Dragonfly...didn't know there was something decent out there for wheels that wouldn't land me on my ass...

[pixelmonkey]

hey scratch, any other uses for socks?

ever watch the movie "American Pie"



:lol:
chris<pixelmonkey>

[mp183]

Don't clean it too much you'll ruin it.
You ever watch one of the antique shows?
They always warn you about cleaning.  It seems everytime
someone cleans up the piece the value drops. :lol:

[Roadstergal]

I use Griot's Wheel Cleaner on my car, and it works great on the bike rims, as well.  It's green and smells rather nice.  I think most of the Griot's stuff is overpriced, but that green stuff works.

For the paint, I do the same as the car.  Meguiar's Gold car wash between waxings, Meguiar's High-Tech Yellow for wax.  It's the best quick-to-apply wax I've found, and I'm lazy.

I agree - you don't want to put anything on rotors other than the pads.  And pads, properly applied, clean rotors nicely.

[juggernaught]

See..?? that's why i love this place.  Other than the occasional silly titles applied to members....it's been a very helpful site.  S'cuse me Roadstergal....have to change my sheets again.....

[treybrad]

I've been using windex on the gas tank and tail. It seems to work just fine  :dunno:

Well. Windex strips any wax you have on the paint... I don't know that the windex itself would hurt it, but you're going to end up leaving the paint exposed for 'ol mister sun to have his way with it.

trey

[Mat]

on the painted parts I use mothers wax in the red can.  any kind of citrus based cleaner is fine for the motor, brakes and wheels.
feel free to use one of my great reasons that I don't clean my bike.
1 the dirt hides the scratches.
2 yeah, yeah, I was planning on doing it tommarrow.
3 if today is wednesday, and I am going to go ride on saturday I can wait till sunday to wash her. ( note only works on wednesdays)
4 dude, do I Buddha Loves You about how the sun reflects off of yours and blinds me.
5 if I cared more about what she looked like than riding her, than I whould.
6 while your cleaning, I'm riding.
7 if mine is next to yours who's do you think they will steal first.
8 I think fixing it is more important.
9 did I ask for your opionion?
10 when you start cleaning it for me it'll get clean.
11 what's the point, it'll just get dirty tommarrow?
12 my bike is not a status symbol dickhead, it's my way of life and I like my bikes and my women a little dirty.

the line i use is

all that grime and tar keeps my bike from falling apart

[scratch]

hey scratch, any other uses for socks?

Because of it's small size and it is 'dual' layered, and the fact you can pull it over your hand, makes the sock a very useful rag. I keep one under my seat and has come to be very useful in wrapping around things that I put under my seat that I don't want to scratch (either the item or the frame rails); tools, so they don't rattle around or fall out (use the sock as a bag for this); and in one instance, used to keep the brake fluid from dribbling all over the rim of a Ducati that had locked up its brakes as we had to crack the banjo bolt because the bleeder uses an 11mm wrench.

And, the number one use for a sock: to wrap around the fork leg with the leaking fork seal (with zip-tie) to keep the fork oil off your brake.

[JetSwing]

has anyone tried one of those portable steam cleamers? no scrubbing or chemicals...easy to reach tight spots...seems like it could work wonders...what do you think?

[Eklipse]

I usually only ending up washing my bike once every month or two. I ride every day, but it never really gets dirty enough to wash.

When I do wash it, it's only because I'm bored.

[MarkusN]

has anyone tried one of those portable steam cleamers? no scrubbing or chemicals...easy to reach tight spots...seems like it could work wonders...what do you think?

Should be OK for the outside of the engine. Just make sure you don't go anywhere near bearings of the swing arm or the wheels. Same with high pressure washers. Replacing grease with water from a high pressure jet is not a good idea.