Wheel Cleaning

[jcrawford]

Sounds like you need to give your chain a thorough cleaning (use a grunge brush with Kerosene) and get some clear chain lube or chain wax and learn to apply it correctly.
I have very little per each ride. It does build up over time, but not every ride.

Nah the chain needs a good cleaning I just don't have the urge to do so yet as I don't have the stand or spools lol.

Over the next few days I will push it around my driveway cleaning the chain.

It got the wheels dirty again because water got on the chain which led to it making the lube wet and flinging off

[j4eric]

most good degreasing stuff is petroleum based...so gasoline/kerosene is fine..use straight up in moderation of course.

[TheIglu]

Sandblaster since you thought my gasoline comment was a joke.

[Slyder]

I use this stuff for a few reasons. It doesn't make a mess. At all. It knocks the piss out of chain wax or any other lube I've lubed a chain with. And it doesn't make a mess. You won't have black gunk on the wheel, fairing, luggage, your leg..etc. As a result, a damp rag cleans the rear wheel. Damp with water, that is.

The other cool thing about the multi-use liquid teflon in a can from Dupont is, after lubing the chain with it and before it dries, wipe the chain with a rag. Lubed the chain AND cleaned it, all inside of 5 minutes. It's really great stuff, and has a kabillion other uses around the house, shop, etc.

[jcrawford]

Sandblaster since you thought my gasoline comment was a joke.

yea thought you were joking because I was told to keep the gas off my tank or it would take the paint off. Didn't want to jump out and put gas on my wheels to find the paint coming off soon

[Cheese]

Kerosene. Start with the chain then continue on to the wheels. You can buy a cheap spray bottle at Wally World (garden center) to use for applying it.

[Eric Baker]

WD-40 here. Amazing stuff with a million uses.

[PinHead]

WD-40 here. Amazing stuff with a million uses.

Anything but lube!
I buy it buy the gallon from the Depot and use a couple spray bottles.

[stpierre]

Anything but lube!

WD-40 How true that is.

[breakdirt916]

I'm the most inefficient washer out there, but I found hoses and power washers just don't get out everything perfectly well

I use car wash, or dish soap with a sponge (not the scour side), and just physically wipe it off by hand until I get every crevice clean

then again, I do this once a year, and it takes me hours...so most of the time my bike is covered in gunk...but hey, it's safe!

[Lxpony]

OMG dude- a car wash bay with your brand new bike? Are you fucking serious! There is no need, and I mean NO NEED to use anything on a bike to clean it other then straight water on a wool mit, a chamy (sp) to dry it and some paper towels and WD40 to clean wheels. I clean my bikes after EVERY ride and all I do it soak the wool mit and wipe down the bike section by section drying after each section. A complete bike is about 5-6 sections.

For the wheels, I simply take a paper towel and wet it. I wipe the lips of the wheels with this wet paper towel then dry it with a dry paper towel. I use WD40 to get any extra grease/tar off the fairings and wheels. I especially need to use WD40 on the chain side of my rear tire after the first ride since cleaning the chain. I have done with this with all my bikes since new. It takes me about 30 minutes after each ride to get the bike basically spotless. I dont bother with waxes since the bikes are plastic and dont get stored outside.

If you follow my way it is a cheap and fool-proof way of keeping you bike looking new for a long time (assuming you dont crash it).

Good luck... and stay away from pressurized car wash bays... please!

[Harley Davidson]

I've had pretty good luck putting a coat of wax on my clean wheels. It makes cleaning road grime and lube off the wheels much easier.

[Hammerspur]

Kerosene. Start with the chain then continue on to the wheels. You can buy a cheap spray bottle at Wally World (garden center) to use for applying it.

+1

I usually just slosh some on a rag and go to it.

... it doesn't make a mess. You won't have black gunk on the wheel, fairing, luggage, your leg..etc.

Been using this as chain lube after many recommendations elsewhere, lots cleaner than others.
Still do the wipe down with kero.

[SSearchVT]

Unfortunately the best stuff to keep anything clean is elbow grease... Spotless and easy don't usually go together... That said - Use anything you want to get the major pile of crud off (car soap, dish soap, etc), let it dry. Spray a light coating of WD-40 on the wheel and let it sit for a minute then go after it with a rag, and finish up with a good wash of soap and water. Finish up with a coat of wheel wax - it'll make the next clean up easier. If you really want to get OCD about it use Q-tips or a Dremel tool with a felt cone to get into the little crevices.

All the while be careful around the brakes...

[Kenn157]

WD40

[Kenn157]

WD-40 here. Amazing stuff with a million uses.

[aldend123]

Gasoline, kerosene, WD40, all are going to work. But I'd rather work with a 'cleaner' substance that isn't going to dry my hands out or leave a mess. You're cleaning your rims, so I'm guessing you're trying to get brake dust off? If so, any wheel cleaning product is going to do the trick.

And anyone else, I'd assume they know this but... be cautious after the cleaning. Soaps and wd40 etc aren't the best for grip. Take it easy if you ride it not long afterwards.

Also, most degreaseers are bad for rubber. They break them down. I'd generally avoid using them unless you find it is really necessary. And on a brand new bike, I'd find that hard to believe. You can probably get pretty far with elbow grease and basic 'safe' products like simple green.

[njsrikar]

sorry for the thread hijack ...i have a related question ...

how do you guys clean the radiator grille? I was once suggested to use simple green and then jet-spray it with water....haven't tried it yet...does it work?

[Kenn157]

I wouldnt jet spray the radiator... Could bend all the grill fins..

[Jim]

[njsrikar]

images blocked at work

[Wanderer]

Stubborn dirt

[Pittenger5]

Wait ... youre supposed to WASH bikes? I thought thats what riding in the rain was for?

On a serious note, I use brake cleaner. But I'm an idiot, so take that for what its worth

[Jim]

On a serious note, I use brake cleaner. But I'm an idiot, so take that for what its worth

pretty sure that would strip paint off his wheels.
the honda polish worked great for me when I had chrome wheels. it works even better on the marchesini's

[Dip Dungles]

[QUOTE=Hammerspur;1123375]+1

I usually just slosh some on a rag and go to it.




Where the hell do you pick this stuff up? I was in the Depot last night and I was walking down isles for 45 minutes trying to find it. I asked a bunch of employees and they couldn't find it either.