Spring Cleaning, did the ACF50 work?

[mac99]

Last October I washed the bike and gave it a liberal dose of ACF50 . It's been ridden about 5000 miles through the winter since then and not touched, apart from wiping the lights. Until today.

I thought I'd take some before and after shots as a record of how finish stood up. That was the plan...

Overall, it didn't look that dirty, it seemed to get to a certain level and then stay there.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/bmPiccys/dirtyside.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/bmPiccys/dirtyfront.jpg

The shock would be the interesting bit, it was caked in filth.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/bmPiccys/dirtyshock.jpg

FIVE BLOODY HOURS LATER , and it's still not anything like you'd call clean. It's a bit cleaner, but still, considering how knackered I feel, I'm not impressed.

I ended up taking off the exhausts, wheel, chain guard and hugger, as when I was trying to clean the chain it was massively gritty. This was due to the huge build up on the chain run where it goes along the top of the swingarm to the front sprocket.

Looks better like this I think.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/bmPiccys/no_exhaust.jpg


Overall, the finish stood up really well. A few fasteners are a bit white & fluffy, but they weren't stuck at all. I reckon I should have given it another spray halfway through winter. But ACF50 does what it says on the tin. Northwind's enthusiastic recommendation of the stuff seems justified. :)

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/bmPiccys/cleanshock.jpg

It's still got its exhausts and plastic bits off at the moment. I'll fit them back on tomorrow when I've regained my strength. Maybe also wipe a cloth over all the bits I missed.

[andyaikido]

It seems to have done the trick. Much better than washing it with cold water every night when it's freezing cold and raining.

I had the same plan with my SV but never got the chance to wash it.

[Fizzy Fish]

FIVE BLOODY HOURS LATER , and it's still not anything like you'd call clean. It's a bit cleaner, but still, considering how knackered I feel, I'm not impressed.


That's my experience of cleaning bikes too! i reckon the optimum time spent is 40 mins - looks good at a glance and you don't expect perfection!

[TSM]

That's my experience of cleaning bikes too! i reckon the optimum time spent is 40 mins - looks good at a glance and you don't expect perfection!

Naa, last time my SV was cleaned was because someone said it was dirty and that i should clean it, i said he could if he wanted and he did. Heh was a good option, but if it was me i would not bother, less nickable if its not shiny.

[wyrdness]

That's my experience of cleaning bikes too! i reckon the optimum time spent is 40 mins - looks good at a glance and you don't expect perfection!


I did the same with my Speed Triple - coated it in ACF-50 before the winter, then spent hours cleaning it over the last few days. It's come up pretty well, considering that it's been ridden daily though two winters and in all weather conditions. A neighbour said that it looks like new. It doesn't to my eyes, but I've spent hours inspecting it at close range. The rear shock is the worst thing as I didn't have a hugger on the first winter.

[the white rabbit]

They always look brand new until the first big trip or first winter. Then thye look new to others eyes but you know all the crappy bits. The dif in mine from the first and second winter tart-ups was quite remarkable. Still ok, but you know.