My normal routine is to spray the bike with W5 citrus cleaner all over and leave that whilst I ready my buckets etc. Any stubborn bits get a wipe over, then I hose off.
Then its to work with Maguires shampoo. Rinse that off and then dry with microfiber cloths. The rear wheel and mucky bits will be cleaned off with GT85.
I'm not anal about cleaning but think the Duke scrubs up well for 4 years and 11k miles old. This is a pic from my last clean when I took the tank panels off etc.
[media]20200411_165856 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]
Re- flies that is a massive pain. This is from the second ride I did after the last clean. As soon as I got home (just before dark) I sprayed with W5 and rinsed off. No scrubbing at all, pretty impressed with that. I haven't bothered with a proper clean since as I keep getting covered in flies. This is a before and after and my lid
[media]20200526_204701 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]
MrLongbeard wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:36 pm
Imagine how many of the little buggers got in through the vents and have set up shop in your helmet
Mate it was grim. They were getting sucked under my lid and hitting me in the chin. Undoing my jacket I had them on the inner zip area, about 50 on each knee of my trousers, my jacket was plastered, even my gloves and boots were covered. Took me over an hour to clean my kit.
And all of it took place in about a 2 mile stretch of the A507 by Henlow. Never had anything like it.
MrLongbeard wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:36 pm
Imagine how many of the little buggers got in through the vents and have set up shop in your helmet
I've felt their death throws on the top of my head a couple of times for ones that have made it into the top vents on my Arai. Noticed the other day that the chin vent has a mesh in it but bits of flys still make it in. I also get a few bouncing in from my chest and up inside my helmet.
Might have to invest in one of those blowers, I assume dog dryers are cheaper than bike dryers.
maccecht wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2020 11:37 am
For those acquainted with Beancounter he will not be contributing to this thread.
Shots fired! Though I suppose there is some truth to it. Of course, up till this year I didn’t have a garage and I used my bike everyday. Buy plenty of ACF-50 and then marinate the bike overnight.
In all fairness Beanie you have washed your bike over here at my place so I was being a bit cruel. 2005 and again in 2018 if my memory serves me correctly
maccecht wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 2:14 pm
In all fairness Beanie you have washed your bike over here at my place so I was being a bit cruel. 2005 and again in 2018 if my memory serves me correctly
Pretty sure I cleaned one of my bikes last year too.
I've been using the 'full Fillingham' method. He's on YouTube, explains why he does it and wotnot and it's been pretty good. He's also done a test on a couple of air driers too.
Just done mine while still got shade. I still use car shampoo, bucket n sponge if looking nasty. Rinse then spray fenwicks. Wrong way round really but spray gets to those hard to reach places once the main crap is off and leaves nice finish.
Taipan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:38 pm
Any tips for cleaning an engine?
Personally seeing the pics of yours I'd start with a W5 spray 1/3 diluted. Leave 5 mins then hose off for the light surface stuff, then I'd give it another dose and go at it with some cloths, then rinse. That should look pretty good. Then once dry I'd give it a going over with rags and GT85.
Taipan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:38 pm
Any tips for cleaning an engine?
Personally seeing the pics of yours I'd start with a W5 spray 1/3 diluted. Leave 5 mins then hose off for the light surface stuff, then I'd give it another dose and go at it with some cloths, then rinse. That should look pretty good. Then once dry I'd give it a going over with rags and GT85.
I used harpic power plus on the exhaust and let it do its magic and the whole system looks a lot better. The engine I used paraffin on and brushed and rinsed and repeated a few times and it looks much better. Down to wiping with oily rags now but its so hot out there even the wooden decking is burning me! Got ot go to Romford and pay my step mothers paper bill now and the roof down drive will be welcomed!!
Taipan wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:50 pm
I used harpic power plus on the exhaust and let it do its magic and the whole system looks a lot better. The engine I used paraffin on and brushed and rinsed and repeated a few times and it looks much better. Down to wiping with oily rags now but its so hot out there even the wooden decking is burning me! Got ot go to Romford and pay my step mothers paper bill now and the roof down drive will be welcomed!!
Mine usually only gets cleaned when my work colleague shames me into it. Car shampoo on the plastics and front end, after I've soaked the engine in muc-off and the rear wheel and swingarm get a wipe with a rag soaked in muc-off drive train cleaner to remove the chain lube. Once rinsed off it gets ACF-50'ed to death and then I nearly die from fume inhalation on the first ride after that.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
20200411_165856 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]
20200526_204701 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]
20200527_123323 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]
20200526_204636 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]
