cleaning my bike - SV650.org

18-12-06, 08:35 AM

I washed my bike on Saturday using one of those hand held jet washers at a petrol station. I rode almost 100 miles that day so the engine was pretty hot and when I spayed it with water it was steaming like ... well, like a steam engine. My questions are:

1) Am I OK to wash the bike immediately after a run?
2) Can I jet wash all the bike (chain, engine etc.) or are there any parts I should avoid?
3) What should I use after the bike dries? Some people recommended WD40 but surely there must be something better than that?
4) How often do you wash your bike in winter?

Cheers for advice.

fizzwheel · 18-12-06, 08:42 AM

I dont like using a jet wash. I prefer to hand wash, but if I was using a Jet Wash I'd be keeping it away from the chain, brake calipers, electrics and wheel bearings. If it were me I'd let it cool down before I washed it, I dont know if it would do any damage, but spraying cold water onto a hot metal surface is probably not the best idea.

At this time of year you IMHO want to be washing as often as possible. Especially if its salty on the roads. WD40 is a good start, however there are better products, Look at the Scotoiler FS365 spray but this is water soluable so needs regular application. Best bet is ACF-50 which once you've sprayed it on wont need reapplying and once its on there I think the general consensus is not to wash your bike again till winter has gone.

Chains are specially vulnerable at this time of year so make sure you keep it lubed.

23-12-06, 09:04 PM

Yep that's what i did. Gave it a good wash at the start of November, covered in in acf50, and now I'm gonna leave it till March. It looks filthy now, but after a good wash in the spring it should be just like new.

TSM · 23-12-06, 09:09 PM

Pah, reminds me that i have to get the ACF50 out and coat my bike. Its not been cleaned since the summer. It will also get its full length belly pan put on to give a little protection from spray. While i am at it why dont i add all the fairing back on...

23-12-06, 10:03 PM

I wouldnt touch a bike with a jet wash personaly.... theres not many parts on it that a Jet wash wont make a mess of.. most reasons Fizz has stated really, but Id keep the jet wash off the engine as well.... theres gaskets everywhere, and they aint designed for a jet of water to be sprayed at them at umpteen hundred Psi... plus, with teh SV's paint quality on the engine, all you need is one bit of paint flaking... and you'll end up taking most of it off.... all a jet wash will do is force water into parts it wasnt meant to go.... so if you are going to use one, use it as little as possible on a bike, dont spray it at the radiator at anything less than head on.. or you'll bend the fins all over the place....

23-12-06, 10:10 PM

i have always jet washed off road bikes......BUT after reading peeps advice on here dont use it on the SV

23-12-06, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valleyboy

I wouldnt touch a bike with a jet wash personaly.... theres not many parts on it that a Jet wash wont make a mess of.. most reasons Fizz has stated really, but Id keep the jet wash off the engine as well.... theres gaskets everywhere, and they aint designed for a jet of water to be sprayed at them at umpteen hundred Psi... plus, with teh SV's paint quality on the engine, all you need is one bit of paint flaking... and you'll end up taking most of it off.... all a jet wash will do is force water into parts it wasnt meant to go.... so if you are going to use one, use it as little as possible on a bike, dont spray it at the radiator at anything less than head on.. or you'll bend the fins all over the place....

jet washers arnt ment for bikes, too many bearing and switches that shouldnt have water spray'd at a high psi at them, stick to a sponge and wd40 and you cant go far wrong.

23-12-06, 10:28 PM

here here Kwak ZZR - summed it up perfectly

21QUEST · 23-12-06, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banus

here here Kwak ZZR - summed it up perfectly

..and if anyone knows what he is talking about it is Kwak

. ...and valleyboy for that matter. You should hear them compare notes

23-12-06, 10:35 PM

well after a pre-winter prep.

(a good wash, then literally half a can of ACF-50)

i dont wash the bike at all during winter, just let the initial layer of crud act as a barrier against more oncoming crud.

its just cos im lazy to be honest.

18-12-06, 08:35 AM	#1
Dave The Rave Guest Posts: n/a	cleaning my bike I washed my bike on Saturday using one of those hand held jet washers at a petrol station. I rode almost 100 miles that day so the engine was pretty hot and when I spayed it with water it was steaming like ... well, like a steam engine. My questions are: 1) Am I OK to wash the bike immediately after a run? 2) Can I jet wash all the bike (chain, engine etc.) or are there any parts I should avoid? 3) What should I use after the bike dries? Some people recommended WD40 but surely there must be something better than that? 4) How often do you wash your bike in winter? Cheers for advice.

18-12-06, 08:42 AM	#2
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	I dont like using a jet wash. I prefer to hand wash, but if I was using a Jet Wash I'd be keeping it away from the chain, brake calipers, electrics and wheel bearings. If it were me I'd let it cool down before I washed it, I dont know if it would do any damage, but spraying cold water onto a hot metal surface is probably not the best idea. At this time of year you IMHO want to be washing as often as possible. Especially if its salty on the roads. WD40 is a good start, however there are better products, Look at the Scotoiler FS365 spray but this is water soluable so needs regular application. Best bet is ACF-50 which once you've sprayed it on wont need reapplying and once its on there I think the general consensus is not to wash your bike again till winter has gone. Chains are specially vulnerable at this time of year so make sure you keep it lubed. __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

23-12-06, 09:09 PM	#4
TSM The Sick Man Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Peckham.SE.LDN Posts: 4,768	Pah, reminds me that i have to get the ACF50 out and coat my bike. Its not been cleaned since the summer. It will also get its full length belly pan put on to give a little protection from spray. While i am at it why dont i add all the fairing back on... __________________ OTR: KTM 690 Duke R 2015 Full Akro SIDELINE: Kwak ZX636 A1P 2002, Red, R&G's, Yoshi, Double Bubble Screen GONE: Kwak ZX-7R P1, Full Akro, Undertray, Screen GONE: SV650S K2 Very Bruised & Without Fairing, Motovation Frame Sliders, R&G Ally Sprocket Toe Protector, HEL 2 Line Setup, GSXR K1 600 RWU Forks, Barnett Clutch & Springs, Penske 8981 Shock, Gilles Ti Rearsets, Steel Barends, Scottoiler, AFAM Chain & Sprockets, Twin FIAMM Horns, Skidmarx Bellypan, Full Micron Zeta Steel System, Cut down undertay. Forum Problems & Information / Site Suggestions

23-12-06, 10:28 PM	#8
Banus Guest Posts: n/a	pressure wahers bbahhh humbug here here Kwak ZZR - summed it up perfectly

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23-12-06, 09:04 PM	#3
New Leaf Guest Posts: n/a	Yep that's what i did. Gave it a good wash at the start of November, covered in in acf50, and now I'm gonna leave it till March. It looks filthy now, but after a good wash in the spring it should be just like new.

23-12-06, 10:03 PM	#5
valleyboy Guest Posts: n/a	I wouldnt touch a bike with a jet wash personaly.... theres not many parts on it that a Jet wash wont make a mess of.. most reasons Fizz has stated really, but Id keep the jet wash off the engine as well.... theres gaskets everywhere, and they aint designed for a jet of water to be sprayed at them at umpteen hundred Psi... plus, with teh SV's paint quality on the engine, all you need is one bit of paint flaking... and you'll end up taking most of it off.... all a jet wash will do is force water into parts it wasnt meant to go.... so if you are going to use one, use it as little as possible on a bike, dont spray it at the radiator at anything less than head on.. or you'll bend the fins all over the place....

23-12-06, 10:10 PM	#6
hovis Guest Posts: n/a	i have always jet washed off road bikes......BUT after reading peeps advice on here dont use it on the SV

23-12-06, 10:35 PM	#10
Warren Guest Posts: n/a	well after a pre-winter prep. (a good wash, then literally half a can of ACF-50) i dont wash the bike at all during winter, just let the initial layer of crud act as a barrier against more oncoming crud. its just cos im lazy to be honest.