What are yous using to clean your bike ?

Rx713B · 12-01-2021 11:45am #1

Well All -

Going to pull the 690 SMCR out this weekend and go to town on it then thrun her back in the shed -

What are yous using to clean your bikes?

on the 690SMCR there is a good bit of black plastic and its faded back a bit ?

Any help appreciated

zubair · 12-01-2021 2:19pm

Rx713B wrote: »

Well All -

Going to pull the 690 SMCR out this weekend and go to town on it then thrun her back in the shed -

What are yous using to clean your bikes?

on the 690SMCR there is a good bit of black plastic and its faded back a bit ?

Any help appreciated

For any black bits, metal, rubber or plastic, once washed I wipe with a bit of wd40 on a cloth, brings the colour back and lasts a couple of weeks.

Rx713B · 12-01-2021 3:08pm

zubair wrote: »

For any black bits, metal, rubber or plastic, once washed I wipe with a bit of wd40 on a cloth, brings the colour back and lasts a couple of weeks.

Great man thanks a mil ill give that a go

Duke Dan · 16-01-2021 5:37pm

Any photos of before after with the WD40 clean?

DD

Henry Ford III · 18-01-2021 11:40am

Muc-off. Excellent product.

emo72 · 18-01-2021 7:36pm

I wish I had one of those foam guns with all the foam.

flashinthepan · 18-01-2021 7:50pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QBJsBv-t5g
Muc off pressure washer

CJhaughey · 18-01-2021 9:06pm

With all these alkaline cleaners just don't let it dwell too long, I like to use a brush and work it in to a small area then wash it off, and just work around the bike in small sections.
Its not a massive area you are dealing with and you can also inspect the parts as you work your way along for loose bolts etc.

zubair · 18-01-2021 9:53pm

flashinthepan wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QBJsBv-t5g
Muc off pressure washer

A tried and tested karcher with all the bits is half the price of this one.

Pinoy adventure · 18-01-2021 9:54pm

Elbow greese

omerin · 18-01-2021 10:45pm

Wash with hose, then muc off, never dirty enough to need a second go with it, rinse off, shampoo applied with warm water, wash off with warm water. Dry with dryer (waiting for the backlash lol) Other then this, brake cleaner, chain cleaner and acf 50, have it in can form, bad mistake on my part, but spray it into the cover and brush on or use a cloth, great stuff. Carnauba polymer wax made by bilt hamber on tank and other parts. T cut metal polish and meguiars nxt gen polish on the bluing on the exhaust, does a great job

I love cleaning the bike, in fact I'd go as far as to say I'm a bit OCD about it, sometimes i feel it would be a shame to take it out and get it dirty lol

robbie_63 · 19-01-2021 8:52am

omerin wrote: »

Wash with hose, then muc off, never dirty enough to need a second go with it, rinse off, shampoo applied with warm water, wash off with warm water. Dry with dryer (waiting for the backlash lol) Other then this, brake cleaner, chain cleaner and acf 50, have it in can form, bad mistake on my part, but spray it into the cover and brush on or use a cloth, great stuff. Carnauba polymer wax made by bilt hamber on tank and other parts. T cut metal polish and meguiars nxt gen polish on the bluing on the exhaust, does a great job

I love cleaning the bike, in fact I'd go as far as to say I'm a bit OCD about it, sometimes i feel it would be a shame to take it out and get it dirty lol

But do you use 2 buckets.....

raven41 · 19-01-2021 9:25am

zubair wrote: »

A tried and tested karcher with all the bits is half the price of this one.

Have a karcher and its a great bit of kit. Problem is there is no dial to vary the pressure its always set at 10; ie it strips the wood of my decking if I dwell on an area too long an turns it into matchsticks.
Obviously wouldnt let it go anywhere near my bikes. Just being pricing them and they are an expensive yoke at eur175...

zubair · 19-01-2021 10:14am

raven41 wrote: »

Have a karcher and its a great bit of kit. Problem is there is no dial to vary the pressure its always set at 10; ie it strips the wood of my decking if I dwell on an area too long an turns it into matchsticks.
Obviously wouldnt let it go anywhere near my bikes. Just being pricing them and they are an expensive yoke at eur175...

Mine was around 90eur with the foam lance and a lance with adjustable pressure, it has a setting for cars and bikes. I think the pressure ranges from 70 to 100 bar. Now it's not the top of the range version but it does everything I need it to. And its never damaged the bike of course.

D3V!L · 19-01-2021 10:52am

Pffft cleaning my bike. I have a man for that :rolleyes:

zubair · 19-01-2021 10:58am

D3V!L wrote: »

Pffft cleaning my bike. I have a man for that :rolleyes:

More water.... you missed a bit at the bottom. :P

robbie_63 · 19-01-2021 11:20am

I had the 4 year old out on Saturday helping to wash mine!

LollipopJimmy · 19-01-2021 11:39am

Snow foam
Degreaser for the bits covered in oily crud, agitated with a stiff brush
Fallout remover on the wheels, forks and lower fairings, its wasted up higher.
An Apc then with microfiber mitt
Dry it off
Wax
Autoglym plastic and rubber cleaner on the bits that need it
Wheel sealer
Autoglym glass polish and cleaner on mirrors, screen and lights

Probably forgotten a few bits that I do

For in between deep cleans, snowfoam, shampoo with the mitt, dry and whack with chemical guys v07 which gives the wax a boost

zubair · 19-01-2021 11:47am

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Snow foam
Degreaser for the bits covered in oily crud, agitated with a stiff brush
Fallout remover on the wheels, forks and lower fairings, its wasted up higher.
An Apc then with microfiber mitt
Dry it off
Wax
Autoglym plastic and rubber cleaner on the bits that need it
Wheel sealer
Autoglym glass polish and cleaner on mirrors, screen and lights

Probably forgotten a few bits that I do

For in between deep cleans, snowfoam, shampoo with the mitt, dry and whack with chemical guys v07 which gives the wax a boost

Even your in-between cleans are more effort than my "deep clean".

robbie_63 · 19-01-2021 11:51am

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Snow foam
Degreaser for the bits covered in oily crud, agitated with a stiff brush
Fallout remover on the wheels, forks and lower fairings, its wasted up higher.
An Apc then with microfiber mitt
Dry it off
Wax
Autoglym plastic and rubber cleaner on the bits that need it
Wheel sealer
Autoglym glass polish and cleaner on mirrors, screen and lights

Probably forgotten a few bits that I do

For in between deep cleans, snowfoam, shampoo with the mitt, dry and whack with chemical guys v07 which gives the wax a boost

Need some pics to see what an actual Clean Bike looks like,
I'm looking out at mine in the car park now in the lashing rain!

LollipopJimmy · 19-01-2021 12:00pm

robbie_63 wrote: »

Need some pics to see what an actual Clean Bike looks like,
I'm looking out at mine in the car park now in the lashing rain!

The 600 after driving nearly 300kms in the rain and the 250 after a spin over dusty roads.

Easy to keep them clean once you keep at it. The 250 is sold and the guy that bought ot had seen a few but snapped mine up, paid full asking purely because he could see it was looked after, the 600 is in the shed stripped apart now but I plan on making it mint. Not 'donedeal' mint either, actual mint :pac:

I do enjoy it though, I get others don't.

robbie_63 · 19-01-2021 12:03pm

They look very clean in fairness, the 250 looks like it just rolled out of the showroom!

I need to get some proper cleaning products as previous owner had mine sitting up for a long time so a lot of grime and dirt that doesn't shift easily

zubair · 19-01-2021 12:05pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Not 'donedeal' mint either, actual mint :pac:

Those trains are looking better than done deal mint. Iarnrod Eireann streetfighter.

MojoMaker · 19-01-2021 12:35pm

Two nice bikes Lollipop. How did you find the 250 over your ownership?

LollipopJimmy · 19-01-2021 2:21pm

MojoMaker wrote: »

Two nice bikes Lollipop. How did you find the 250 over your ownership?

Great as a beginner but I outgrew it very quickly, however I would say the few months on it gave me a great foundation getting onto the 600.

Rafal · 19-01-2021 2:26pm

After trying a lot of stuff, I am down to the German, yellow S100 Total Cleaner (aka SDoc 100) used sparingly. I first spray the bike with a flat water "fan-jet" (nothing more special than a Gardenia garden hose attachment), then I spray a little S100 left for 3-5 minutes. Then I wipe it off, gently, to remove mud and any heavier stuff, followed by a second and final water spray soon after to get the S100 off. After that I do a reasonably quick wet wax using Autoglym Aquawax (aka Express Wax if you buy in 5l) which does not require any drying beforehand.

If the bike is not too dirty, then just water and a little of the Aquawax. During hose bans I switch to 2 small buckets method using the green Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine—an American product that lasts ages as you use a tiny amount in the bucket, about a teaspoon to a tablespoon max.

I get those from fc-moto.ie, louis.ie, motoin.de, or amazon.de—none affected by Brexit. The 5l containers of S100 and Express Wax last me 2 years. I usually wash after each spring/autumn/winter ride, but not as often in the summer. 10000km/year mileage. Still looks very clean

D3V!L · 19-01-2021 3:28pm

Rafal wrote: »

After trying a lot of stuff, I am down to the German, yellow S100 Total Cleaner (aka SDoc 100) used sparingly. I first spray the bike with a flat water "fan-jet" (nothing more special than a Gardenia garden hose attachment), then I spray a little S100 left for 3-5 minutes. Then I wipe it off, gently, to remove mud and any heavier stuff, followed by a second and final water spray soon after to get the S100 off. After that I do a reasonably quick wet wax using Autoglym Aquawax (aka Express Wax if you buy in 5l) which does not require any drying beforehand.

If the bike is not too dirty, then just water and a little of the Aquawax. During hose bans I switch to 2 small buckets method using the green Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine—an American product that lasts ages as you use a tiny amount in the bucket, about a teaspoon to a tablespoon max.

I get those from fc-moto.ie, louis.ie, motoin.de, or amazon.de—none affected by Brexit. The 5l containers of S100 and Express Wax last me 2 years. I usually wash after each spring/autumn/winter ride, but not as often in the summer. 10000km/year mileage. Still looks very clean

I swear by it myself. I've been using SDOC for about 15 years now.

zubair · 19-01-2021 3:32pm

I just realised the one thing worse than cleaning my bike is reading about other people cleaning theirs.

omerin · 19-01-2021 5:46pm

Its therapeutic and stick on the earphones and the hours :O go by in a flash

LollipopJimmy · 19-01-2021 6:37pm

omerin wrote: »

Its therapeutic and stick on the earphones and the hours :O go by in a flash

This is it for me really.

Rx713B · 19-01-2021 6:54pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

This is it for me really.

Me also

Skill Magill · 19-01-2021 8:15pm

Think theres a guy out by greenhills that will clean your bike and acf it, think it takes about 4 hrs.
Anybody use him or a professional cleaner?
Not sure what your supposed to do while it gets cleaned, drive over and walk around for a bit?

omerin · 19-01-2021 9:38pm

Not sure why anyone would want someone else cleaning the bike, asking for trouble with scratches, drops ... and if you are hanging around for that time why not do it yourself and inspect every millimetre while you do it?

zubair · 20-01-2021 12:40pm

Ye, he's been recommended on here before. As he's focused on bikes I'd say your safe enough with scratches etc.

Fabio · 20-01-2021 12:52pm

omerin wrote: »

Not sure why anyone would want someone else cleaning the bike, asking for trouble with scratches, drops ... and if you are hanging around for that time why not do it yourself and inspect every millimetre while you do it?

He might have equipment you might not have yourself too. I think people like him use an air compressor to spray on the ACF-50 so it really does get into the nooks and crannies.

This said, never used one of these services myself. Don't know if there are any in Cork.

GBX · 20-01-2021 12:57pm

Skill Magill wrote: »

Think theres a guy out by greenhills that will clean your bike and acf it, think it takes about 4 hrs.
Anybody use him or a professional cleaner?
Not sure what your supposed to do while it gets cleaned, drive over and walk around for a bit?

Brian does a fantastic job. Check out https://www.facebook.com/motorcyclevaletingDublin
Some people leave the bike with him and come back for it. Depends on when youre coming from.

robbie_63 · 20-01-2021 1:06pm

He has some beautiful bikes on his page, in fairness if I was closer I would definitely drop mine into him.

Even just for an initial clean to get it spotless after purchasing a new bike

LollipopJimmy · 20-01-2021 1:08pm

Megabikes use him to prepare bikes for sale also

zubair · 20-01-2021 2:54pm

I sense an essential journey coming.

D3V!L · 20-01-2021 3:02pm

Skill Magill wrote: »

Think theres a guy out by greenhills that will clean your bike and acf it, think it takes about 4 hrs.
Anybody use him or a professional cleaner?
Not sure what your supposed to do while it gets cleaned, drive over and walk around for a bit?

Thats Brian in MVD, he's an absolute gent. I had my 3 cleaned by him before Christmas.

KT10 · 26-01-2021 12:18pm

D3V!L wrote: »

Thats Brian in MVD, he's an absolute gent. I had my 3 cleaned by him before Christmas.

Have you seen the job he's just done on the garage and workspace? Fully covered wash bay off to the right hand side and he's turned the garage into a full detailing bay. It looks the absolute biz.

He's looked after my last 4 bikes. Every time I change bikes one of the first things I do is book it in with him for a full treatment. Means when I go to clean it I'm doing less work as everything is already sealed/protected.

D3V!L · 26-01-2021 12:20pm

KT10 wrote: »

Have you seen the job he's just done on the garage and workspace? Fully covered wash bay off to the right hand side and he's turned the garage into a full detailing bay. It looks the absolute biz.

He's looked after my last 4 bikes. Every time I change bikes one of the first things I do is book it in with him for a full treatment. Means when I go to clean it I'm doing less work as everything is already sealed/protected.

I have indeed

Fantastic job he did on it.

I'm the same, my last bike went from City Spares for him to clean before it came home. I had 3 in with him before Christmas in total.

What are yous using to clean your bike ?

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