[GIXXER-Mike]

Time to give my bike it's first wash but would like to know what to use with the soap & water. Also, what's "not" supposed to be washed on the bike.

Any good cleaning agents to remove those warning stickers? Can I use RainX on the windshield?

 

[inspiron]

You can spend hundreds of dollars on special cleaning agents ... but its questionable if your bike will be cleaner afterwards.

Get yourself some good car washing soap - and some WD-40 to help remove road tar or other . I use NEVR DULL to get the chrome to shine, other people swear by ceran or other glass stovetop cleaners. And good ol' Turtle Wax on the painted surfaces.

Most important - get yourself a good chain spray - and lube the chain whenever it gets wet.

Hope that helps.

 

[Novaz23]

Or you could just take it to a motorcycle shop for a good wash and shining to avoid doing any harm to the bike yourself. Also use GOOGLE and search for how to clean a motorcycle info im sure something will come up.

 

[DragonGold]

Or you could just take it to a motorcycle shop for a good wash and shining to avoid doing any harm to the bike yourself. Also use GOOGLE and search for how to clean a motorcycle info im sure something will come up.

I've washed my bike twice since I've had it. Basically, the only thing you want to avoid, is spraying a high pressure hose into the engine/filter area.

I took it to a do it yourself car wash, and used the high pressure hose on the painted parts of the bike, but from a nice distance away.

I also left my bike running while washing it. On parts that were close tot he engine, I didnt squeeze the trigger on the high pressure hose, I just used the small spray that comes out before you squeeze it.

It worked great for me, and only cost 2 bucks )

I also took a towel with me for the parts that needed to be scrubbed.

 

[md2lgyk]

I never wash the bike, not with soap and water anyway. After a ride, a few minutes with a soft cloth and a bottle of Windex does the trick.

 

[RookWV]

I wash mine just like I do my truck. Use the same stuff.

For the shiny parts, I'll use Mother's polish and Eagle One spray wax. I just picked up some Honda Pro cleaner/polish and it seems to be decent.

WD-40 and a rag cleans the chain

I don't use high pressure anything anywhere....just a gentle shower.

I use a chamois to dry it.

 

[jaydog19833]

I use warm sink water and Meguiars soap with a car sponge on all the plastics and chromes (when the motor is cold). Then I use a clean chamois to dry off all the plastics. I do not use a hose whatsoever fopr two reasons. One: sometime you could spray water directly where you shouldn't. Two: this can get water resevoirs in some spots which will flood out when you start driving (if you're very particular about your bikes' cleanliness, water streaks are unheard of )

For the motor parts and rims I use a dish sponge with the same water and soap. I have a crappy chamois which I use for especially dirty parts.

And last, to get a wondeful shine outta mirrors, windscreen and chrome pieces, use a dry paper towel (I use the blue shop ones) and rub the area dry.

As for waxing, I use green turtle wax, and a top coat of rainex. 2 coats about once a month.

Once I'm done, I drive down the road and get splattered with bug guts and road debris . Thats just the way it is.

NO IM NOT ANAL RETENTIVE!

 

[themeatmanlandry]

I put Rain-X on my visor. It says not to put it on plastic, but I haven't had a problem yet. It makes it cool, should you get caught in the rain. You simply turn your head to either side and "whoosh" the rain rolls right off! I also put some on my windscreen last weekend. I don't know why, as I never look through it.

Inside my helmet, I use the Rain-X Anti-Fog. It works pretty well.

 

[LayinLo]

Novaz, Take it to the dealer/motorcycleshop to have it washed???????????? What are you riding, a freaking MV Agusta????????? Wash it yourself, Gixxernewbie. I agree with md2lgyk. It's easier to keep it clean cuz less dirt has accumulated. You may be able to do this with a damp cloth if you've kept it garaged/covered.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Oh, yeah . . . the topic. I wash just like I wash my other vehicles, except I don't spray a whole lot around the carbs.

READ ME CAREFULLY: On my Bandit, the inner piece of the fairing (the one closest to the gas tank) is textured. It's been knurled so that it has about a 1/2 mm tall pattern on it. If your bike has such a 'patterned' piece of plastic, DO NOT GET WAX ON IT!! I repeat: DO NOT GET WAX ON IT!! It takes a significant amount of elbow grease and mineral spirits to get the wax out of that little pattern. I had to use an auto detailing brush, a toothpick . . . my God, I still have the flashbacks.

 

[KatanaMatt]

I use beer to wash mine. None of those crappy domestics, though. Get yourself a good import, preferrably from Holland or Germany, as these offer the best hops. Use a rag to wash any excess off. And, most important of all, drink the leftover beer.

 

[jaydog19833]

I just fully gear up and go the automatic car wash. When I ride through the machine, it even makes my leather fit better.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

I almost forgot . . . I wax the helmet too, after cleaning it with Windex.

Formula 409 is a good grease cutter also. It may be cheaper than using WD40.

 

[DaMaNP750]

I just fully gear up and go the automatic car wash. When I ride through the machine, it even makes my leather fit better.

I need to try that one! :bluethum:

 

[Janis]

I just wanted to add that IMO washingyour bike is part of maintenance: it's when you're so close trying to clean it that you may spot a loose screw, or a crack or some fluid lick, etc.
So, any way you do it, whatever cleaner you use, my advice is to pay attention and look close.

 

[87gsxrnut]

It takes a significant amount of elbow grease and mineral spirits to get the wax out of that little pattern. I had to use an auto detailing brush, a toothpick . . . my God, I still have the flashbacks.

Baby

- Nut

 

[themeatmanlandry]

I just wanted to add that IMO washingyour bike is part of maintenance: it's when you're so close trying to clean it that you may spot a loose screw, or a crack or some fluid lick, etc.
So, any way you do it, whatever cleaner you use, my advice is to pay attention and look close.

Believe it or not, that's reason #2 as to why a fire truck is always sparkly clean.

#1: Public trust and morale (seriously . . . A PR thing)
#2: To Spot leaks and potential points of failure

 

[Novaz23]

Alright in regards to lubing the chain how is it done? Do i just take wd-40 and go down the entire chain spraying moderaly? or do i first clean the chain with a rag? I understand everything else in terms of cleaning it just not the chain cleaning part.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Use kerosene, you can get it at the hardware store (look near the space heaters) and it's cheaper than WD-40. Put some kerosene on a rag, and sort of scrub up and down the chain length. Next, spray an APPROVED chain lubricant on there while you spin the rear wheel (centerstand to the rescue!!). Aim for the little seals on the rollers.

[Story: A few months ago, while lubing my chain, I was spinning the tire with my left hand and spraying the lube with my right. Folks, my left hand went a little too far into the tire's rotation, my thumb got hung in the tire's grip, and MY HAND WENT THROUGH THAT LITTLE SPACE BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE GARAGE FLOOR!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard a dreadful 'SNAP' and I instantly went into one of those 'silent screams,' where you're screaming with all your might and no sound comes out. It still ain't right. I thin I may have torn a tendon. Be careful . . . or at least don't be as stupid as me.]

 

[FIVEINCH]

You have all given fine advice.

I would like to address the other portion of the original question: how to get the stickers off.

I could't stand the orange and white stickers, but I left them on until I read the manual and found every sticker in there. I immediately ran outside to remove the sticker on the gas tank and that's when panic set in. The clear plastic came off the sticker and the tamper-proof stuff remained. Took 3 hours of careful picking with my fingernail to get it all off. I then found out, from a race car owner/driver, that WD-40 is an automotive industry cure-all. It will remove the stickers without damaging the clearcoat or paint. Clean it all off immediately after your finished.

I found that applying it with a Q-tip allowed for less mess and more control. Stickers came right off.

It good for arthritis and swollen joints, as well! Spray it on, rub it in, and smell like your motorcycle!