How clean should a bike be?

[JmalB]

My bike gets washed every time I take it in for service. Two baths and counting...

[AZRyder]

I usually wash mine about once a month or so. In between, I use the Honda spray cleaner and Plexus on the windshield and sometimes bleche white on the whitewalls. I'll wax it every 3 months or so and use some mothers on the chrome.

I ride every day so it gets pretty grungy sometimes. And with a cruiser, and all that chrome it's embarassing to ride a dirty bike lol.

Course I just washed it last week and it picks the one fracking time to rain in the year............

[JmalB]

Gotta get me some Plexus. That's the only thing that bugs me about not cleaning the bike often. Bugs on the windshield.

[Anville]

I havent waxed mine yet, but I do hose it down. The first time I cleaned the exhaust can with brasso I got it to a brand new condition, and it will blind fellow motorists and passerby on a sunny day.

Waxing plastic...Im not sure if it works, but I suppose Ill give it a try.

[borchnicerice]

Originally Posted by VolCntry

I actually keep mine as clean as possible. I take pride in my bike and I like keeping it looking good. It also gives me a chance to look over things to make sure nothing is broke, loose, etc.

I'll second that, I too have always kept mine clean and thats why after twenty-four years it still looks great. After each ride it's so easy to just wipe it down with a spray wax. Shine on,By the way love the name VolCntry, GO VOLS!!!

[AZRyder]

Originally Posted by Anville

I havent waxed mine yet, but I do hose it down. The first time I cleaned the exhaust can with brasso I got it to a brand new condition, and it will blind fellow motorists and passerby on a sunny day.

Waxing plastic...Im not sure if it works, but I suppose Ill give it a try.

If you're talking about the windshield, I would strongly advise against it. Get yourself some Plexus plastic cleaner and polish, it works great. As for the rest of the plastic parts on the bike, go for it.

[Sandman]

I spent 2.5 hours on Sunday washing, drying, and waxing. First time in 4 months. I've been using Zymol on everything except the tires for a year & a half with no ill effects to the windshield. It really puts a shine to the paint and chrome, just make sure you use a microfiber cloth.

[Dave Nadeau]

Spray Detailer and spray wax when ever its dirty. Wash If I have the stuff and the time.

[brutus]

Wash it when it looks dirty. I do have Metzler 880 wide whitewalls so it is washed more just to keep them looking good. If I had to wash it every time I took it out for a ride - it would stay in the garage. Both daughters & both sons in law scub, dry, wipe, etc. after every ride. They are nuts. I use SOS pads on the whitewalls, car wash soap on the bike and then blow dry it with a bike drier I got from J C Whitney for about $40. It is like a hair drier on steroids. Total time spent cleaning is about 30 to 45 min.

[dcstrng]

<When it's too dirty I wash it...>

Ditto, but too dirty for what... when the dirt gets in the way of riding, it's time for a quick dash under a sponge; but when the cleaning gets in the way of riding, it's time for a long dash down the road... only mirrors (and lights) really must be cleaned and absent a decent rainshower to help out, every 6-months to a year is about right...

Show me a consistantly spotless scoot and 90% of the time you'll see a rider bored with being a rider...

[Low&Slow]

When it can support plant life I wash it, or if I'm going on a group ride.

[brutus]

After reading this post this morning, I gave mine a look at. So since it was in the 40's today I put it in the driveway and gave it a good washing. Now I'm ready to ride again the next nice day we have. Course being retired helps cause I don't have work getting in my way.

[oyrider]

brutus, you wash in the 40's? You are all iron!!

[Gixxerman]

I preferrably like my bike superclean, but I have something to admit. Before I stashed my bike for the winter, I had not cleaned the bike for 2 months or so, and it still is in this condition. I don't like to clean a bike when it's cold, so I won't do anything before the new season arrives.

Washy washy

[brutus]

Originally Posted by oyrider

brutus, you wash in the 40's? You are all iron!!

Used to ride in the 40 degrees. Getting to old for that now. Plus the bad heart doesn't do real good in the cold. Being retired helps because we can ride ANY day that is nice. Don't have to only do long rides on the week ends.