What Cleaning stuff/maintenance stuff is needed for a bike?

[dafne]

As above really.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to bikes. Cars, no problem. What sort of stuff do I really need for general maintenance and cleaning of a bike (i.e. chain lube, etc).

I'm not after specific brands really, more a list of what stuff would be useful.

[Dave20046]

mer car polish for the plastics, chain cleaner for the chain, fork oil for the forks,brake/carb cleaner, white grease for the moving bits/bearing grease. Water, bucket, tooth brush.

I would guess..

[fizzwheel]

Car Shampoo for plastics / bodywork general cleaning

Muc Off or something similar for the grimy bits, engine, wheels etc

Chain cleaner or parafin for the chain, you'll need a toothbrush / paint brush / old rag for this as well

WD40 is good for getting grime / oil off to, particularly on grimy back wheels

Mr Sheene furniture polish is good on plastics / screens, but make sure you use a clean soft cloth, the Mr Sheene wipes are pretty good to for this.

Autosol is you have a shiney exhaust pipe fetish, but dont use on titanium exhausts, just give those a wipe over with WD40

You might find a brush or a wash mit useful, as is a hosepipe for rinsing off, dont be tempted to use a jet wash, if your not careful you'll blast the grease out of the wheel bearings etc etc.

TBH apart from the chain cleaner / parafin / WD40 I just use the same kit on my bike that I used on my car...

[dafne]

Yeah, I was just thinking that there doesn't really appear to be much stuff that I haven't already got for the car. Less money to spend, woo!

[Dave20046]

checkout lidl for w5 engine cleaner if you're passing.

[yorkie_chris]

Engine oil for topups and general use.
GT85
Black moly grease. (or use the GT85)
Lithium grease (LM = lithium multipurpose)
Brake fluid (DOT4)
Plusgas /3 in 1 oil/duck oil
Copperslip
Brake + clutch cleaner
Some coolant.
Silicon grease.

There's more, but it depends what you want to do! Most people couldn't justify more than GT85 and engine oil.

[kwak zzr]

Car Shampoo for plastics / bodywork general cleaning

Muc Off or something similar for the grimy bits, engine, wheels etc

Chain cleaner or parafin for the chain, you'll need a toothbrush / paint brush / old rag for this as well

WD40 is good for getting grime / oil off to, particularly on grimy back wheels

Mr Sheene furniture polish is good on plastics / screens, but make sure you use a clean soft cloth, the Mr Sheene wipes are pretty good to for this.

Autosol is you have a shiney exhaust pipe fetish, but dont use on titanium exhausts, just give those a wipe over with WD40

You might find a brush or a wash mit useful, as is a hosepipe for rinsing off, dont be tempted to use a jet wash, if your not careful you'll blast the grease out of the wheel bearings etc etc.

TBH apart from the chain cleaner / parafin / WD40 I just use the same kit on my bike that I used on my car...


what fizz said but my main two are WD40 and Mr Sheen.

[Thingus]

WD40 and 25 j cloths.

[seedy100]

The only thing that I would add is that I bought an insecticide sprayer from a local garden centre. It is a back pack type thing, that is pressurised with a built in hand pump. I find it ideal for cleaning off salt and assorted road muck in the winter.

Using this i dont have to get my hands wet and can wash down very quickly even when its too cold to risk leaving the outside taps operating.

[rictus01]

Before you go spending money of this or that cleaner it's more important to keep it working properly.

So as Chris said, top up oil (10/40 semi), chain lube (keep it lubed at all times), if using spray stuff then every 250-450 miles, dependent on weather conditions you've been riding in*.

Penetrating oil for cables, grease for bolts/lever pivots.

After you've made sure it'll actually work properly then you can use as much riding time as you like rubbing bit's with anything you like.




* get a scottoiler, set to minimum and fill every 1,000 miles with used engine oil, job done.

Cheers Mark.

[Paul the 6th]

Before you go spending money of this or that cleaner it's more important to keep it working properly.

So as Chris said, top up oil (10/40 semi), chain lube (keep it lubed at all times), if using spray stuff then every 250-450 miles, dependent on weather conditions you've been riding in*.

Penetrating oil for cables, grease for bolts/lever pivots.

After you've made sure it'll actually work properly then you can use as much riding time as you like rubbing bit's with anything you like.




* get a scottoiler, set to minimum and fill every 1,000 miles with used engine oil, job done.

Cheers Mark.


Just bought a scottoiler off girth & yet to fit, but can you really use old engine oil? :)

[rictus01]

Just bought a scottoiler off girth & yet to fit, but can you really use old engine oil? :)

well I have for over 600,000 miles, my last SV chain lasted 54,000 miles, Of course if you like the pretty red or blue scott oil feel free......;)

Cheers Mark.

[Bibio]

Aldi microfiber cloths the 2 in a pack ones they come in yellow, blue and green. they are cheep. use once for polishing then bin. if they fall on floor while polishing bin it and use a fresh one. car washing sponges cut in half, again if they fall on the floor while washing bike bin it and use a fresh one. even the smallest piece of grit will scratch your beloved paint work.

polish of your choice, MER, Autoglym, Simoniz what ever you like.

and as YC mentioned oil and grease. my favourite of all greases for day to day use is white spray grease, use on all pivot areas after washing bike e.g. brake and clutch levers, gear leaver etc etc.