Clean yer dang bike

[geoffsimpson]

I don't know if it's a repost, I took a look and found nothing, but it's a pretty interesting read. I never knew about the pledge...

You Damn Dirty Motorcyclist!
Part One: Pledge and WD40

by Stephen Pate
Issue #65--April 2004

Last year I was lucky enough to produce a documentary film. I met and interviewed thousands of motorcyclists who don't ride American made motorcycles. These folks, just like all motorcyclists, tend to be an extremely polarized and opinionated bunch. In talking off camera with these people, I noticed an unusual and somewhat disturbing pattern of behavior. For some odd reason, one constant subject I heard people brag about is how they "never clean their bikes"… and saying it proudly as if it was some sort of motorcycling badge of honor! The first hundred or so times I heard this comment, it didn't really effect me. Sometime during the next several hundred times, it got me thinking.

I'm not exactly sure how the simple act of cleaning one's motorcycle has become a "statement", but it has. Even 'rat bikes' can be clean, so it became quite clear that these people felt the need to tell me this information so they could somehow differentiate themselves as "REAL" motorcyclists. Apparently, real motorcyclists don't clean and/or polish their bikes. Man…if only I had known this sooner. I can't imagine all the time and trouble this would have saved me! You see, unless I had just come through some really bad weather or taken some off-road route, my bikes always looked well cared for and clean, because they were. In noticing this, some people would give me a judging look and then invariably feel the need to make some sideways comment about how "clean" my bike was, immediately following up with a line like,

"I'd rather RIDE 'em than WASH 'em"

"If you WASH 'em, they have more PROBLEMS"

"If I want a CLEAN bike, I'll just buy a NEW one"

"I always ride in the RAIN… IT does the job"

"The only time you should get WATER on your bike is in the RAIN"

"If I wanted to POLISH my bike, I ride a damn Harley"

There were literally a hundred other comments that tried to justify what was essentially the neglect of their machines. Sometimes people said, "You must ride a 'Hardly Ableson too", or just, "You outta' be a Harley rider". I never heard this come from the mouth of someone on a Harley, so I came to the conclusion that it was not meant as a compliment. Apparently, there is a large and growing contingent of riders that have the misperception that a clean bike is a bike that isn't ridden much. That might be true in some cases, but if these people had seen my odometer they probably wouldn't have made their snide remarks. During a 9-month period in 2003, I rode over 65,000 miles to my filming locations without one single breakdown or running issue of any kind. I owe it all to Lemon Pledge, but more on that in a minute.

Bragging about not cleaning your machine is kind of like a mountain climber bragging about never checking their ropes. Don't get me wrong… I am not advocating spending time cleaning your bike rather than riding it. However, my fundamental thoughts on the matter are that a clean bike is a safe bike. Identifying problems before they occur is always a good idea. Cleaning your bike should be part of your routine maintenance.

Just about every professional in motor sports will agree with this. I grew up during my teenage years living next to several professional drivers. The first thing every one of those guys taught me is that keeping your gear immaculate equates to exponentially increased safety. As much of a perfectionist as I might be, they all put me to shame. Before they had support crews and state of the art machines, they constantly had their hands on most every part on their cycles. They showed me that the routine of cleaning keeps your eyes on the little things that can make the difference between winning and losing, or even life and death. Those loose fasteners, cracked welds, corroded electrical connections and frayed wires… they are the only things between you and a failure that could potentially result in injury or death. You would not normally see some of them unless you were really going over your machine, cleaning it well enough to really examine the finer details. Almost every time I go over my bike to clean it I find something small but important that requires fixing or adjusting that I would not have found otherwise.

So, at the risk of being made fun of with the nickname "Lemon Pledge", here are a few simple and maybe unexpected things everyone can use to start keeping a closer eye on their motorcycles.



Pledge

Enough cannot be said about the benefits of this product for a motorcycle. It's sort of like WD40 in that regard. However, the lemon variety is the only one worth using for this purpose. The lemon product seems to have a better nondestructive degreasing agent that we all need for bikes. A few years ago, I worked as the "motorcycle specialist" for a motorcycle and bicycle auction. Noted collectors and restorers repeatedly mentioned that it is the only thing they used for cleaning because it did not harm any vintage paint, metals, leather, rubber or plastics. Several motorcycle tour operators also strongly recommend that all their customers pack a small can of it just to keep their helmets, visors and leathers clean.

Still, people have almost fallen down laughing when they see me spraying my bike and helmet down with Pledge after a couple days ride though the billions of mosquitoes and other winged nasties we have here in Minnesota. It helps dissolve acidic bug guts, road tar and unidentified gunk and grime very quickly. It is also an excellent lubricating layer to avoid dirt and other particles from scratching surfaces as you wipe them. One benefit of using it (especially on your windshield and your helmet visor) is that it cleans effectively and leaves a fine film that aids in future cleaning without the need to reapply the product. The next couple of times you wipe down your visor and such, you can use a soft rag and surfaces will quickly wipe clean and clear again. It will help in the rain, as it beads water somewhat. I use it over my normal auto cleaner wax product and it does a top rate job. It can even be used on chrome, if you have any.

Carry a little can of it in your luggage somewhere or under your seat. They sell it in smaller cans that will clean your entire bike and gear a couple of times over when you are on the road. It's just about the fastest way to do a wipe-down of all your bike's surfaces. It does a killer job on bodywork, wheels, seat, windshield and visor…even your leathers! AND using it regularly sure will make you stink pretty!

One added tip is to get some heavy weight terry cloth gloves and carry one at a time. These are available from many places, including auto detailing supply businesses. They will turn a 30 minute cleaning job into a 5 minute cleaning job, as you can simply run your hands across big surfaces and run your fingers into all the harder to reach places, around fork tubes, pipes, etc. You can use one glove on either hand so when one side is dirty, just flip it over to the other.



WD40

It's the Duct Tape of cleaner / lubricants. Amen!You probably already know this miracle of miracles disperses water. It also can help remove paint, tar, bugs, and a myriad of other crap without any adverse affects. WD-40 can be used on exposed radiator hoses to keep them pliable and on painted engines and drive trains to keep them looking newer. It also works great when restoring black colored or painted parts. It's great for cleaning colored dash and handlebar switches. IF you wax your bike, it's of great assistance in removing wax from crevices in bodywork and components. It is one of the best wheel cleaners regardless of what type of wheels you have.

Using this routinely can really cut down on the amount of hard cleaning you need do and it's great preventative maintenance for several things. I know many people who spray their bikes down with it after riding in the rain and swear by its regular use. Someone could say they're nuts for using it so much, but not me… I smell too much like Pledge to be judgmental.

No matter how, when, why or what you ride, I imagine every active motorcyclist would agree on taking care of equipment so that it takes care of you. Even if you are the kind of rider who does not service their own bike, don't assume your dealer / mechanic does this sort of thing when they do it. It's up to you and only you to keep an eye on the details. Just routinely wiping everything down with products like the ones above will become a slippery slope… no pun intended. Getting in this habit will most likely motivate you to do more thorough cleanings and equipment checks that will make your rides even safer and more enjoyable. Heck, pretty soon you might even be riding a Harl... no wait, never mind!

So, now, quit reading about riding and go RIDE. Spring is here! Sell your car! Ride everywhere… ride in all kinds of weather… ride so much it hurts, but most importantly, get those bikes of yours completely filthy. Because, in part two I'll go much more in depth and offer up some tips for enhancing safety through routine cleaning. In the meantime, I'll be out riding… sniffing the air… searching for others with a lemon fresh scent.

[Thundurburd]

Interesting information. A copy of this is going into my motorcycle file.

I've heard about Pledge before myself. A while back I was doing a search for safe products for cleaning helmets and windshields that wouldn't over time degrade the plastic. Pledge was mentioned but I haven't used it myself. It's starting to look like a pretty darn good option.

Thanks for the post.

[MikeHump]

Originally Posted by geoffsimpson

Apparently, there is a large and growing contingent of riders that have the misperception that a clean bike is a bike that isn't ridden much.

When people try to use this on me, I walk up to their bike, point out their chicken strips, and let them know that my clean bike gets leaned over farther in the corners than their dirty bike, and then they usually shut up hahahaha.

[diamond_jim]

When these type of cretins see your clean bike, they can do one of three things:

1. Not say anything and shut up (which is impossible for them to do),
2. Say your bike looks nice (which they can't bring themselves to do)
or
3. Present their bike as better that yours because it isn't as clean (which is just totally stupid)

[DrBob]

I've been using Pledge for years- great stuff. I can't say I keep my bikes real clean, but I do keep them presentable. Especially the shovelhead- I figure after 250,000 miles it has earned the right to a bath every now and then.

[karlfitt]

I used to ride with a guy that always had a clean bike.

I mean, I wash mine. Wax it. But his bike, I don't know.

We would stop for a reat, gas stop, whatever. Everyone elses bike would of course now have a few bugs, dust whatever on it, but not his. It seemed immune to getting dirty. Never did figure out how he did it.

[inspiron]

So, it took some research, but I've found it.

Pledge is called "Pronto" in Switzerland. Same stuff, different name.

[Jay313]

Rode home from work in the rain yesterday. Unfortunately, I have to drive right past the city landfill first thing, so the road is covered with slick mud. Made it past safely, but my pants were black from the knees down, and the bike looked like I'd taken a trail ride. Wish I'd taken pictures before I washed it.

Someone please explain the WD40 thing to me, though. Is she talking about spraying it directly on stuff, or spraying it onto a rag and wiping stuff down? Or does it matter?

[Atlas68]

Good info Geoff. I'll give the Pledge a try.

[tallannie]

neat !

[KD57]

I know a guy like that, his bike is never dirty, and bugs never stick to it. His favorite product is Bass Boat Saver. Miracle stuff he says. It works good on boats, must also work good on bikes too.

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by Jay313

Someone please explain the WD40 thing to me, though. Is she talking about spraying it directly on stuff, or spraying it onto a rag and wiping stuff down? Or does it matter?

I don't think it really matters, but to control the amount of WD40 going everywhere I would simply spray it on a rag or one of those blue shop towels and wipe it down. Otherwhise you could be dripping/spraying wd40 on tires and seats and grips etc...

[NCxM50]

Originally Posted by Jay313

Someone please explain the WD40 thing to me, though. Is she talking about spraying it directly on stuff, or spraying it onto a rag and wiping stuff down? Or does it matter?

Now, hopefully someone with more motorcycle specific experience can confirm or deny this, because my experience is directed from a 4 wheeled perspective.
On cars, it really doesn't make a difference, but as long as you're on a surface that you don't mind it dripping onto, you should be able to just spray and walk away. When I had my '72 chevelle, i used almost half a small can of WD-40 once a month. I'd do a complete spray of the engine compartment, close the hood, then wash the car. By the time I was done with the wash and wax, I'd pop the hood, and my engine looked fantastic. Never once did it create any problems. The best part was looking at the puddle it created on the floor, and all the nastiness it pulled off my motor.

[Davecm203]

I use McGuires Quick Detailer on my bike to get the bugs and dust off of it after a ride. It works like a charm. I will have to try the pledge thing though.

I am ashamed that I don't keep my bike as spotless as I would like to. But it is usually always presentable and I am not ashamed of the way it looks.

[SNAFU]

I've been eager to use the Fukken Wax that I got at the Auto show. Been too busy riding but I think I'll wash the bike down tomorrow before I leave for vacation. I definitely want to give the Pledge thing a try, but I'll experiment with it on my wife's bike first.

[womper]

i hate to admit it, but i don't wash my bike as often as i should...
i don't wash my car either though... i'm lazy that way...

i do go over it every few weeks and tighten stuff up, etc...

[inspiron]

Okay, I have to admit it ... I went out and bought a can of Pledge (Pronto), a can of S100 chain cleaning gel, and a bottle of insect remover. I rode down to the local do-it-yourself car wash, sprayed the chain, waited a few minutes, then hit the whole bike with the high-pressure hose.

I dried the seat and rode it home, cleaned it up with the insect remover and the Pledge, and greased the chain.

I've posted the results on my Picasa page: Picasa-Webalben - Jim - 2008_05_18 - ...

[Thundurburd]

Originally Posted by inspiron

I dried the seat and rode it home, cleaned it up with the insect remover and the Pledge, and greased the chain.

Well Jim, that looks pretty darn good to me. Nice bike BTW.

[Nick Mystic]

I asked my wife to pick me up a can of Lemon Pledge and gave my bike a thorough going over with it on Friday. I generally keep my bike very clean, so basically I was able to use it much like you would use when dusting. I sprayed it on a soft rag and then just wiped things down with it until the wetness disappeared and then buffed with another clean, soft rag. It made things really sparkle and I was particularly impressed with how well it worked on my windshield. I tried some on my helmet visor and when I went riding I was pleased to find out that it helped minimize bug splatters. It seemed like the bugs didn't adhere to the visor and I was able to pretty much wipe them off with my glove as I rode.

[Uncle B]

Ok I've washed the damn bike!

Can't tell that it rides or runs any better.

But it does smell like Lemon Pledge now!

.