Cleaning engine gunk

Hello
Any suggestions for what type of cleaner to use to de-grease the outside of the engine? I used to use WD-40 for spots or Gunk for major cleaning on cars. Not sure if this is safe on a bike?
Thanks!
Been using my VFR a lot in the month of April with the great weather in the NE USA, especially helps on gas for commuting to work!

 

simple green

 

I would have to agree with the simple green although make sure you dilute it pretty well. Simple green will fade certain plastic pieces if you're not careful.

 

I have been using a generic version of Castrol Super Clean for several years now on all of my engines with great sucess.

I buy it at AutoZone for About $5.99 a gallon. I think it's called Purple Power.

Dilute it to about 75% strength, spray it on, scrub the nasty spots, and hose it off. Couldn't be easier. Just don't breathe too deeply when spraying it - the mist makes you choke...:frown:

 

GUNK can be purchased as a concentrate from NAPA I have used it for years. The diluent I use is #2 diesel. GUNK is a proprietary. Super secret stuff.

The alkaline concentrates are just that. Concentrates Right out of the jug they will dissolve even road tar (asphalt) or oil, on concrete. Not good for using on asphalt though.. Diluted with lots of water (see the container for recommended dilution) they make a pretty good bike and car wash. What ya got is basically Formula 409 for a hell of a lot less money. I use Costco's housebrand or the same stuff from Wally's. In strong solutions be careful on uncoated aluminum it will corrode.

WD-40 is another supersecret proprietary. It works but is slow acting if there is a bunch of grease or blow by. I converted my 79 BMW R100RT to an R100RS several years ago. New paint yada-yada. The fairing around the front of the engine had never been removed. The blocks are sand cast alumimum alloy. I squirted two whole rattlecans of WD-40 on the whole engine including the barrells and heads, put the bike away for a week and washed it with just detergent and warm water. Worked great I got about 95% of the crap off the engine in one pass.

When I painted my 91VFR last spring. I cleaned the engine with GUNK and the #2 diesel when the fairing was off.

 

Hey! I use that stuff too, great cleaner. Also agree with the fumes, guess that's what ya get if you want something to work. comes highly recommended. That and nothing like a gas soaked rag and a little elbow grease to get those hard spots, particularly Tar and asphalt.

 

carwash deagreaser take your fairings off then hi pressure soap then a good rinse let bike idle warm back up spray with wd 40 wipe off excess been doing that for over 20 years no probs makes the engine look new. just stay away from the airbox comp etc engine swingarm only l8r

 

I just cleaned mine a week ago. Pull the farings and use simple green. Let it soak a bit and hose off. I cleaned off old antifreeze as well as iother stuff. I used it to clean the insode of the farings to remove the fling off from my chain.

I wouldn't use it on glossy surfaces like the tank or outside of the farings. Be carfule of some degreasers because tehy can leave a film . This fil if you get ot on the rotors. You won't be able to stop.