How Do You Wash Your Bike?

lol, color match bike to bikini color.

 

Why anyone would let a bunch of crossdressers wash their bike is beyond me. That is definitely harleydood shit IMO.

 

The detail guy at the Honda store has a hanging, 12v electric blower motor (looks like it is an old A/C fan from a car), hooked to a flexible plastic hose. He uses that to dry off bikes and it works great. I don't see what a leaf blower wouldn't work just as well.

 

I pulled all the fairing bolts off, put them into my battery drill one at a time, and spun them against a cloth with metal polish to buff them to a lovely shine. Don't talk to me about being anal......

 

^^ Like...don't do that on a bench top variable speed grinder with a cotton buffing wheel. But you can blame zoom-zoom for that.

 

Ok, I try and wash the bike-I don't like dust.:boxing:

 

This was an event to raise money for e volunteer fire dept. it was a big event. They suck at washing bikes tho. Hahahaha

 

When I'm in Oregon the kids have donation type car washes.

Figuring out that nobody really shows these kids how to wash a car and how much they really care about anything but counting zits and getting laid, ya find the adult honcho and tell em if the rig is not clean than no payout..

 

I wash my bikes when they get pretty dirty. But in between washings I polish them with Protect All. I also wipe down the wheels.

I use water hose with a gentle spray first. Then I spray the bike with S100. Then I agitate with a small sponge on the bodywork, wheels, and other dirty hard parts (in this order). Then I rinse thoroughly with gentle water spray. I dry it with a Micro Fiber rag. Then apply Protect All on the plastics including instrument panel. Then I oil the moving parts of the controls like the brake levers, shift levers, kick stand, and foot pegs. Then I ride the bike for the final dry off. Finally, lube the chain. Done until it gets really dirty again. But in between this kind of washing I polish the bike with Protect All when it's not so dirty.

My bikes are garage kept. But I do ride them daily. I can't afford to buy a new bike every 3-5 years so I take care of what I have.

 

I find that kerosine and WD40 work well on some metal surfaces. I buy jet fuel for cleaning my chain for example. Simple Green is also in my kit also. Seat and rubber get a UV protectant. I have a plastic caddy with a handle that has all my chems inside. I like the Honda polish, use micro fibre towels and elect leaf blower. I need to try the clay bar.

 

If I dry mine, I have a hube honking 175 psi 80 gal. 5 hp air compressor that simply does not rin out of air if turned on. Usually let it air dry as the air is not stiffing hot here. Unless I want to ride it right away.

 

In wet and dirty England-
Rear shock, swing arm, chain .. Anything below the footpegs that's got chain lube on - lots of diesel using a paintbrush.
Then Muck-off the whole thing.
Rinse.

Takes minutes and diesel is by far the best degreaser I've ever found.

Start it up to dry it.

 

With a bucket mild soap & water & sponge & dry with a shammy then wax once a month. You see I don't have a garage & park on the street & cover. Many trips to & from the house to fill the bucket with rinse water. Love the look on the passerby's face

 

I use meguiers or other high quality soap with a microfiber mitt. To wax, this is the best I have found for both car and bike. Durable, nice gloss and great protection. Goes on easy and lasts for months.

http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-insulator-wax-845.html

 

NO dish soap Please!

Be careful! Dishwashing soap is made to strip grease. It'll strip your wax as well! If you buy a product made for washing vehicles you'll be farther ahead.
NOTE: DO NOT use a pressure washer. Use a bucket of warm water, with a soft cloth, and wash in the shade. Rinse suds off before they dry, with clean cool water. I also tape exhaust outlets, and ALL keyholes with a tiny piece of duct tape. Every Canadian is required to have at least two rolls in their possession at all times! :eek-new:

 

Am I too understand that the polishing of the fairing bits did not go well Randy?? Exactly how fast does your bench grinder rotate?? The bench mount polisher I used to do my aluminum polishing runs at 1800 RPM. If the grinder goes TOO fast it might not work so well.

In answer to the original post I use a some Simoniz Car Wash and wax and a hose. To dry the bike off I start her up while on the center stand and place the bike in gear to get the rear wheel spinning and then use a leaf blower to get the majority of the water off. Once that is done I shut her off and use a soft microfibre towel to dry off the rest. A quick mist of the fairings with Meguiars Spray wax and she is good to go.

 

Not at all. Works great. Got a new variable speed bench top grinder for Christmas last year and it works great. I am blaming you for giving me this idea to become anal about shiny fairing bolts.

 

Bucket of warm water, Simple Green and low pressure hose. Greasy bits get full strength Simple Green and hose rinse. Wipe down with a cotton towel. Done maybe 1-2 times a year.

When I'm motivated to apply a wax, I use the same thing I've used for almost 25 years on all my vehicles, Astroshield.

 

You boys need to get a girlfriend, or at least a magazine with other peoples girlfriends!!!