Bike Cleaning

[KLR]

Hi All

Though I would broach the subject of "Bike Cleaning" as there was no real definitive thread on peoples thoughts that I could find and tried using "cleaning" in search.

Just wondering what some of your methods are out there

Do you use water or no water
Chemicals to remove unwanted grease
Any ol Wives tale concoctions that do the trick etc etc

Me I use car wash on fairings and other bits and a chamois on other bits non greasy, not soaking important bits with water mind you.

Then use degreaser applied to rag on rims and swingarm etc to remove grease and grime then use wet rag to remove degreaser residue and then dry.

[mrmina]

give mr. sheen a go. it works a treat and damage the paint.

I wouldnt recommend the citruis (e.g orange or lemon scented) mr. sheen as the citric acid can damage paint.

[SeanZX9R]

I use Mr Sheen with the water repelant. Brings the fairing up nicely.
But i only use it when im too lazy to wash it properly.

[plane]

Mr Sheen is the go! Brings up the engine cases on the Rex nicely. Gives it a bit of a "new bike" smell for a few clicks afterwards too.
Cheers,
Pete

[aardvark]

I wash my bike with water, car wash and a sponge.
I then chamois it dry, and let is sit.

When it's nice and dry, I get the Mequiars Quick Wax (in the red bottle) and use that on the fairings. I used to use Mr. Sheen, but find the quality and depth of the shine is better with Mequiars.

I also use $2 a can degreaser on the wheels.

[Nanna10r]

I generally do this ....

I wash my bike with water, car wash and a sponge.
I then chamois it dry, and let is sit.
When it's nice and dry, I get the Mequiars Quick Wax (in the red bottle) and use that on the fairings.
I also use $2 a can degreaser on the wheels.

Armour Sponge for the Plastics & Blacks, Degreaser up around the shockie only,
Polished Rims get cleaned With Goo Remover(great for chain wax) then ploished with Auto sol Liquid.

Cheers Brett

[YAPPA]

gerni the fukr, mothers car wash, mothers phase 1, phase2, phase 3 polish on paint, rims get a wipe with kero on a rag & then a wash.

[Quarkz]

Water, Sponge (Fluffy one), Car Wash with Wax then um...wash it. Then I chammy it dry. After its all nice and dry I will go over it with the Kawasaki Wipe Down and polish the shiny parts. Then the lanoguard goes on the seat, Windex to the mirrors and oil the chain.

[Marilyn]

EEEK! Don't go near bikes with a Gerni!!

I think I should be a bike detailer. Put gaffer tape over exhaust. Wash bike with good quality car wash, rinse. Dry with chamois. Remove gaffer tape from exhaust. Run bike for a few minutes to help to dry.

Now get out the kerosene (great lubricant and cleaner). Clean all the brake dust and chain lube off the wheels. If the chain is dirty clean the chain with kero too. Take off the chain guard and rear hugger. Wash, dry and polish.

Get your old toothbrush and cotton buds. Soak in kero, lie down on the ground and clean underneath the bike. Clean rear shock, every engine nut and bolt etc. Remove fairing if required to do this.

Clean the pipes - remove to polish if required.

Remove the brake calipers, pull apart and clean the brakes with brake cleaner. Apply copper slip as appropriate and re-fit brakes.

Use eucalytus oil to remove any old track day stickers.

Remove tar spots etc with genuine Kawasaki KY (oops, that should be K-Wipe).

Polish paintwork. Polish plastics.

Apply WD-40 to every single nut, bolt and screw on the entire bike to help to prevent corrosion. (Not as necessary on tough Kwakas - try owning a Ducati!) Be careful not to get this on brake discs!

Re-lube chain.

Put bike back together. Start and run for a while. Ignore smoke from any spilled burning polish!!

Now . . . any takers to buy my beautiful Z1000?

[YAPPA]

of course when i say gerni 1 should obviously not stick the thing up any intake, outlet, orifice, fuel tank, radiator, oil cooler, yada yada yada.....they r actually quite handy as u dont have 2 hold the thing so as its takin' paint off, & the jet on mines adjustable from a jet 2 a wide fan. as 4 sittin down & spending 1 1/2 days pulling the whole bike apart 2 clean it & put it back together,i ask?
1.do u have a girl friend?
2. do u just have way 2 much time on ur hands "lucky bugger"
3. i assume u dont have young kids, as u wouldn't even attempt pulling apart a motorcycle with them around if u did , let alone just 2 clean it
C'MON MATE
that thing ur sittin' at home polishing all day (& no i'm not being rude u deviates ) was actually made 2 ride,not wash on the weekends
cheers
chris

p.s. if u have a cranky MRS. & ur spendin' all this time in the garage cleaning instead of ridin, cause u will just end up further in the shit, I understand my friend.

[Marilyn]

Yappa my friend. Gernis can damage electrics, bearings, brakes, chains, typical cheap Japanese cheap finishes on every nut and bolt. Don't do it - unless it is a dirt bike. You don't wan't to lose 50% on the resale value of the bike. Gernis = journeys to the bank to beg for more money!

Now, to answer your questions. Do I have a girlfriend? Well, no, I don't. Are you offering?

I'll give you a hint. With a name like Marilyn did you think I might actually be a girl?

Cleaning the bike doesn't take a day and a half. That full detail on a well maintained bike takes a few hours and does wonders for the bike. I wish I had a lot of time as you suggest but working full time in a very demanding role and having very time intensive hobbies puts an end to that. My bikes are not garage ornaments - they are ridden on the road and track - rain, hail or shine.
You are right - no young kids here at the moment, just 3 teenage boys.

And no, I'm not hiding from an irate Mrs. In fact, if I'm lucky the Mr might even give me a hand with the bike!

[Quarkz]

Woo! Yappa you got owned!

[aardvark]

I'll give you a hint. With a name like Marilyn did you think I might actually be a girl?

Just coz you're a girl, doesn't mean you don't have a girlfriend.

[Felix]

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[Nanna10r]

Just a quick amendment Armour in my post obviously refers to armour all. Hi Maz good to read You, Sad to see your Beautiful "Zthou"
hasn't been picked up by someone by now, as i said a while back someone would geta Jem if they bought it. This post plus your good taste shows why.
Please dont tell us how you clean your "HORSE" but I bet its glad when your finished.

Chris Mayyyte went in a little hot there pal, was that the double white lines behind your rear wheel ?. No harm no Foul I'd say.

Cheers Brett