Ok,  my bike is kinda dirty from dust and rain.

Is it ok to hose down the bike with soap/water?  Do i need to cover anything so it doesn't get wet?

I dunno..i'm a noobie so sue me  :nana:

I take mine to the car wash, or I use my dads Mr. Clean aout thingy. But you really don't have to cover anything up it all should be fine.

A bucket or two of warm soapy water normally does it for me, fairly weak solution. If it's realy bad a gently hose is OK but avoid preasure washers you could get complications, you do see them sold "for bikes" but this normally means dirt bikes, trailies and the like which generally have an almost submersible standard. The Gs is built to withstand being ridden in a rainstorm so a mains preasure hose is no problem. Avoid chain and plugs, lube chain if required and see the very good tip about WD40 on the rims on the homepage.

Just a bucket and hose, the only thing I don't spray off is the instrument cluster, but when fininshed, I use my leaf blower to dry it off.

Quote from: tdan553527Just a bucket and hose, the only thing I don't spray off is the instrument cluster, but when fininshed, I use my leaf blower to dry it off.

damn..i need a leaf blower!  

I usually skip the soap and hit it with the hose.... then bust out the air compressor and blow the water off... then a terrycloth towel... It sounds like a long drawn out process but a good coat of wax on the 500f makes it rather easy to blow off all the water...

what about cleaing the engine?  any ideas?

Just use a damp rag and wipe it off, to get really detailed, use a toothbrush or anything else similiar.

Just take it all apart and put it in the dishwasher.

.... hey, it worked with my gunked up keyboard!

Okay but seriously, I usually just spray it down with the hose and then use a soft plastic bristle brush with a bucket of soap and water - plus a cloth for parts the brush won't get at. Works for me!

clymer's says to put a rag into the muffler opening and cover the air box with cellophane or something, and then just go to town with the water

of course, covering the air box would involve taking off the gastank, so i skip that step

Thanks guys! and beautiful lady of course (meighan) for the tips!  Its time to wash this thing this afternoon, i finally have some time  

Any bikini washers out there?  hehe, just hit me up!

-Chino

ps. girs only with the bikini stuff...lol  

Quoteof course, covering the air box would involve taking off the gastank, so i skip that step

Why's that?  Can't you sneak your hand in under the tank once you remove the seat?

Maybe it's just me, but removing the tank just to wash my bike sounds like a wee bit silly.  

Quote from: crashclymer's says to put a rag into the muffler opening and cover the air box with cellophane or something, and then just go to town with the water

of course, covering the air box would involve taking off the gastank, so i skip that step

Woo hoo, a plus to having the drop in K&N filter. Cover the restrictor with celophane, lift the seat off and pop it into place. Then replace the seat and your ready to wash. The air cleaner is now sealed. Just remember to remove it after the wash.