Pampering - SV650.org

Artful · 12-04-11, 04:30 AM

Yes I know, I ask a lot of questions

but its only because Im new to it all.

So....

How often do you all clean your bikes

How do you clean it

What if any polish do you use

Dave

combatfred · 12-04-11, 06:50 AM

How often do you all clean your bikes......... If there is any salt on the road then as soon as I'm home or a mega hose down and wash it the next day.
When I used to ride to work in all weathers I hosed the bike down every night and gave it a good wash at the weekend.
If I've been out and it's been wet then I give it a good hose down, then wash it as soon as I get the time.
If it's been a dry run then I'll lube the chain, give it a hug and put it in the garage.

How do you clean it............. A good hose down. Then wash with a big bucket of hot water, some washing-up liquid and a big sponge.
Then do brake calipers, wheels and tight spots with a brush (from a cheap dustpan & brush set).
Then really good hose down. Then white spirit and a rag to clean up wheels. finally, let it dry outside if possible.

What if any polish do you use........... Polish? You'll be spraying deoderant under the exhaust headers and dabbing a bit of aftershave on the end can next!

G · 12-04-11, 06:56 AM

I always keep it clean. If its looking grubby I clean it. If you leave it it just makes it harder to get the bugs off later.

I use a variety of polishes, keeps the paint nice and swirl free with a good deep shine. No point letting the paint go to **** devaluing the bike. My girlfriends dad swear by pledge furniture polish over most cars polishes.

12-04-11, 07:18 AM

The Daytona is cleaned every time I ride it, but that may just be a rinse with a hose in dry weather and a chamois leather off. My experience of putting dirty or wet bikes away in the garage is not good and I want to keep my Daytona looking new.

Polish I use Autoglym Super Resin and think you can't beat it.

Wheels, engine and frame, WD40 sprayed on a rag. It's the best way to clean chain lube off your rear wheel rim, and shines and protects everything else.

When things like the chain and sprockets get all gummy with old lube or greasy with road grime, I use paraffin, but if you clean the bike every ride it's less of an issue.

It then goes away in the garage with a cover over it.

The XT gets blasted with a pressure washer when it starts dropping too much mud on the garage floor.

12-04-11, 07:46 AM

How often do you all clean your bikes - when I can be bothered - it's a Fenjer thing. (I nearly said it's a girl thing - but thought MBK might lynch me!)

How do you clean it - hose it down, sponge wash with wash and wax or similar. For mucky bits the WD40 on a rag is great, (I actually use old socks that are no good for wearing anymore, they go over your hands and get all the grime off!) I have a scottoiler so that takes care of the chain.

What if any polish do you use - turtle wax car polish stuff. If I'm not polishing it a quick buff with a microfibre cloth after washing does the job and leaves Sydney all shiny!

12-04-11, 08:23 AM

How often do you all clean your bikes -
When its dirty or bug splattered.

How do you clean it -
Hose it down.
Spray with Muck-Off and leave for a few minutes.
Hose it again.
Wool mitt wash with Zymol Natural wash or Chemical Guys - Maxi Suds II.
And like fenjer I have a Scottoiler for the chain.

What if any polish do you use -
Its a secret.

12-04-11, 08:35 AM

How often do you all clean your bikes -
Not as often as I should. I ride every day but I generally clean the bike at the weekend. I used to have a Scottoiler that would cover the bike in grime at times so the weekend clean would be a riot. If it's a grim day I might hose the bike down when I get back from work but not always.

How do you clean it -
Hose it down.
Turtle Wax wash and polish in a bucket of hot water, and then a big sponge. Make the bike super soapy, and the rinse.
I then use a brush from a dustpan and brush to get into the awkward bits like behind the gear change lever, heel plates etc as well as the wheels and then rinse again.
Give it a dry off with a chamois leather.
The gixxer doesn't have a scottoiler so I get some old engine oil on a rag, raise the back of the bike, grab the chain and spin the wheel.

What if any polish do you use -
Mr Sheen and a soft cloth to give it some shine.

13-04-11, 08:43 AM

How often do you all clean your bikes
try to do it when i come back but doesn't always happen!

How do you clean it
Hose down
Muc off
wash mit ( no sponges as they scratch)
hose down
microfibre cloth

brushes and alloy wheel cleaner for wheels and separate mitt for the frame etc (i have no hugger)

What if any polish do you use
Hmm poorboys black hole (nick it from the car), auto glym dark polish, super gloss protection
if i'm being really nice - clayed, polished and high def wax - all autoglym.
Autosol on the exhaust
and supergloss protection on the fairings is great - gives it a nice shine

But that not done every time!!

Artful · 13-04-11, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quedos

What if any polish do you use
Hmm poorboys black hole (nick it from the car), auto glym dark polish, super gloss protection
if i'm being really nice - clayed, polished and high def wax - all autoglym.
Autosol on the exhaust
and supergloss protection on the fairings is great - gives it a nice shine

But that not done every time!!

Now thats Pampering

keith_d · 13-04-11, 01:12 PM

Wash it? That's what happens in September before it's winter coat of ACF. I'd rather spend my time riding it than washing it.

Maintenance, now that's different....

12-04-11, 04:30 AM	#1
Artful Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: The Kingdom of Fife Posts: 278	Pampering Yes I know, I ask a lot of questions but its only because Im new to it all. So.... How often do you all clean your bikes How do you clean it What if any polish do you use Dave

12-04-11, 06:50 AM	#2
combatfred Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Troon, Sunny Scotland Posts: 365	Re: Pampering How often do you all clean your bikes......... If there is any salt on the road then as soon as I'm home or a mega hose down and wash it the next day. When I used to ride to work in all weathers I hosed the bike down every night and gave it a good wash at the weekend. If I've been out and it's been wet then I give it a good hose down, then wash it as soon as I get the time. If it's been a dry run then I'll lube the chain, give it a hug and put it in the garage. How do you clean it............. A good hose down. Then wash with a big bucket of hot water, some washing-up liquid and a big sponge. Then do brake calipers, wheels and tight spots with a brush (from a cheap dustpan & brush set). Then really good hose down. Then white spirit and a rag to clean up wheels. finally, let it dry outside if possible. What if any polish do you use........... Polish? You'll be spraying deoderant under the exhaust headers and dabbing a bit of aftershave on the end can next! __________________ In life people trip, most people fall, but some people turn that trip into a beautiful dance.

12-04-11, 06:56 AM	#3
G Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,770	Re: Pampering I always keep it clean. If its looking grubby I clean it. If you leave it it just makes it harder to get the bugs off later. I use a variety of polishes, keeps the paint nice and swirl free with a good deep shine. No point letting the paint go to **** devaluing the bike. My girlfriends dad swear by pledge furniture polish over most cars polishes. __________________ 6.67300 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2

12-04-11, 07:18 AM	#4
-Ralph- Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pampering The Daytona is cleaned every time I ride it, but that may just be a rinse with a hose in dry weather and a chamois leather off. My experience of putting dirty or wet bikes away in the garage is not good and I want to keep my Daytona looking new. Polish I use Autoglym Super Resin and think you can't beat it. Wheels, engine and frame, WD40 sprayed on a rag. It's the best way to clean chain lube off your rear wheel rim, and shines and protects everything else. When things like the chain and sprockets get all gummy with old lube or greasy with road grime, I use paraffin, but if you clean the bike every ride it's less of an issue. It then goes away in the garage with a cover over it. The XT gets blasted with a pressure washer when it starts dropping too much mud on the garage floor. Last edited by -Ralph-; 12-04-11 at 07:22 AM.

12-04-11, 07:46 AM	#5
fenjer Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pampering How often do you all clean your bikes - when I can be bothered - it's a Fenjer thing. (I nearly said it's a girl thing - but thought MBK might lynch me!) How do you clean it - hose it down, sponge wash with wash and wax or similar. For mucky bits the WD40 on a rag is great, (I actually use old socks that are no good for wearing anymore, they go over your hands and get all the grime off!) I have a scottoiler so that takes care of the chain. What if any polish do you use - turtle wax car polish stuff. If I'm not polishing it a quick buff with a microfibre cloth after washing does the job and leaves Sydney all shiny!

12-04-11, 08:23 AM	#6
The Guru Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pampering How often do you all clean your bikes - When its dirty or bug splattered. How do you clean it - Hose it down. Spray with Muck-Off and leave for a few minutes. Hose it again. Wool mitt wash with Zymol Natural wash or Chemical Guys - Maxi Suds II. And like fenjer I have a Scottoiler for the chain. What if any polish do you use - Its a secret.

12-04-11, 08:35 AM	#7
WeegieBlue Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pampering How often do you all clean your bikes - Not as often as I should. I ride every day but I generally clean the bike at the weekend. I used to have a Scottoiler that would cover the bike in grime at times so the weekend clean would be a riot. If it's a grim day I might hose the bike down when I get back from work but not always. How do you clean it - Hose it down. Turtle Wax wash and polish in a bucket of hot water, and then a big sponge. Make the bike super soapy, and the rinse. I then use a brush from a dustpan and brush to get into the awkward bits like behind the gear change lever, heel plates etc as well as the wheels and then rinse again. Give it a dry off with a chamois leather. The gixxer doesn't have a scottoiler so I get some old engine oil on a rag, raise the back of the bike, grab the chain and spin the wheel. What if any polish do you use - Mr Sheen and a soft cloth to give it some shine.

13-04-11, 08:43 AM	#8
Quedos Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pampering How often do you all clean your bikes try to do it when i come back but doesn't always happen! How do you clean it Hose down Muc off wash mit ( no sponges as they scratch) hose down microfibre cloth brushes and alloy wheel cleaner for wheels and separate mitt for the frame etc (i have no hugger) What if any polish do you use Hmm poorboys black hole (nick it from the car), auto glym dark polish, super gloss protection if i'm being really nice - clayed, polished and high def wax - all autoglym. Autosol on the exhaust and supergloss protection on the fairings is great - gives it a nice shine But that not done every time!!

13-04-11, 01:12 PM	#10
keith_d Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ruislip Posts: 1,131	Re: Pampering Wash it? That's what happens in September before it's winter coat of ACF. I'd rather spend my time riding it than washing it. Maintenance, now that's different....