Cleaning the bike and general maintenance...

Everning,

I am sorry to ask what probably seems a simple thing, but as a new bike bike owner/rider I have no clue and want to ask.

I covered up the bike tonight and decided that with all the rain etc that the bike needs a good clean and general maintenace.

What's the best stuff to clean your bike? Can I use washing up liquid or would you use something else?

After cleaning what is the best way to lubicate the bike to stop her rusting?

I am sorry to ask this but I want some honest help for this newbie rider?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Rich

Originally Posted by rwoodcock01

What's the best stuff to clean your bike? Can I use washing up liquid or would you use something else?

Never, ever, use washing up liquid. It's full of phosphates (I think) and leaves smears which are an absolute bugger to remove. Unless you have some thick greasy muck to remove, just wash with car shampoo. Even Autoglym bike cleaner leaves streaks, even though it does cut through grease well.

use dedicated car or motorcycle shampoo for the general areas.

washing up liquid contains salt which will eat into your bike - so thats a no no.

wd40 i use for the caked on stuff and oil.

brake cleaner for brake discs and calipars.

i finnish off with some mr sheen household polish for my plastics, autogylm for the metalwork (it is abrasive so dont use it on any painted metal - instead use the next product that i am about to mention)

autoglym for the painted metals.

ensure you dont get any soap or wd40 on brake components.

ensure your chain is well lubed afterwards.

as for prevention - lots of people recommend WD40 - but it hasnt done much to stop a few suspect bolts from corroding - so i use grease - but havent tried it out over a winter yet.

northwind uses AF50 or something. its supposed to be pretty damn good for keeping salt and road crud off.

hope this helps

[fizzwheel]

Its a little pricey but I use "Muc off" you can get it from halfords its great stuff IMHO for cleaning crud off your bike.

I've also found that the Auto Glym Motorcycle degreaser is top stuff to.

I've also got one of those garden spray pesticide sprayers that I use to rinse it off with, its better than a hose or pressure washer as the water isnt pushed out with such a high force, best to keep it away from the wheel bearings though.

WD40 is good for covering your bike ( apart from brakes with ) in the winter, Scotoiler also do a product that will stop the rust getting at it called FS365 ( I think thats what its called ) although after having tried both I personally dont think the FS365 is any better than WD40.

As others have said Mr Sheene really does make your plastics come up nice a shiney, again dont get it on the brake discs.

I think the key with it is to do it regularly and often and then that should keep your SV nice and tidy.

HTH

wel what i do is if its been raining i just spray my bike over with water to get all the salt off and all the "acid rain" marks away and then whip it in the garage for a quick dry.. but this is mainly for winter should be a lot easyer in the summer

but a good tip is dont let the grease get thire! wash it frequently and itl b a lot easyer

Muc off is great stuff and you dont need to use that much so cost wise its not bad

Many thanks for the feed back folks.

I will be going to a bike shop round the corner to work and picking up some Muc off and treating the bike to a good wash tomorrow.

Again, thanks folks. There is something of a rather nice feeling spending Saturday cleaning up the bike.

Cheers

Rich

plexus is great for the plastics]

http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/plexus.html

[Spiderman]

after following all the above advice when the bikes wet what i norrmally do is take it for a slow spin round the block. Helps dry it off and puts a little heat in the chain to dry that too.
Go easy on the brakes and test them before you set off.

Then when i'm back i give the chain a good lube. Bit of wd40 on the clutch and brake pivot points too.

Easy

[ophic]

rear brake and gear lever can get lots of crud on them and become very stiff. My dealer advises not to use WD40 on the joints - something to do with the fact that it blatantly doesn't work that well (as i discovered). Better to use normal sump oil.