[OpenRoad]

Just a thread to discuss how you maintain your bike and give it a good wash when needed.

Mine is a simply process, just liquid detergent and a sponge with a hose. Though I do have more than one sponge so the tire sponge isn't shared with the body one.

The chain takes more time as I do sometimes go over it with a brush before lubing it. Then it's off on a ride to dry the whole thing off.

 

[Cruze]

I've often heard a lot of times people mention to clean and lube the chain separately from when you're washing the bike.

But standard washing procedure as well, doesn't really change. Little hog hair brush to get into crevices and a microfiber wash mitt for the rest.

 

[flatrack]

Or sixty miles an hour in the rain...

 

[eddie]

Washed mine just this morning. Put it up on a frame lift. Soaped with Meguire's car wash soap and a fluffy wash mitt before rinsing.
Then I blew most of the water away with a small leaf blower-like cycle dryer.
Lastly, I gave it a toweling for the leftovers, lubed the kickstand and clutch cable and called it done.
Note: DuPont Teflon general purpose lube does NOT feel good when accidentally sprayed in an eye. I must've used 5 gallons from the hose to rinse it clear again.

 

[Cruze]

...... Ouch :|

I think I'll take your word for that one and not try to find out the hard way... @eddie

 

[OpenRoad]

How...how did you get it in your eye? Can't even imagine how much that must have burned. :surprise:

I don't have a leaf blower to dry the bike off with, most I've got is my housemate's hair dryer so riding around is the best option for me. And I would plug your exhaust too.

 

[Cruze]

I've always been really picky about that but then I've seen other people throwing freaking un-popped popcorn down into their exhaust pipes along with a whole bunch of other garbage so I mean... does it really matter all that much?!

 

[eddie]

How...how did you get it in your eye? Can't even imagine how much that must have burned. :surprise:

I don't have a leaf blower to dry the bike off with, most I've got is my housemate's hair dryer so riding around is the best option for me. And I would plug your exhaust too.

I had the little red straw attached to the can nozzle to direct the spray into the kick stand pivot. The end of the straw must've pointed at a "dead end" and the result was the liquid doing a 180 degree turn right back at me. Yea. Ow. =(

I bought a little leaf blower type bike dryer at a Harley shop about 12 years ago and it's still going strong.
If I remember right, it was not very expensive.
Vs. an actual leaf blower, it works "okay". The nozzle is a soft rubber, though and not hard plastic. That way it doesn't scratch paint if you accidentally contact the bike with it.

 

[OpenRoad]

I was imagining something along these lines.

Bu the most important thing to do after a good wash is chain care. a friend of mine rode around with a rusted chain, no idea why, and the thing snapped while he was riding. Luckily for him, it didn't take his leg off when that happened and he didn't low side, but we all learned a lesson from him.

 

[Cruze]

A lot of people definitely use those huge leaf blowers and they're pretty darn good. Or you could spend a lot of unnecessary money and buy a Metro Blower thing. They're expensive :|

 

[OpenRoad]

Nah, not going to invest in a leaf blower when a hairdryer works just as well, the new ones these days are actually pretty powerful.

I did recently read that car people use a two bucket method, though I don't think it's really necessary for the SCR950. Maybe wrapping it for easy washing would help.

 

[Cruze]

Hair dryers don't really have enough air pressure to blow air off. Primarily you're not trying to dry the water on the bike, but trying to push the water off of it with the air, if it's heated air, it definitely helps, but it isn't necessary.

The two-bucket method does also work with bikes that are really dirty but I mean.. not necessary at all. You could foam gun too though

 

[TheScrambled]

What's the most painful part is getting those bug corpses off the body, windshield, helemt. those suicidal little guys splatter and then dry on you ride before you get home and wipe them off.

 

[Cruze]

Oh heavens, bug splatters are the worst and their guts are acidic so it really etches the paint if you leave it on for long enough. What do you guys typically use to remove them as they can really be stuckkkk on there.

 

[eddie]

Oh heavens, bug splatters are the worst and their guts are acidic so it really etches the paint if you leave it on for long enough. What do you guys typically use to remove them as they can really be stuckkkk on there.

I try and soak them with a spray bottle of water for a short time right after a ride & wipe them off with either a micro fiber cloth or a clean cotton towel. For added ease of removal, I try & keep the paint waxed - Google Hollander UV2 waxes - and occasionally a touch up with something like Honda Spray Polish and Cleaner.
Plastic & rubber parts like the mirrors and fork boots get some sort of silicone protectant. Hollander makes one of those, too. Why that brand? We sold it at the shop and it really does work well.

 

[OpenRoad]

I'll keep a note of Hollander. Those little splatters are a pain to clean, especially if you miss one and it decides to dry and cake itself to the fairing...fun scrubbing times ahead. Even worse if it's a large butterfly on the helmet, those splatters makes me pull over for an emergency wipe they're so large...

 

[XB12X]

Just a thread to discuss how you maintain your bike and give it a good wash when needed.

Mine is a simply process, just liquid detergent and a sponge with a hose. Though I do have more than one sponge so the tire sponge isn't shared with the body one.

The chain takes more time as I do sometimes go over it with a brush before lubing it. Then it's off on a ride to dry the whole thing off.

Don't use washing-up liquid if that's what you mean by detergent. Often there is salt in it, and it dulls the paint.

 

[SCRBen]

Don't use washing-up liquid if that's what you mean by detergent. Often there is salt in it, and it dulls the paint.

Bloke I used to work with used to wash his Ducati 999, of all things, with Fairy Liquid. What a tool......

Best advice I can give - 2 buckets to wash the bike (1 with soap, one to rinse), and get one of those bike dryers - you will not believe all the water you get out of the nooks and crannies (cylinder fins, for example) that you’d just never shift otherwise.
Ben

 

[XB12X]

SCRBen, what part of Yorkshire are you from? I originate from Skipton.

 

[SCRBen]

SCRBen, what part of Yorkshire are you from? I originate from Skipton.

Yeah?! Ha ha. Small world. I live in Wakefield now, but originate from Nottingham (moved up here with the missus). Frequently go past/via Skipton when heading up north riding, Kirby Lonsdale, the Lakes etc.
Ben