revtothelimit - motorbike forum

How do you clean your bike?
Here's my Monster getting a shampoo this afternoon

It's very rare I need to do that. But I have done so twice in the last few years.

I was quite proud when I went out on xsr and I got back as the guy was looking it over and offered me a job doing their bikes, "I tried to find even a soec of dirt but couldn't, it's amazing" was his reaction. Me and Mrs Weeksy both laughed knowingly

I've recently been trying to use Weeksy's no water technique.

I used multipurpose (or floor) cleaning wipes. I polish any chemical residue off with a microfibre cloth.

but I mainly try not to get dirty. I was horrified yesterday when it started raining for 2 mins on my afternoon ride. Spent an hour in the garage this morning with the wipes

The rain did a good job of cleaning the dead flies from my leather jacket tho'

By avoiding all polishes, car cleaner shampoo at all costs.

OK, so I'm a special case, again, as I have matte paint / denim paint, if I use any polish or wax it'll F' it up, so I just use Motul M1 and a cotton rag, usually a sock or old pants / T-Shirts.

Give each section a spray and then wipe off, job jobbed.
Works well enough for me, but then I've not been out in the wet so it's not really got that dirty, just bugs and a bit of road dust

My monster had got proper dirty in the rain so it needed a proper wash.
The foam is really good at loosening off the dirt so once rinsed, there is no grime to polish in
This is the first wet clean its needed in 1500 miles though.

G.P wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 6:04 pm My monster had got proper dirty in the rain so it needed a proper wash.
The foam is really good at loosening off the dirt so once rinsed, there is no grime to polish in
This is the first wet clean its needed in 1500 miles though.

IT'll look ace once it's finished i'm sure....

I may even be able to keep up with it now

how do I wash my bike?

it rains, the bike gets wet, if I go fast enough the spray jet washes some of the dirt off . If I don't go fast enough the salt and road shite sticks

I'll buy a clean one sometime soon

Flies are the biggest ballache,the front of the bike,helmet and jacket are usually plastered in no time. It wouldn't be the first time I've had to head home early because I can't see past the bug guts. I'm not fussed on tear offs,they seem to slightly warp the view.

I use Bug Off for the front of the bike,usually after I've washed it with a generic wash/wash solution. When I rode in Winter I just ACF50 the bike,then SDoc come the Spring.

I've never used that foam stuff,so I'd be interested in effectiveness.

Chuck some baby wipes in yer bag.

Dodgy knees wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:23 pm Chuck some baby wipes in yer bag.

Worst chat up line ever.

Hose, bike cleaner, dry. I dry with a ‘dog blower’ and it’s awesome as it gets water out of everywhere. Especially good on calipers and chain

Taff wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 6:26 pm how do I wash my bike?

it rains, the bike gets wet, if I go fast enough the spray jet washes some of the dirt off . If I don't go fast enough the salt and road shite sticks

I'll buy a clean one sometime soon

I used to commute my Tiger all year round, the amount of salt that builds up is horrendous.
This is it being cleaned in 2016 -



here it is last week with 52k miles on it looking pretty respectable



I reckon its worth half an hour of your time a weekto keep it from dissolving

I like the patina a bit of dirt brings.
Only really works on older bikes, mind

I was mine by telepathy while watching telly. Not sure if it works, but don't really care

Clean your bikes?! Interesting concept...

The first Multistrada that was commuted on all year round for 3 years was ACF'ed in November then washed with foam stuff in February ........ Apart from that it was "weeksy" cleaned with baby wipes and a microfibre cloth during the summer months

The current Multistrada and the litte Fazer dont see water for cleaning and both are baby wipe and microfibre cleaned ....cheers Steve , its all your fault

How?

First clean chain and all surrounding areas with paraffin.
Hose down whole bike
Apply S-Doc cleaning gel or snow foam everywhere
Wash with water and carnauba wax shampoo and about half a dozen different brushes
Dry with electric bike dryer
Mist all over with ACF50 using paint gun and compressor and buff up with a cloth
Apply wax polish to all painted surfaces
Lube chain with S-Doc White chain lube
Lube handlebar lever, pedal, centre/side stand pivots and swinging arm/rear shock mounts with silicone-based penetrating oil
Clean brake discs and tyres with brake cleaner
Clean screen and mirrors with visor cleaner
Fuck off out on it and get it dirty again
Repeat as often as necessary.

Couchy wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:32 pm Hose, bike cleaner, dry. I dry with a ‘dog blower’ and it’s awesome as it gets water out of everywhere. Especially good on calipers and chain

I've got a dog blower thing, mainly for winter washing. Great for brakes, engine, allen heads. Did use it last week though and when dry muck was still showing. Done summut wrong. It'll wait for its next wash now. Always start up after wash. Had a bike once and if you didn't warm it up after wash, it went on strike.

It lives outside, gets a wash when it rains

For those acquainted with Beancounter he will not be contributing to this thread.