Cleaning bike/helmet/leathers, what to use?

[Foot]

Hello! I am new here - go easy!

I have made stupid mistakes in the past, worst being on my old GPZ500. I used a castrol bike cleaning fluid on it, left it for about five minutes
and when I came back to clean it off the paint had dulled quite a lot :smt093
And my latest stupid stupid mistake, I was a little too rigorous cleaning my pinlock visor insert. I used kitchen roll and cold water and now I have
a bit right in the middle scratched up, nothing too bad but when at traffic lights etc. I notice it and it's damn annoying - just bought the thing! And it's
not like a normal scratch.. because of how close it is it looks like a big bit of grease :smt105 So after a quick read I should've left it to dry naturally.
Anyway, I'm bound to make another mistake so I would like to know everyone's routine - and what products you use if any.
Or maybe you wait for a rainy day?

How frequently do you wash the really dirty bits on your bike? (Not just cleaning the front or the tank, but bits around the swingarm and of the like)
Chain?
Do you bother with getting your leathers cleaned?
Cleaning your helmet?


Thank you for any replies :cool:

[Littlepeahead]

Kitchen roll is made of quite rough wood pulp and it's like rubbing sawdust onto soft plastic. I once saw a colleague about to use kitchen roll on the front lens of our expensive work camera which would have ruined it! Same goes for your glasses or sunglasses. Steer clear of loo roll, kitchen paper and tissues. A soft cloth from the opticians is a good idea though.

For the front of your visor I really like the V sponge. No special products required, just a bit of water.

http://v2sponges.com/

Cleaning the bike? Pah, I have a GS, it's meant to look muddy! Aside from the chain if it really needs a clean I give the nephews this stuff and some brushes and a promise of pocket money.

http://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/product/sdoc100-power-gel-total-motorcycle-cleaner/2861/utm_source=google&utm_medium=merch&utm_campaign=feed?gclid=Cj0KEQjw0POdBRCq3arGgYD05p MBEiQAmiUeTnWJTSKKwTPBXwHKvlgUqTvjOTfWfn5M3l9KK_YT 9PwaAtKK8P8HAQ

I have Hideout leathers and this is the stuff they recommend though I'm currently using the Furygan equivalent which I bought from them http://www.hideout-leather.co.uk/motorcycle-clothing-accessories/mustang-liquid-leather-cleaner

[Pricey12]

As for cleaning the bike, I use whatever bike cleaner I have to hand (usually Castrol, but have recently ordered some Muc off). I swear by paraffin for chain cleaning and general decreasing. The best thing for giving leathers a quick clean is baby wipes (seriously!)

[NTECUK]

Clean my bike once a fortnight.
Lots of good shampoo specific for paint and all seam as much as a muchness. Deamon was going cheap last time I bought some.
Don't use a jetwash and force dirt into the bearings and bushes. Jetwashes are good as long as you go sensible with them. I

[Bibio]

low/no caustic TFR and a low pressure jet wash, life's to short.

i use a pump spray with the diluted TFR then a cut in half car sponge to get the nasty stuff off then jet wash down. top tip: if you drop the sponge on the ground throw it straight in the bin then get another one.

[sniff]

On my visor I use a wet sheet of kitchen roll lay it on and leave it for a few minutes. Then clean off with a micro fibre cloth.
bike cleaning I use turtle wax car cleaner with a mitt. Jet washed from about 10 foot away so you don't get any water in where you don't need it. wipe dry with a chammy leather.

Don't bother to clean my leather as it will only get dirty again as soon as I wear them

[NTECUK]

MCN guide is a reasonable starting point http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults/general-news/2013/may/may2213-the-rules-cleaning-your-bike/
But like most things gospel it ant
Leathers I use baby oil oh er missus.
Lid use wet wipes. And lay a wetted one on the visor to free up the bugs finish off the outside with a coat of Rain X. Even on the kbc iridium visor (I did check that it wouldn't react with the coating before doing it to the part you look trough.
Inside use diluted washin up liquid and the cloth that came with my glasses.

[maviczap]

Hello! I am new here - go easy!

And my latest stupid stupid mistake, I was a little too rigorous cleaning my pinlock visor insert. I used kitchen roll and cold water and now I have
a bit right in the middle scratched up, nothing too bad but when at traffic lights etc. I notice it and it's damn annoying - just bought the thing! And it's
not like a normal scratch.. because of how close it is it looks like a big bit of grease :smt105 So after a quick read I should've left it to dry naturally.
Anyway, I'm bound to make another mistake so I would like to know everyone's routine - and what products you use if any.
Or maybe you wait for a rainy day?

I take my visor off and run it under the tap to wash off and loosen any dirt. Then I get a couple of drops off washing up liquid and rub that on the outside of the visor using just my fingers, then rinse the visor. Flick any excess water off & allow to dry.

I've never cleaned the pinlock insert, it shouldn't need to be cleaned? But as above & let it dry off the visor.


Cleaning your helmet?


Sorry that's far too personal :p


Kitchen roll is made of quite rough wood pulp and it's like rubbing sawdust onto soft plastic. I once saw a colleague about to use kitchen roll on the front lens of our expensive work camera which would have ruined it! Same goes for your glasses or sunglasses. Steer clear of loo roll, kitchen paper and tissues. A soft cloth from the opticians is a good idea though.

For the front of your visor I really like the V sponge. No special products required, just a bit of water.

http://v2sponges.com/

]

Yep, kitchen roll is a no no.

V sponges are great, but if you have an Aldi near you, buy some of these sponges. Same material as the V sponge, but only £1.69.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-1st-may/product-detail/ps/p/eraser-sponge-pads-1/

[Foot]

V sponge / Aldi's finest it is then!


I've never cleaned the pinlock insert, it shouldn't need to be cleaned? But as above & let it dry off the visor.


Cleaning your helmet?


Sorry that's far too personal :razz:


There was dirt on the insert.. I'm sure there was..:^o
Nothings too personal on here, share your techniques :thumbsup:


When cleaning the chain something like paraffin and get down there with an old tooth brush? Do you then need to wash
off the paraffin with water and then wait for it to dry before lubing it again?

[maviczap]

V sponge / Aldi's finest it is then!



There was dirt on the insert.. I'm sure there was..:^o
Nothings too personal on here, share your techniques :thumbsup:


When cleaning the chain something like paraffin and get down there with an old tooth brush? Do you then need to wash
off the paraffin with water and then wait for it to dry before lubing it again?

Nah, just wipe it down. You can use WD4 or GT85 to clean the chain, but more expensive than parafin

[LewSpeight]

Might be a stupid question, but where are you all getting paraffin from?
Or will going down to the petrol stn for some diesel be a better option?

[Pricey12]

Might be a stupid question, but where are you all getting paraffin from?
Or will going down to the petrol stn for some diesel be a better option?

B&Q sell it in big four or five litre bottles for a few quid. People use it in patio heaters.

[LewSpeight]

Just what I was after, thanks

[NTECUK]

Just what I was after, thanks
Customers must be over 21 to purchase. :smt096
Try not to let it get in the drains

[Creaky]

I have a 2001 curvy and try to keep water off my bike other than rain so usually use autoglym super resin polish on all the paintwork, alloy and wheels but turn the cloth frequently to avoid grit turning it into a rubbing pad. I buy packs of microfibre cloths from ebay and once used for polish then downgrade them to oily wipers. Solvol autosol works fine on the stainless exhaust with the occasional use of emery paper and steel wool to remove any discolouring first.

GT85 I spray over the fork tops, wiring connectors and pipework, controls etc. to lube and protect and wipe it carefully over the brake calipers, but not the pads or discs!

I lube the chain with Castrol racing lube and/ or chain wax and 3 in 1 oil.

I spray chain wax over the suspension linkages and under engine parts to protect.

I may wipe the tyres over with a damp cloth if they're muddy at the sides.

I have a HJC helmet with pinlock. The helmet liner can be removed and put in the washing machine. The helmet shell can be waxed with autoglym according to the owners manual which works fine. The visor I place into a sink of warm water with fairy liquid and separate the pinlock once it's warmed up and more flexible. I use a microfibre again on the visor and pinlock but only whilst under the water then I rinse in clear cold water. The visor can be polished with a dry microfibre but the pinlock I air dry before putting it back together.

For my leathers I wipe with a damp microfibre to clean and then sponge lightly with Renapur leather balm to feed and proof.

Hope this helps!

[Foot]

I have a 2001 curvy and try to keep water off my bike other than rain so usually use autoglym super resin polish on all the paintwork, alloy and wheels but turn the cloth frequently to avoid grit turning it into a rubbing pad. I buy packs of microfibre cloths from ebay and once used for polish then downgrade them to oily wipers. Solvol autosol works fine on the stainless exhaust with the occasional use of emery paper and steel wool to remove any discolouring first.

GT85 I spray over the fork tops, wiring connectors and pipework, controls etc. to lube and protect and wipe it carefully over the brake calipers, but not the pads or discs!

I lube the chain with Castrol racing lube and/ or chain wax and 3 in 1 oil.

I spray chain wax over the suspension linkages and under engine parts to protect.

I may wipe the tyres over with a damp cloth if they're muddy at the sides.

I have a HJC helmet with pinlock. The helmet liner can be removed and put in the washing machine. The helmet shell can be waxed with autoglym according to the owners manual which works fine. The visor I place into a sink of warm water with fairy liquid and separate the pinlock once it's warmed up and more flexible. I use a microfibre again on the visor and pinlock but only whilst under the water then I rinse in clear cold water. The visor can be polished with a dry microfibre but the pinlock I air dry before putting it back together.

For my leathers I wipe with a damp microfibre to clean and then sponge lightly with Renapur leather balm to feed and proof.

Hope this helps!

Great help, thanks. Now that I know how to clean my gear properly, I just need to get used to the ridiculous number of speed cameras in Manchester and I'll be laughing :rave: ....not that that's laughing..

[Pricey12]

The helmet shell can be waxed with autoglym according to the owners manual which works fine.

You wax your helmet? (ahem)

[maviczap]

Nothing better than a slippery helmet :)

[Creaky]

You wax your helmet? (ahem)

Always my last job :D

[a_monkey_hint]

Washing the bike, using two buckets. One with your shampoo, the other with warm water. Wash the bike using the shampoo bucket, then rinse the mitt with the warm water, then back to the shampoo bucket.

This stops any grit in your mitt from going into your clean shampoo bucket and being re-spread over your bike/car.

Visor/hemet/leathers - baby wipes.

[shiftin_gear98]

Creaky, after that lot you are anything but Creaky, you should change your name to Shiny or Spotless.


Really must clean my stuff more often, my jacket used to have white stripes.
Not so white now.
Number of times I've cleaned it in two years...0.

[PyroUK]

What is this "cleaning" you speak of?

My bike spends most of the year looking like it's gone through the Dakar although since moving it's not so bad.

I use vulcanet wipes to clean pretty much all the bike, it's a cleaner and polish in one. You use the wipes to clean and when you are done polish with a microfibre cloth.

Visor I usually take off and run under hot water or soak in hot water depending on sink size to loosen the bugs then use washing liquid or hand soap and fingers for the rest. I then air/drip dry after rinsing off with hot water again.

I am very tempted to get one of those mobile valets to come and give the bike a thorough clean and then ACF50 (????) it as I no longer commute I can make more of an effort to keep her shiny.

[Pricey12]

One word of warning though. If you use paraffin to clean your chain don't use too much as over time it starts to wear the gold coloured coating off your chain (if it's gold, to begin with, obviously). Don't ask me how I know...

[Foot]

After all the talk about paraffin, I think I'll just get this:
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/22977
The lube by itself is usually a tenner so this seems a pretty good deal!

[Pricey12]

After all the talk about paraffin, I think I'll just get this:
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/22977
The lube by itself is usually a tenner so this seems a pretty good deal!

That's pretty good stuff, I've used it myself in the past. Just make sure you put some newspaper or something down when you use it as it makes a bit of a mess.

[Foot]

That's pretty good stuff, I've used it myself in the past. Just make sure you put some newspaper or something down when you use it as it makes a bit of a mess.

Sportsbikeshop now don't deliver any aerosol or oil products by royal mail, so you can't get the free delivery for an order over £25. And courier is £7 delivery.. (unless you spend over £40 I think :s ) So all in all it's no longer a cheaper deal. Unless you wanted to spend over £40 on them. Great.

[Foot]

Sportsbikeshop now don't deliver any aerosol or oil products by royal mail, so you can't get the free delivery for an order over £25. And courier is £7 delivery.. (unless you spend over £40 I think :s ) So all in all it's no longer a cheaper deal. Unless you wanted to spend over £40 on them. Great.

Annddd I'm wrong, although I had to email them to tell them my order was over £25 but I still wasn't getting delivery for free, and they're going to refund me the delivery. Yet again - they really have one of the best customer services. So in a way it's an upgrade, I would've just got 2nd class royal mail, but now I'm getting next day DPD!