I've already learnt a harsh mistake, don't try and get away without socking and washing the bike before trying to shine it up a bit.
I started on the exhausts and noticed tiny scratches appearing - stopped straight away, but the damage was done. You can only see them if you are less than about 6 inches from the pipes, but "I know they are there".
Still apart from that I'm scratch free. I use turtle wax car shampoo, for the wash, and basically give it a gently leather off to remove most the excess water after.
Once the bike is dry (remember to stand it upright - so much water collects in the cooling fins on the block!)
Then I find you can't really go wrong with autoglym super resin posish. I find thats the only thing you need - aslong as everything is clean, it sort of takes it even cleaner and obviously gives it a nice coating causing water to bead, and dirt a lot longer to stick on.
I think I can wash, and polish the whole bike in around an hour and it looks better than when I picked it up from teh showroom.
Cheers,
JC
