Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge cleaning your bike

O K guys and gals, time for a few pointers. This subject has probably been thrashed , but I havn't found it.
Wots the best way to clean the bike between wax jobs without being detrimental to the paint or risking soaking the electrics.
I'm not talking mud and such, just your normal buildup of roadgrime etc.
Any tips or pointers appreciated.

I'm really old fashioned in that I use buckets and terry towel rags; one bucket warm water with Dawn dish detegent, one bucket cool clear rinse water, a soapy towel and a rinse towel and followed by a dry towel to wipe down. The idea of taking a hose to my bike makes me shudder but maybe I'm a little (okay, more than a little) wierd that way.

Devo, I'm convinced that there is no one more particular about a clean bike than myself. I have been using this product S-100 for 3 years now. And I can say whether you a in a hurry or plan on spending all day cleaning this is the product to use. Just spray on and hose off (hot water works best). I will occasionally pressure wash certain areas and never had a problem. Just gotto use a little sense around electrical components. It's designed especially for motorcycles, so I figure some one took the time to ensure it's a quality product. Although that's not always the case. I like it, I don't like using detergents and such just for the simple fact, they were designed to clean dishes and things, not painted surfaces with clearcoats. Only my opinion .

Thanks Kerby, I'll check the availability of s100 on this side of the globe

Check with your boys at Thunderbikes.nz. They're in your neck of the woods.

+1 from me and +1 from Karen so that makes 3

Time cleaning could be time riding. I dont see a point in washing.

Dawn will cut the wax. Works to kill fleas on dogs, too.

Local car wash. Use the presoak. Scrub bugs off all the leading edges with a non-scratch scrubbing pad. For more serious grease/road grime build up, Simple Green and a plastic scrub brush (about once a year I pull the mufflers to clean the road grime off the backsides with Simple Green, and I get a little more aggro with the wheels and Simple Green). Rinse, but never use full pressure on electrical bits, air cleaners (if you're freaked), brake reservoirs or chain (if you have one). Roll it out and wipe it down with the car wash blue chami.

Never had a problem doing this for over 5 years.

you know it brother, I only give advice I follow myself.

I only give the bike a squirt every once in a while, say, if I'm going to an event of some sort where it will be ogled. But right now I've still got Canadian bugs and Libby mud on my bike from weeks ago.

Bottle brush with a handle is good for spokes and wheels , and a teethbrush is good for hard to get to places . Lean 'er over to the right to pour off water pooled on top of case . No hard spray with hose , use yore hed , these bikes can get sick .

Last thorough cleaning and oil change, back in May, the next day I had an oil light on.... oh no ... what ddid I screw up now.... got water in the oil sensor on the back side of the motor.... a little WD-40 and she was fine(thanks to OldMike).

I wash mine off in the rain.

Most of the time I use S-100. When I really want to take the time to really clean I use QuickShine.

Soren

Yeah I second S-100 they make a great product ,I use it on my 3 bikes everytime I wash them....

When it comes to my cars and bikes i am a bit of a clean freak. I like them spotless. Ive even been known to clean the bike even when it hasn't been riden since the last time it was cleaned.

On the bike i use Turtle Wax Car Wash, twice, then it gets rinsed of with a hose pipe on a sprinkle setting. Then i blow all the water off it with my leaf blower. That way its gets all the water out from the areas that are impossible for fingers and rages to get to. Then all the paintwork is rubbed down with a chamouis (sp)leather. Then it gets a ful wax job, Turtle Wax again and full chrome cleaner and polish. Usaully all waxing is done at nighttime when everyone in the house is in bed. Just me, the bike, my two dogs and a few cans of beer. Oh, and the area in the garage that i use for waxing is carpeted.

The car gets cleaned every sunday, whether it needs it or not, it gets cleaned, and waxed most weekends, i might miss a week of waxing, but two weeks without a good waxing....never.

Whats the term, obsesive compulsive, or something like that. I blame my dad. As a kid growing up i remember he had a company van to drive around in all week, and he kept his car in the garage. Every sunday he draged it out and washed and polished it. Even if it never got driven anywhere. In fact, some times it would go weeks without it ever leaving the drive. But it got washed every weekend.

Oops, sorry. Got a bit carried away with myself there.

Hot water and dish soap works for me, and I start out with good intentions. In April, its once a week. In May, its every other week. By the time summer is in full force, its when the bugs get too bothersome on the windshield. I'm with Matt on this one, I'd rather be riding.

I use Simple Green on the underside and put a wet towel on the screen to soften the bugs. While they are doing their thing I get the bucket, carwash soap, beer, etc. Then I use a soft wash brush for the flat places, and a brush made for washing bikes for everywhere else. Works excellent. I also dry with a leaf blower.

Bike brush

I use S100 too, works like a charm.. spray on.. hose off.. I got their kit for my birthday.. I love their drying towel.. works excellent...

just my 2 cents

Trev

No Windshield for the bugs to collect on, which is why my helmet gets cleaned every couple of days. The bike gets a good washing with hot water and a microfiber rag once or twice a year. Other than that, its a quick wipe down with a wet microfiber, then another quick wipe with the dry. The wax gets done after every complete wash.

I (as I stated in another thread) use the wifes Mean Green on the wheels, other than that its any soap with no additives I can find.

Thanks for all the comments folks.
Now I know wot not to do.
cheers

Just a water hose, dishwashing liquid, and shop vac to blow her clean...probably twice a week...shines like a new penny...

Hose pipe or not hose pipe... I do, but only as a final rinse down. I have Autoglym Motorcycle cleaner, squirt it on, bucket and sponge and rub it down, and then hose it off - cafefully. Then a microfibre cloth. And it I have the time some wax polish stuff. And chrome polish. The Autoglym is good stuff and makes the chrome gleam as it is, the chrome polish is if I have the time after waxing, and I'm going to a show...

And I'm not as bad as Ray...

It's okay to use a hose just make sure it just a little more that a mist, and DONT use dish soap that will just strip the wax off in no time! We use good car wash for the bike and also I like to use a clay bar (find it at auto stores) and it comes with its own wax, helps to keep the dirt off plus it pulls the dirt out of the paint. Keeps it looking nice longer. Also if you have an air compressor that works great for getting the water off.

Turtle Wax....... Good American products..... work well!

Coincidentally, I washed Kathie yesterday afternoon and used my new Sears Bike Jack. Allowed me to really clean them wheels which were filthy with throw off from recent chain lube. Used the Jack for the chain lubing, too. Have never had a problem with light hosing and have given up on pricey S200 for car wash concentrate and regular cleanings.
SteveB

I ride my bike quite a bit in all sorts of conditions so it gets dirty a lot. Between road grime from wet roads and smashed bugs it needs cleaned at least once a week during the riding season. I use a soft bristled auto brush, some car wash concentrate and a 2400 PSI power washer. Three years and 32,000 miles and never a problem. I just avoid the electrical components and chain as much as possible. I have gotten into the habit of putting dielectric grease on my electrical connections and lubing my cables
at least once a year so I’m sure that helps.

Can we have "the rest of the story" on the S100 before I shell out? By that, I mean I did try some other reputed "spray on hose off" but found that even after "hose off" you still need to wipe down the entire bike to get rid of water spots. If S100 washes off and leaves NO spots, then its OK; if you still have to run over the bike with a chamois leather, it's no better than soapy water and a rinse.

Skeptically, Siggy

I take teh bike to teh local hand wash place adn use the spot free rinse with the S100 so I cant say how it would perform with a hose.
Cleaning wise though the stuff is great! Cuts through teh muck real nice.

I wash my bike every couple of months,
whether it needs it or not.