Cleaning your new love

[Dresnewtoy]

The p/o of my '07 didn't pay too much attention to cleanliness. There are a plethora of cleaning chemicals out there, could you guys and gals give me a rundown on the basics of what i need to get my bike looking brand new?? Thnx!
 

[adidasguy]

Kerosene and WD40 are great for all the metal and grease.
Good automotive wash soap for the rest.
Then a polish/wax like Mothers Showtime or any of the other products for polishing plastics & painted surfaces. A nice waxing of the tank helps protect against gas drips.
Lube chain after washing.

Oh, brake cleaner and carb cleaner are good to spray around the engine parts to help get grease off.
Not a bad idea to lube your cables, too. Some WD40 sprayed in there around the carbs is good to displace water and give a little lube to all those external moving carb parts.

And wipe the brake rotors clean and dry. If you get WD40 or kerosene on them, use brake cleaner. Don't want greasy brakes. Good idea anyway to do that to the brakes as your last thing.

One last thing: Rutland Stove Polish (in the tube). Great for blackening up the exhaust pipes and providing some protection. Simple to apply and I think easier and better than painting. Its a black wax used for wood stoves so it can handle the heat of the pipes.

[Dr.McNinja]

No one seemed to mention:


UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL YOU EVER POINT A PRESSURE WASHER AT A BIKE


Sounds like common sense. You'd be surprised how many people have screwed up seals/lubricated parts by doing it however.

[mrwirey]

Simple Green is my cleaner of choice. It simply works and it is definitely green.
Very respectfully, Tim

[slipperymongoose]

Good ole wash n wax one step for me. Chain lube is a whole other can of worms. However if you can use kero on your chain can you use diesel? And just the cheap $2 can of degreaser from my local auto store for degreasing any engine parts.

[Ourea]

[POST HAS BEEN REMOVED BY USER]

[Dr.McNinja]

Good ole wash n wax one step for me. Chain lube is a whole other can of worms. However if you can use kero on your chain can you use diesel? And just the cheap $2 can of degreaser from my local auto store for degreasing any engine parts.

I regularly clean my chain with diesel because kerosene is impossible to find around here anymore. Diesel is a very good solvent. It's broscience, but I haven't had any problems with it.

[slipperymongoose]

Thought so yeah when I first got my bike I soaked my chain in diesel, but now the new chain is on I'll give it a wipe over if it looks gritty. As for pressure washing, I use one on mine I just keep it pointed away from the grease parts like the swingarm linkages and the shock mount and chain. As long as you don't go stupid with it you'll be fine.

[dadsafrantic]

just ride it in the rain.

[ohgood]

Thought so yeah when I first got my bike I soaked my chain in diesel, but now the new chain is on I'll give it a wipe over if it looks gritty. As for pressure washing, I use one on mine I just keep it pointed away from the grease parts like the swingarm linkages and the shock mount and chain. As long as you don't go stupid with it you'll be fine.

maybe take a look here, and perform a similar test with diesel ? http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345397

i washed the gs quite a bit, but it didn't really need it. the road looks the same on a dirty bike. the fz i've waxed once, didn't need it, but it helps the stuff slip off instead of stick.

stuff i'm happy with:
turtle wax car wash, turtle wax (wax), towel and bucket. for the rear wheel, wd-40. check the wheel bearing seals after a wash, to make sure not bits are wrapped up and threatenting to kill them.

wd-40 does a great job of cleaning the chain, and the engine cases. spray on, drink a beer, wipe off. leave no excess.