tonysal
Full Member
Posts: 134 
Likes: 74
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Post by tonysal on Mar 9, 2017 14:41:00 GMT -7
Hey everyone,
a few weeks back, I got caught in a sudden cloudburst. fyi, the -10 throws a tremendous amount of spray all over your back and the back of the bike!
after cleaning the -10, and discovering all the little nooks and crannies, I started wondering what other people use to clean their bikes. I prefer to keep my bikes clean, but I never feel like they are as "showroom clean" as I'd like them to be.
I use the "Grunge Brush" for the chain (great product), various toothbrushes for small hard to reach spots, a Speed Master wheel brush (another good product), S100 cleaner, Powersports cleaner, ArmourAll cleaner, microfiber cleaning cloths, etc. I've tried Plexus cleaner for bodywork, Motul Shine and Go for bodywork, and Motorex cleaning products. Some are better than others, requiring varying amounts of elbow grease, but I've never found anything that works great on everything (bugs, road tar, grease, chain fling, general dirt/filth, etc).
what techniques or products do you use? anybody have something that they highly recommend? with 3 bikes to clean, the easier, the better...
regards, Tony |
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Post by 0002s on Mar 9, 2017 16:27:51 GMT -7
You're right about the spray. The underside of the seat gets coated with gunk. Even if you ride through a puddle it gets coated.
I use microfiber clothes to get into the nooks and crannies.
I normally spay heavy duty blue towels with degreaser to clean around the chain where there is grease. Same for the rims.
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Post by deftone on Mar 9, 2017 16:30:46 GMT -7
I've been using S100 for years. It's the best I have tried.
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Post by evitzee on Mar 9, 2017 20:08:34 GMT -7
I only ride on nice days with no chance of rain, but on a couple of my ride routes there are permanently wet stream crossings, only for about 20 feet and less than an inch thick. Even going through them at 5 mph I still get spray on the under fender. I use a damp cloth and wipe those areas down, no issues. I use 'Wheel Wax' on the powder coated wheels and they make it easy to just wipe them down with a damp cloth. I'm a big fan of Plexus and use that on all the plastic parts and my Powerbronze windscreen. I have zero, or very little, issues with chain lube. Frankly, most lubes are junk with two much tarry, oily ingredients that start running when the temps rise making a mess of the sprockets and the rear wheel. Over the years I've tried them all. Some years ago DuPont had a Teflon dry lube that the biker community loved, and then for some reason they changed the formula and DuPont said it was no longer suitable for motorcycle use. Then about two years ago a new product appeared that looked like it fit the bill for a clean chain lube like the old DuPont product. It got a great writeup in webBikeWorld so I bought a can and haven't looked back. It goes on easily, is a dry product and does not fling off and makes no mess of the rear wheel or sprockets. In two years have had no issues whatsoever, and it is safe for o-ring chains. Available on Amazon. Link to the original review: www.webbikeworld.com/r4/tirox-chain-wax/review.htm |
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fz10monster
New Member
Posts: 2
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Registered: Feb 15, 2017 2:06:29 GMT -7
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Post by fz10monster on Jun 16, 2017 12:56:27 GMT -7
I tend to give it a quick wipe down after every (longer) ride I take. Normally I just take a Lysol type of cleaning wipe for bugs on the front of the bike, windscreen, forks etc. I get under the seat well too and make sure nothing is caked into the rad guard. I've got the Armour Gray version though so the biggest PIA is keeping those yellow rims bright and clean. It's painful, but necessary. If you keep up with it though it never really because a major burden. I found that for the rims, a simple damp microfiber towel takes the dust and grease away fairly easy. If it's really caked on there from multiple rides, a little wd40 wipes it clean quickly. Maybe I'm a little OCD with my new baby Lucy (short for Lucifer because she's the devil!), but she's definitely still showroom clean  |
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dewaynehasty
Junior Member
Posts: 51
Likes: 18
Registered: Jan 15, 2018 20:21:55 GMT -7
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Post by dewaynehasty on Feb 25, 2018 17:56:03 GMT -7
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doctorzoidberg
New Member
Posts: 27
Likes: 10
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Post by doctorzoidberg on Feb 28, 2018 6:27:07 GMT -7
I also try to never ride in the rain, and every 2-3 rides use a dry-clean wash-and-wax product: Motul CleanerThis spray used on a soft cloth does an amazing job, and if you commit 30 minutes of your time, you'll have the show-room looking bike you're after. It's a really good, all-purpose cleaner that can be used on all the plastics, and metal parts of the bike, except on the chain or the titanium can. |
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daveinwoodland
Full Member
Posts: 215
Likes: 83
Registered: Mar 13, 2017 12:30:04 GMT -7
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Post by daveinwoodland on Feb 28, 2018 8:52:57 GMT -7
Another vote for S100 and as well I never wash my bike with any water. There are plenty of very high quality no water cleaners out there that will not hurt or sratch the finish. McGuires is great as well as Mother's products. All usually also put down a fine layer of wax as well. I've heard that Pledge furniture polish is the best thing to use on the wheels.
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