Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Washing A Motorcycle

I am still very new to the world of biking. The BA I purchased this spring is my first bike (I'll turn 41 in a couple of weeks). I have completed the CMSP (the CA version of the MSF safety course) and I am thoroughly enjoying riding. But now I have a problem ~~ my bike is dirty. How do you wash a motorcycle? Is it safe to take the bike to a car wash and gently wash it with the low pressure washer? Do you wash the bike at home with a hose and bucket of soapy water? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I use "Bike Brite", an inexpensive motorcycle spray wash cleaner & degreaser that I buy at the nearby H-D dealer. There are other similar products available. You spray it all over the bike, then rinse throughly with a hose. I then "blow dry" the bike with my leaf blower and finish off with a clean towel. Very easy and fast.

I would not reccomend using a pressure washer on your bike. Better to buy yourself a bucket and sponge and some quality car wash, (I use turtle wax can wash liquid) and then wash the bike by hand. I find this is a nice way to run your hands over the entire bike, that way you get to see and feel if anything is coming loose. It does happen, even to our Triumphs.

Then to get it dry after wards, fire up your leaf blower and blow the water off it. Dont blow direct on the wiring. You dont want to false water somewhere it shouldnt be.

Then when thats all finished, crack open a few brewskies, sit on the floor next to the bike and begin waxing/polishing. I have an old carpet runner that i lay down next to the bike. That way i can sit on the garage floor in some sort of comfort.

Arsenalfan

hi Rob, ...personally, I've done both. I live about 1/2 hour's ride from the city, and often when I'm going to a run or a show, I'll zip into a wand-wash and spray the bugs off. I make sure I don't get the wand too close so the pressure doesn't peel the paint (or in some instances even the chrome). Sometimes I need to use the soapy brush and I always chamois off after for a streak-free finish. Don't ever pressure wash the chain, though...it's not good for it. I use a grunge brush to clean it (available from Newbonneville.com) and then apply some PJ's chain lube.

I prefer to use the hose and a bucket of good-quality, environmentally friendly soap and water with a soft cloth at home. Again, I chamois dry and then I'll use Turtle wax on the tank and fenders and Mother's polish on the chrome. I also use Armour-All on the seats and bags.

Some guys are very anal about their bikes, and their procedure is far more in-depth than mine. Others refuse to let water touch their bikes and use waterless cleaners.

I'm sure others will chime in to challenge or add to my comments.

I use the S100 products and a low pressure washer at the carwash, but I am having problems with spotting, I do follow the instructions on the spray can, but still, the spots. I am also a new bike owner and would appreciate any tips and/or products that you use to make things look good and maybe even cut out a little bit of the work. I must say that the S100 wheel cleaner is great at getting off the brake dust though.

I know many here will disagree but I've often taken mine to the car wash and used the high pressure soap and rinse on most of the bike. Takes off the bugs and goo and gets into the nooks and the spokes I often miss with a sponge. I avoid the fuze panel area and try not to spray up under the tank where most of the wiring is. My theory is threefold First, it's an English bike certainly they would not build a bike that can't get wet. Second, how is this different than riding in the rain and if it's going to die when wet shouldn't I know now? Lastly, it's a lot easier than spending hours detailing it with rags. Afterwards I just ride it to dry it off. 19,000+ miles and dozens of washes and never a problem yet.

Post deleted by Grump

You guys wash your bike? I thought thats what rain was for...

I use spray on/wipeoff products for simple touchups or for a quick turn clean-up.

for a more detailed cleaning I just get a bucket of water with some dish detergent and some old rags or cloth and I apply soapy water to the undercarriage and engine/wheels etc and scrub it all up as best possible to remove the lions share of road gunk/dirt/rain spotting etc etc. I then rinse well with the hose little pressure and dry with a leaf blower.

then I look closely for minor details of dirt and work them with a spray cleaner and shop towels. I wet the shop towel and work it into the cooling fins to get them as clean as possible. I wipe down the pipes and headers with a shop degreaser and then finish with chrome polish.

If the chain is due up for cleaning I then ride the bike to warm up the chain/ put the bike up on the lift and liberally apply kerosene and a grunge type brush to get as much of the old chain wax/dirt and what have you off. I then apply the wax per the destructions on the can and wipe down the rear wheel area. last if needed I wax the tank and fenders.

I try to do a detailed clean at least once a month and the rest of the time I just spray and wipe and go.

I get a bucket, fill with luke warm water and Turtle wax car wash then gently sponge off the bike then use a bucket of clear water and a plastic cup and rinse the soap off. Then I hand dry with a soft towel and then go for a ride to blow water off. I wax, (if neccesary or every 4 or 5 washes) before the ride.

DONT USE KEROSENE. THAT WILL KILL YOUR O RINGS IN A HEART BEAT. WD 40 IS MILDER AND CLEANS GREAT. THEN APPLY YOUR FAVORITE LUBE.

DISH DETEREGENT IS OK IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OFF ALL YOUR WAX AND YOU PLAN ON REWAXING. IF USED ALL THE TIME IT PROMOTES OXIDATION OF THE PAINT AND CLEAR COAT BECOMES HAZY AFTER TIME. (really didnt mean to leave caps on)

what most here say.

I use turtle wax car was, use a water hose, towel dry,/ use leaf blower. if needed i go full bore w/ about 6 diff step, but usually eagle 1 spray and wipe if still good wax on bike.

uh......The great debate on WD-40 for chains raises its ugly head again.

Most here use kerosene to clean the chain. And most are dissuaded from using WD-40.

Don't believe the anti WD-40 hype. That stuff is God's nectar:) For real though, there is a big contingency that believe it is good for chain cleaning and a big contingency that believe it's not. Pick a team but in all reality it probably doesn't matter one way or the other.

I have a neighbor with a $30k Harley who considers himself an expert on all things motorcycle. Last summer he stopped at the car wash to scold me for using the high pressure soap & water on my bike. I listened to his lecture which ended with the words "And besides, it says not to in the Harley manual." You know the response, "Gee, then I guess it's a good thing it's a Triumph." He's been sorta quiet since then.

Mr Clean Auto car wash. Spot free,it's the cat's meow!
Honda spray cleaner works well. Did I just say Honda!

I just ride mine through the automatic "touch free" car wash. Be sure to wear your goggles or a full face helmet if you choose this route, though...

I go to the car wash, spray the heck out of it with soap, then rinse, then spotfree rinse, then wheel cleaner on the alloys and dry it. (While leaving the blower dries my hair. Maybe I should start using the quarter ones instead of the drive through. Clothes seem to stay wet way too long.) Bring it home and wax the chain a bit.

Actually I think the Triumph manual advises against high pressure spray does it not?

hey all, try this and see if i'm lyein. www.fountianofyouthrestore.com or call 1 315 482 4293 and order the quick shine. tell kevin you heard about it from myke (the Triumph guy in Bonita springs) and he will do ya a deal. this stuff is amazeing!!!!!! wipe it on and wipe it off!!!! you can use it on your windshield with a terry cloth and it wont scratch, thats what kinda sold me first when he did that i thought , ok, i'll give er a try. ok so i hardly ever wash my rear wheel, and i use chain wax, so you know there was some of that on my wheel. when that stuff hardens its like impossible to get off, i used to have to scrape with my fingernail and would be cussin and fussin the whole time.(hence hardly ever cleaning it) then i met this guy and bought some of his magic in a bottle, tried it on my rear wheel, VIOLA!!!!! wipe on, wipe off. i felt a little like the karate kid hahahahahahahaha the stuff is awsome!!!!! BUGS hahahaha i used to hate it when i would come home from a big ride and bugs were all over the front of my bike because they were so hard to get off...not anymore!!!! it works on ALL surfaces and couldnt be easier. and if you put it on your bathroom mirror....no more fogging. he has several products for cleaning but i just use this stuff and his leather stuff, it took two yr old red (Ga.) clay out of my chaps that nothing else would touch. its not so expensive that if you dont like it you wont be cussin me, but i bet if you try it.... you'll like it!!!!! i will probably never "wash" my bike again, soap and water are the old way. there are many waterless products out there today and i have tried a few but with less then desired results. not with this stuff!!!!!

sorry about that, i spelt it wrong. duh!!!! its www.fountainofyouthrestore.com

I been using the S100 bike wash and it too was leaving spots but the secret is use a leaf blower,it drys the bike perfect everytime with no spots,Dont have to worry about polishing that chrome so much...

It's a labor of love.

I spend several hours cleaning my bike, I hand wash with Turtle Car Wash and use Turtle Wax on the tank and fenders, the chrome and alum I use Mothers with a my Dremel Tool to polish. The Dremel gets into all the nooks and crannies.

I to use my leaf blower after I wash her it dries her quickly and never leaves any spots

I listen to the ball game, and it goes quick.

Normally I use a bucket and hose like most here, but have also done the pressure wash thing. I just use the low pressure setting and don't spray directly on any bearings or electrical connections, but otherwise use the high pressure carefully on the rims, tank (except around the fill nozzle), seat, fenders, and stuff. When I get near something electronic or the keyswitch,etc..., I just back off of the pressure and try to hit that stuff as indirectly as possible. So far, hasn't failed me yet. Plus, then I can hit it with the "Spot Free Rinse", and just dry the seat and ride off...

Yeah Matt, but we don't have that nice acid rain down here that strips of the grime like you New Yorkers do...

OK, several things here.
The owners manual SAYS to use kerosene to clean the chain, so it is not bad for the X-rings. WD-40 uses a mild petroleum distillate as a base, read kerosene. Plus it lubes, so it's OK too. Sheesh, some people get so anal.
I use S-100, a pressure washer with the lowest pressure nozzle, and I've had no problems in over two years. Blow it dry and no spots. Wax it when it's dry and use Maguires spray detailer between washings. I've never spent more than 45 minutes cleaning my bike, including wax time and lubing the chain. The pressure washer is nice for those hard to reach places like under the engine and inside the fenders. It's simple to not spray the electrical parts.
Just relax, clean it and ride it.

I just try to wash on a day where it's not going to rain later on.....today that plan failed. Just got wet riding home.

OK chain question: does you're sling oilly sh!t all over the bike? I've scrubbed it relubed it and my ride was one greasy girl after one short ride. Should I remove it, soak it, scrub it, & lube it? Or just replace it? I'm sick of trying to clean the back rim. I get it nice & shiny, one ride & it's a mess!

I like Bigbills reply on the WD40 vs Kerosene argument. Well said.
As for cleaning, I thought we were supposed to have a chick clean it for us so we could watch a game and drink a beer!

Water hose and clean towel from dryer (make sure wifey isnt around)....

I use the Quick-Shine from Fountain of Youth on all the chrome, painted surfaces and wheels. I use S-100 Engine Brightner on the motor and passenger foot pegs.

Soren

Dood, don't you have any kids? That's why I had mine.