what is the right way to clean your bike?

[Reboot]

I was wondering if there is a proper way to clean your bike?

1. Should I wash the bike with the hose?
2. What kind of wax should I use? (I use mothers 3 step wax on my 2008 Ford Fusion, would it be all right to use that?
3. What will I clean my spoke wheels with?
4. If I spray a cleaner on my spoke wheels, is it all right to get it on the brake rotors?
5. What should I clean & polish the aluminum parts on my bike with?
6. What should I clean my windshield with?
7. Is there some kind of conditioner that you should put on your leather seat to keep it from drying out?
8. What about cleaning the exhaust pipes, is there a special cleaner/polish for then? (they do get really hot)

This is my first bike, so I want to keep it looking nice.

All tips and suggestions are welcome.

Tks. Dannie

[Ext1jdh]

1) turn on tv, switch to Weather Channel
2) look for rain
3) ride in rain
4) ???????
5) profit

[Thundurburd]

Here's a few links...

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...verywhere.html

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...hlight=washing

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...ghlight=pledge

[tbsS50]

I prefer to wash my motorcycle at home with a hose and small sponge, using a bucket of water and a small amount of dishwashing liquid. Wash and rinse in small sections. A spray car wash also works very well, as long as you don't ever increase the spray pressure beyond the normal flow. For detailing, which I did just last week, I use Blue Magic Leather & Vinyl Cleaner and Cream Conditioner; Sprayway ammonia free glass cleaner; AmorAll Multi-Purpose Auto Cleaner and Meguiar's Quik Detailer.

[DaveAlvarado]

Bucket, water, soap, hose, and one of those cleaning mitts. Good for getting in all the little crevices. Of course my bike has been washed I think 4 or 5 times in the year+ that I've owned it.

[Ext1jdh]

all time spent washing is time you should be riding.

[rathr-b-cruisin]

I use water in a bucket, hot from the tap, and a clean micro fiber towel. Sometimes i use a little soap in the bucket and spray it off with a fine mist from the hose.

[KROW]

What I do:

1) rinse the bike with water
2) soap with a SMALL amount of auto washing soap - NOT dishwashing detergent as they contain degreasers and will remove any previous wax you have on it - in a bucket of clean water. If its not really dirty, only dusty, sometimes I don't use any soap at all.
3) rinse with UNPRESSURIZED water (ie take nozzle off the hose) so that water pours lightly out of the hose, not a heavy spray. This is a trick I learned from antique car friends. Doing it this way leaves much fewer waterspots - don't ask me why but it's true.
4) wipe off with a few towels - I use well-washed terrycloth ones so they don't leave too much lint

5) polish - I use Lemon Pledge spray furniture polish or Meguiars spray detailer for a quick job - spray on/wipe off
OR
6) wax - (if I have the time - rainy days) I use Meguiars Gold Class on paint and chrome
7) I use 303 Aerospace Protectant on leathers and vinyl - better than alcohol-based treatments like Ar***all.
8 ) I use Plexus to treat/protect the windshield. Makes water bead and makes it easier to clean (see below). In the past I've also used paste car wax on bike windshields with good success. I read somewhere not to use Windex on plexiglass - seems there's something in it that doesn't like plastics.
9) tires - use Spray-Nine and a soft brush. DON't use Armorall, Back to Black, or even 303 AP on tires!

For cleaning bugs, many will suggest all sorts of (sometimes very expensive) cleaners. NOTHING works better for removing bugs from windshields, paint, anything (car or bike) than a terrycloth towel soaked in hot water (nothing else, no soap,etc.) Bugs will come right off without even having to rub them!

Everyone will have their own preferences for waxes and cleaners. I'm just saying what I use.

Like your car, if you keep your bike clean and polished/waxed it will take very little time to keep it that way. I can do mine in the few minutes (!) it takes my wife to "get ready".

OR... you can ride in the rain. I know a guy who says he does that but his bike is always spotless. I don't understand why some people like to pretend they don't spend any time cleaning their ride when its obvious they do.

HTH

Keith

[Michigunman]

I'm sure there is no one "right" way, depending on you ask of course. Here is what I do as posted in a different thread. I don't like to spend a lot of time washing but I don't like having a filthy bike either. I wash about once every two or three weeks.

Some might think this (S100) is a "gimmick" or may not approve because it doesn't involve a bucket and sponge/cleaning cloth but it really works well.

I spray the front of the bike with S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, then rinse it off with the hose, not too high of pressure. Repeat on the back half of the bike.

Next I use a leaf blower to blow the majority of the water off. Then final dry the bike with micro fiberer towels.

Next I use the S100 Detail+Wax on tank, fenders, side covers etc... Just spray some on a cloth and apply then wipe off with a clean micro fiber towel.

This is extremely easy and quick and even gets most of the bugs off the headlight and windshiled if it is on the bike.

About once a year I use their cleanser and paste wax.

s100

[Davecm203]

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

1) turn on tv, switch to Weather Channel
2) look for rain
3) ride in rain
4) ???????
5) profit

I tried that last weekend. Now my bike looks like crap from all the road spray. Thanks for nothing.

[JmalB]

The best way to clean your bike is to have sexy women in bikinis do it.

[Reboot]

Tks for all the replys, I appreciate it.

Dannie

[Ext1jdh]

Originally Posted by Davecm203

I tried that last weekend. Now my bike looks like crap from all the road spray. Thanks for nothing.

but you had a great time riding, yeah?

and you didnt spend all that time washing a bike that wasnt going anywhere.

[1badbaker]

Originally Posted by JmalB

The best way to clean your bike is to have sexy women in bikinis do it.

[TTungett]

I go with the ride 3,000 miles take it in to the dealer for an oil change, and they clean it as part of the service...

[jadel]

Try all of the suggestions and see what is best for you. That is the best way to go.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by TTungett

I go with the ride 3,000 miles take it in to the dealer for an oil change, and they clean it as part of the service...

Lucky you, we don't get that kind of service around here. They scratched my gas tank and didn't wipe their finger prints off my bike so I switched to another shop, still no cleaning though.

[bnlfan]

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

1) turn on tv, switch to Weather Channel
2) look for rain
3) ride in rain
4) ???????
5) profit

hahahahaha

[4dtvman]

Haven't washed my bike in 2 years. I wipe it down every time I ride it and every 2 weeks I wax it. The whole thing.

[Loki_ca]

I have yet to try this, but heard that a good way to keep water spots off is to mix a dishwasher rinse agent in clean water and dump on the bike as a final rinse.
Then leaf blower to dry

I pressure wash mine to get bugs off, then home to wipe with a towel. For chrome, I use Windex. Plexus or Lemon Pledge for windshield/ lights