General Bike Washing/Cleaning

[LiquidPhire]

My girl just purchased me a r6 , never owned a streetbike but picked up riding very very easily now I need to learn how to clean it properly, what to do use-what not to use etc.. Ive read some place to clean chain with simple green and relube with wd40 - others said never use wd40 so im just looking for more input. Also using a standard car wash place is out of the question? Ive heard conflicting reports on power washing as well. Sorry to sound ignorant but I am meticulous at keeping my shit nice (car,clothes,person etc)

thanks for the help

[bigred875]

you can use wd-40 to clean just about anything on your bike but it will leave an oily residue. It is a cleaner/degreaser not a lubricant, you shuold use chain wax for your chain.

I use regular carwash stuff when it is really grimy
a california car duster in between
and mothers clay and 3 stage wax once a year.

pro-honda cleaner is the tits for cleaning plastics if you can find it but you need to becareful...if there is dust or dirt on your bike you will leave tiny scratches all over the place after you are done. No a huge deal as they buff out but you will get that swirly look on the paint after awhile...this is true for any spray on/wipe off cleaner.

chain care - I wax mine every 100-200mi and clean it when i am not lazy with wd-40. I hear kerosene is a better choice but i have wd-40 and would have to go out and buy kerosene

most importanly, keep anything slippery off your tires, grips and seat.

powerwashing is generally a no-no because it will blast the grease out of your seals and potentially cause other problems.....not too mention probably overkill on a street bike

also, don't over think it

[crowspeed07]

thats what the rain is for

[LiquidPhire]

Thanks Bigred.

Crow - that was really helpful let me tell ya.

[crowspeed07]

Thanks Bigred.

Crow - that was really helpful let me tell ya.

you got your answer in the post above mine do you need me to re type what he said? in case you didn't figure it out the first time?

[LiquidPhire]

you got your answer in the post above mine do you need me to re type what he said? in case you didn't figure it out the first time?

So what are you accomplishing by posting your non-sense? Trying to get a laugh? In any event it was quite useless and not funny , so good job. *claps*

Wait... your in construction.. that explains your IQ.

[bigred875]

ok kids...do i need to pull this thing over or will you guys behave?

[TheIglu]

Simple Green + your sealed chain = bad news

WD40 is perfect, buy it in the gallon jugs and refill the spray bottle.

Remember, a shiney chain is a dry chain. A dry chain is not good!

Kerosene or straight gas on a rag will clean the "fling" of a well lubed chain off your wheel in seconds.

[KB]

Simple Green + your sealed chain = bad news

WD40 is perfect, buy it in the gallon jugs and refill the spray bottle.

Remember, a shiney chain is a dry chain. A dry chain is not good!

Kerosene or straight gas on a rag will clean the "fling" of a well lubed chain off your wheel in seconds.

You can lube my wheel anytime!!!

KB

[crowspeed07]

So what are you accomplishing by posting your non-sense? Trying to get a laugh? In any event it was quite useless and not funny , so good job. *claps*

Wait... your in construction.. that explains your IQ.

Hahahahaha whenever you wanna man up let me know. see how long you can hang in my field of work between manual labor and all the math i do. and the 45 an hour i make isn't so bad either.............






we wont even get into the fact that im in school for radiology

[McBiggity]

So what are you accomplishing by posting your non-sense? Trying to get a laugh? In any event it was quite useless and not funny , so good job. *claps*

Wait... your in construction.. that explains your IQ.

Welcome to the site, you may not like us if that is your general attitude.
We are a bunch of assholes.

[BluGixxer]

The third week I owned my new gsxr750 took it to a spray wash that I was not familar wiht,,took the paint right off ththe side case....
and kerosene or diesel fuel works great for road grime and chain cleaning..

[LiquidPhire]

Simple Green + your sealed chain = bad news

WD40 is perfect, buy it in the gallon jugs and refill the spray bottle.

Remember, a shiney chain is a dry chain. A dry chain is not good!

Kerosene or straight gas on a rag will clean the "fling" of a well lubed chain off your wheel in seconds.

Thanks got some of that shit layin around the house.

Whoever said you are all a bunch of assholes, I can guarantee id fit right in.

[RandyO]

powerwashing is generally a no-no because it will blast the grease out of your seals and potentially cause other problems.....not too mention probably overkill on a street bike

also, don't over think it

depends how dirty your bike gets, add a scottoiler and ride some dusty gravel roads that are mud in spring & fall.

don't spray directly at the chain rollers, radiator fins. pressure wash is most mine ever gets except when my dealer cleans it

[LuvDog]

I think the comments to stay away from a power washer are meant to keep you from blasting the dash and other electronic areas.

But... this is all from memory for me, since the last time I washed my bikes was 2 or 3 years ago.

[crowspeed07]

Simple Green + your sealed chain = bad news

WD40 is perfect, buy it in the gallon jugs and refill the spray bottle.

Remember, a shiney chain is a dry chain. A dry chain is not good!

Kerosene or straight gas on a rag will clean the "fling" of a well lubed chain off your wheel in seconds.

if for whatever reason you dont have either of those around. dryer sheets will also clean it right off with a little elbow grease.

[Mondo]

I use car wash to wash the bike, no problems with that at all
also use Honda Polish (or w/e the new stuff is called)
Using a clay bar will really make it look new though!!

For the chain I use kerosene and a tooth brush with some rags and then just chain lube.

Make sure to take the bike for a few laps before you clean the chain so it is hot and the gunk will come off easier when you use the kerosene.

Let the chain lube sit overnight to reduce "fling"

thats just my way though

[breakdirt916]

I found that the way to get everything is by hand, with some soap (car wash soap is fine), and a sponge. Wipe off the water residue with a dry, clean cloth.

But since that takes so long, I hardly do it at all....

[Honclfibr]

Wait... your in construction.. that explains your IQ.

Fail.

[clutch]

S100 for starters
http://www.s100.com/s100_tcc.htm

Power washer very carefully done

Leaf blower to dry it off

Eagle one for finish
http://www.eagleone.com/pages/produc...sp?itemid=1091

Been doing this for years, for many types of bikes. Never an issue. And total time well under an hour and I’m done.

[KB]

I have washed my Superhawk about 3 times in 7 years.

KB

[crowspeed07]

Fail.

Whats funny is after my response to his comment he has nothing to say.

[Hauptman]

I'm surprised there weren't more shenanigans. Besides chain cleaning I'd think washing a bike is pretty obvious. A bucket of sand and throw rocks at it.

[Bluesman]

Don't power wash a bike. Hell, I was a little too vigorous with a garden hose and the moisture fucked the relay on my directionals. I had to drown it in wd-40 to get it to work again.

A good car wash solution (like Mothers) using a low flow of water to rinse and a good wax twice a year will keep your ride tip top. I should know, my bike is 24 years old!

[LiquidPhire]

Whats funny is after my response to his comment he has nothing to say.

Sorry I didn't mean to leave you neglected child, ive done roofing and sidewall as well as landscaping growing up and I realized why work harder when you can work smarter? Anyway , I enjoy my job at the pharmaceutical company. Keep going to school for "radiology" kid and perhaps you will do something productive with your life.


.......Construction worker+IQ = FAIL


Best of luck to you!


-Thanks for the info on the bike.. washed/waxed that shit up this weekend lookin nice as fuck ;P