Cleaning: A Controversial Subject

This is probably quite a highly debatable topic.

I have a new SV650 S Sport and would like to keep it top notch condition, as it is a work horse, in use 7 days a week.

Any tips and pointers appreciated...

How often do you clean your bike [ daily | weekly | monthly | never ] ?

What part(s) do you concentrate on most ?

What do you clean it with [ bucket and sponge | pressure washer ] ?

Where do you clean your bike [ home | garage ] ?

Originally Posted by nikon70

This is probably quite a highly debatable topic.

I have a new SV650 S Sport and would like to keep it top notch condition, as it is a work horse, in use 7 days a week.

Any tips and pointers appreciated...

How often do you clean your bike [ daily | weekly | monthly | never ] ?

What part(s) do you concentrate on most ? Bodywork, engine, wheels, metalwork.

What do you clean it with [ bucket and sponge | pressure washer ] ?

Where do you clean your bike [ home | garage ] ?

I've always cleaned mine every 3/4 weeks. Buy a god bike wash. I use Holts which is good. I also finish by using a polish.

I also give all the metal work a good once over with some ACF-50 to prevent any rust. Not a spot of rust on my 11 year old bike .

[yorkie_chris]

You won't keep it in top notch condition, at some point you won't be *rsed and it will rust.
Slather it in ACF50, make sure it's well serviced and leave it. It will look a dog but last forever.

And don't put a pressure washer anywhere near it, it'll wash water into all the electrics and wash all the grease out of anything that needs it.

[cbay]

I always wash mine down as soon as I get back from a weekend ride usually.

** Don't ever take a pressure washer near your bike **

I rinse the bike down first, spray a little Doc90 on it in certain places and then wash down from a bucket... then rinse it again..

I tend to dry it all and then sometimes use the Autoglym Wet n Dry Spray Polish which is pretty good! Either that or take some nice polish to it and take a little extra time with it!

I use my bike alot (Business Class 1) and it is in very good condition!! Just look after it and if you come back from a Wet Ride then try to dry the bike even if you dont have time or can't wash it..

Washed when needed or I can be bothered. Washed it Sunday, filthy again now. I do prefer to ride mine than clean it.

[Drew Carey]

1. Rinse crud
2. Spray on Fenwicks bike cleaner / SDoc100 - leave bike for 2/3 minutes.
3. Use sponge to work cleaner into all areas - leave for 5/10 minutes and have a coffee to warm yourself up.
4. Rince down bike
5. Dry bike with chamois etc
6. Use WD40 / Baby Oil on a rag and wipe clean all metal parts on show, protects and gives a nice shine.
7. Get Autosol and paste all end can.
8. Use bar keepers friend on Down pipe (for instructions search on org for posts by Dizzyblond)
9. Get polish - lightly apply onto all body work.
10. Polish now dried end can until shiny.
11. Polish all plastics until shiny.
12. Ensure all shiny bits shiny and wheels shiny etc.....else use more wd-40/ Baby oil until happy.
13. Sit back.....and smile.

I would do this every 2-3 weeks in summer.....just cause I loved a nice gleaming bike on sunny day.

In winter - I would do the Yorkie Chris approach. Full winter clean, cover in ACF-50 and leave the crud to build up. Just keep an eye on the bike, if there is sign of major salt attack.....then clean and re-do ACF-50.

As others have said - don't let a pressure washer near it.

I really would like to clean mines but it is cold and I don't like the cold. Yes, I am a girl.

Originally Posted by nikon70

This is probably quite a highly debatable topic.

I have a new SV650 S Sport and would like to keep it top notch condition, as it is a work horse, in use 7 days a week.

Any tips and pointers appreciated...

1. How often do you clean your bike [ daily | weekly | monthly | never ] ?

2. What part(s) do you concentrate on most ?

3. What do you clean it with [ bucket and sponge | pressure washer ] ?

4. Where do you clean your bike [ home | garage ] ?

1. Summer, anywhere between weekly and monthly. Winter preferably never, let the autumn crap cling to it in hope that the salt wont carrode the metal work .

2. Whole thing, pretty much ignore the wheels tbh.

3. Use jetwash(soapy brush attachement not lance) then rinse to get the built up stuff off. Then a hefty spray of patio or oven cleaner, and leave for 20mins. Rinse properly and wipe the plastics. Then if Im feeling perticularly homosexual I'll wax it other wise it just gets a few blasts of Holts on the moving parts, Chain Lube and Brake Cleaner.

4. Home dumbass - thats where the kettle is!

[embee]

ACF50 is the stuff to use for protection, it just works. Keep away from brakes etc as usual. People use it for protecting electrical connectors etc pretty effectively too.

If you're going to be using teh bike all year it'd be worth going for the 1L bottle with squirty spray rather than aerosol, around £30 ish for the litre if you hunt around (try the ACF50 website and look at the list of stockists, sometimes good value).

Originally Posted by nikon70

This is probably quite a highly debatable topic.

I have a new SV650 S Sport and would like to keep it top notch condition, as it is a work horse, in use 7 days a week.

Any tips and pointers appreciated...

How often do you clean your bike [ daily | weekly | monthly | never ] ?

What part(s) do you concentrate on most ?
exaust ,side fairing ,barends

What do you clean it with [ bucket and sponge | pressure washer ] ? tarmac

Where do you clean your bike [ home | garage ] ?
so far a34 ,a732 ,raf leeming, watling st road

do this twice a year replacing bike every year, nice and shiney new bike for the forthcoming season