Cleaning your bike

[wayne242]

Well i just got done making my bike all shiny in a effort to give cages an excuse for pulling out in front of me

Just wonder what every one is using to clean up the're bikes. Like what are you using for the seat, fairings, tears/rims etc. I'm always open to new products so thought i would open this up for discussion.

[adidasguy]

Mothers products are really good.
Any quality product would do. and a good wax/polish.
Always hand wash. Spray with garden hose OK.
NEVER power wash a bike. Water will get into every bearing and place it normally wouldn't go.

I wait for the chain to dry before oiling it. Usually I oil the chain AFTER riding so the chain is still warm. Lets the lube flow better.

Odd phenomenon: If you have LEDs for your indicators, and you spray water around the right side under the stat, you can get water on the wiring harness. No big deal. however, taped into it is the dual diode for the side stand / neutral switch. because LEDs need so little current, water with some dirt and soap can conduct a little electricity. This may cause the neutral indicator to dimly glow at night. No biggie. It won't hurt anything. After a few dry warm days the water will evaporate from in the harness where the dual diode is taped up.

[bremsstrahlung.positron]

  @adidasguy..... just gave a good old garage wash at home was thinking why the hell i didnt go for a power wsah... ain't gonna happen now 

[wayne242]

Yeah, I wont even use a pressure washer under the hood of my truck/car. Ever one say's it wont hurt, but i know it will (burn up alternator when it holds water etc).

Good tip though as i would not have thought about that.

[weedahoe]

Agree with Mothers. Its what I use on the frame and other black parts (Mothers Back to Black)

I literally use an old toothbrush to clean mine. Its not like the bike is big. I do sections at a time. Because oil gets slung off the chain, this is how I like to do mine

[gsJack]

I've always taken my bikes to the magic wand type car washes to clean them up every spring and some years another time ot two before the summer was over.  I usually towel them off a bit after riding home in the rain and they look good enough to me afterwards.  I waxed the painted parts one year when the 02 was new with that Pledge spray wax a lot of guys use and my magnetic tank bag slid around a bit after that so I never did it again.  I hear some even clean their drive chains?  Just spray a little chain lube on when it comes home shinney and it's good to go.

[Suzuki Stevo]

For a Spot-Free finish, dry it off with a leaf blower when done 

[slipperymongoose]

I use this for my wheels and greasy bits. Other areas I use meguires gold class products. I also use mr sheen for fiddly bits I want to shine up.

[wayne242]

I use this for my wheels and greasy bits. Other areas I use meguires gold class products. I also use mr sheen for fiddly bits I want to shine up.

That's a little pricey for us across the pond.

[slipperymongoose]

I got 2 bottles for 32 aud it's not that bad

[wayne242]

I got 2 bottles for 32 aud it's not that bad

SDoc100 Motorcycle Gel Total Cleaner 1
Subtotal   £13.33
Shipping (Zone 5 Air)   £83.57
Price + shipping:
£96.90 = $126.96

If it was sold in US i would be interested in trying it, but I'll stick to local cleaners until then

[slipperymongoose]

Gee u can't find it locally? I got mine at the Harley tractor stealership

[pliskin]

Turtle Wax Ice detailer spray. It's clear and will keep everything slick so it's easy to get new dirt off. I never spray my bikes with water. I keep up on the dirt before it gets bad.

[bremsstrahlung.positron]

@weedahoe, tooth brush eh. good one, will do it for the tacho cable leak on my bikes engine 
can break fluid or spirit do the job?

[Twisted]

@weedahoe, tooth brush eh. good one, will do it for the tacho cable leak on my bikes engine 
can break fluid or spirit do the job?

Kerosene and a toothbrush. Forget brake fluid. It is evil on paint.

[wayne242]

@weedahoe, tooth brush eh. good one, will do it for the tacho cable leak on my bikes engine 
can break fluid or spirit do the job?

Kerosene and a toothbrush. Forget brake fluid. It is evil on paint.

A friend of a friend used brake cleaner on his new truck and bragged about how shiny it was    need i say what that paint looked like a few days later 

[wayne242]

Gee u can't find it locally? I got mine at the Harley tractor stealership

Not even the Harley dealership 20 miles from my house as this stuff, stopped in today. The guy never heard of it.
Not a big deal i have my own stuff, I'm just seeing what other's do to clean the'res. It never hurts to pick up little tricks here and there.

[linker]

Has anyone ever tried Simple Green???    I learned about using Simple Green on tire rims from someone awhile back.  I used it on the rims of my van when they got horribly dirty and caked on.  Never knew a natural product would remove something like that so well, when some professional cleaners don't even do the job. 

I might try it if no one else chimes in about not using it, I can't see anything that it would hurt for giving it a shot.

[twocool]

Simple green supposedly will corrode aluminum.........

It is forboten in our airplane shops.

Cookie

Has anyone ever tried Simple Green???    I learned about using Simple Green on tire rims from someone awhile back.  I used it on the rims of my van when they got horribly dirty and caked on.  Never knew a natural product would remove something like that so well, when some professional cleaners don't even do the job. 

I might try it if no one else chimes in about not using it, I can't see anything that it would hurt for giving it a shot.

[twocool]

Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green® on aluminum?
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green® Cleaner/Degreaser, Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates, and Pro Series™ Simple Green® Automotive Cleaner have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green® product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.

Has anyone ever tried Simple Green???    I learned about using Simple Green on tire rims from someone awhile back.  I used it on the rims of my van when they got horribly dirty and caked on.  Never knew a natural product would remove something like that so well, when some professional cleaners don't even do the job. 

I might try it if no one else chimes in about not using it, I can't see anything that it would hurt for giving it a shot.