[weasleR]

I know that sounds like a very stupid question, but I have never owned a bike before. Can you hose the entire bike down or are there areas you should avoid getting wet?

Also, I don't have access to a hose at my townhouse, so I would have to take it to one of those self wash places that have the high pressure hoses. Is it safe to use the high pressure hose on the bike? I plan on filling a bucket and then hand washing the bike, but would need to rinse it with the high pressure hose.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

 

[llory]

I just grab a bucket with warm soapy water and a microfiber towel and I wipe the fairings, seats, wheels, etc. After that I dry the bike with another microfiber towel and done. I do this every Friday after I get home from work, it takes me less than 15 minutes and the bike stays clean.

 

[bungie4]

Okay, first things first. Repeat after me. High pressure hose = BAD! If you must use one, stand WAY back from the bike, do not 'nail the bike' with high pressure! Those things will blow water down your control cables, into electrical connections leading to all sorts of premature problems.

Other than after getting caught in the rain, which I'll wash the bike after, I only ever wash my bikes about 2 times a season. Use an automotive soap, I use this stuff called Zip wash. You will need two buckets. One with soapy water, one with clean.

Rinse the bike off. Do not spray water in your exhaust and only do around the hand controls as much as necessary.

Soap down the bike. Between each dipping in soapy water, rinse the soapy towel in the clean bucket of water (this keeps the towel cleaner, avoids contaminating your clean soapy water, and most of all, keeps you from rubbing in grime).

Do the wheels, chain area and lower front cowling last. These are the dirtiest areas.

When your happy with job you did, rinse the bike off. GENTLY.

Dry with another clean microfiber towel.

I only wax my bikes once a year. Use any good quality automotive wax.

So how do I keep from washing the bike more than a few times a year. After every couple of rides, wipe the bike down with a damp MF towel. That's it. It will stay remarkably clean. If you live in a dusty area, Swiffer's are the best thing since sliced bread! Remove bugs IMMEDIATELY when your done riding. Those little bastage are full of nasty acidic juice that WILL spot your paint. (Tip, fabric softener cloths work GREAT for removing bugs. Also a 50/50 mix of water and hydrogen peroxide will remove even the toughest bugs)

I know a guy who rides an ancient Honda VT1100. That thing is SHOWROOM. His secret, and this is no joke, he cleans one part, every day. He states he hasn't 'WASHED' his bike in 20 years. I believe him, and it's no garage queen.

 

[Flex]

Washing your bike is like making love to your woman! I do it about once a week aswell I take about 45mins-1hour the bike cleaning I mean

What you do need is a hose doesn\\\'t have to be high pressure but something to wash down the bike.

Materials would be:

Bucket(With Water)
Car Soap (Anybrand)
Sponge
2 Clean Towels(Micro Fiber would be best)
Cleaning Solvent( I use Maguiars make sure you get it for Vinyl not for steel)
Tire Shine (With a small piece of cloth)

Start off with just hosing the bike down with water just to get it wet, put the car soap in the bucket of water then go over the bike with the sponge and soapy water get all the nuke crannies but just don\\\'t go inside the Muffler/Exhaust, you need to do this fairly quickly (before it dries up and leaves white spots) hose down the bike again and then start drying you use one towel for this make sure you don\\\'t leave water on the bike so take your time if you have a compressor that will help with time but it is not needed, once the bike is totally dried you can go the extra mile with the detailing you take the cleaning solvent and your other towel/cloth and spray it on the exterior parts (what ever you want to shine) give it a good rub you will see some nice results again take your time with this, then the last part would be the Tire shine it isn\\\'t necessary but looks great you spray/rub it along the sides and gives it a shiney/black look and lasts quite a while (around 2weeks+) And there you go your bike is spotless clean and ready to get dirty within another couple of days


Not everyone makes lo..v I mean cleans there bike the same way but this is how I do mine B)

Peace.

P.S Don\'t forget just to re-oil your chain

 

[Roadkill]

+Avoid strong pressure washes. A pump tank garden sprayer with a soap mixture works great with a fuzzy mitt and garden hose rinse. Towel dry if necessary (many wash mixtures require it), or let drip dry in the garage...

Or, just leave in the rain with a soap spritz.

Both will clean it.

Ride on.
Roadkill

 

[Michael]

Usually pure rain water, but find a creek to ride through if I have been hooning around a beach and coped a bit of sea spray. A bit of lube on the chain to get the oil spattered finish.

 

[strongmaterial]

I haven't washed my cbr250r yet. it's only 2 weeks old. but for my previous bikes, i really only get them washed when there is a bikini bike wash around. for some reason, regular dusting with a swiffer duster keeps it clean.

 

[Roadkill]

Usually pure rain water, but find a creek to ride through if I have been hooning around a beach and coped a bit of sea spray. A bit of lube on the chain to get the oil spattered finish.

+An equivalent concern in our location are salt/slurry mixes used in winter. For either our salt or yours, it's good to spritz warm water from the garden sprayer before laying it up for the night, unless you've got a stream to course through that's not frozen over... 8^D

Ride on.
Roadkill

 

[Michael]

+An equivalent concern in our location are salt/slurry mixes used in winter. For either our salt or yours, it's good to spritz warm water from the garden sprayer before laying it up for the night, unless you've got a stream to course through that's not frozen over... 8^D

Ride on.
Roadkill

Had to look up that word "spritz".

Sounds like a good idea when roads have been salted. I have been known to use a cowshed wash down hose on a bike when I have have not passed a convenient stream.

 

[pampal]

Bangkok rain does it for me

 

[may2nd]

Ive had my bike since may and only use Bike Spirits on it. you can get it at iron pony or any good bike shop for that matter for 8 bucks.. then buy a couple microfiber cloths and youre good to go. just dont use it on your seat, clutch and break lever or hand grips as it willl make these surfaces slick.. but it will remove ANYTHING and make your bike look new and every time. you can even use it on your wind screen, light covers, ect..ive had the same can since may and its still 3/4 full..

 

[jonbkk]

The rain in Bangkok - and the resultant dirty streets - is a killer. Wash the bike, polish the bike, get it looking beautiful. In one minute out on the road it'll be caked again! I'm keeping mine under wraps until the streets are dry again!

 

[vraetorian]

Agreed with the rain comments.

B.C rain does it for me. I take it out for a quick ride in the rain. Come back, park in the garage and with a clean towel give it some TLC. It shines. No need for expensive products imo.

 

[Jrbarnes]

Micro Fibre and Waterless Car Wash

In between an actual full blown wash, try using Waterless Car Wash spray (you can buy this at Honda, or any automotive store). This stuff is really good and allows you to keep you bike looking awesomely clean all the time. Using a clean microfible cloth is important.

Note that the Waterless Car Wash can be used on the painted surfaces, vinly, plastic, and rims. This product was recommended to me by Honda and it works great and one spray can will last a couple seasons...easily.

 

[david92xj]

Tire Shine (With a small piece of cloth)

just hthen the last part would be the Tire shine it isn\\\'t necessary but looks great you spray/rub it along the sides and gives it a shiney/black look and lasts quite a while

Tire shine is a big no no!

 

[Slayer]

It rained last night. Wiped the baby down this morning. Looks great. Consider it washed.


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