How do YOU detail your bike? - Page 2

anthonyk · 04-14-2011, 11:18 AM

Soap and water once every few months (maybe), though the screen and lights get cleaned with Plexus pretty regularly.

Washing the bike and car are mostly just opportunities to let my 3-yr-old slosh soap suds around, and shoot something besides me with the hose.

Trip · 04-14-2011, 11:41 AM

I usually only wash mine when I ride in winter salt conditions or when the bugs get too thick to see through the windscreen. I don't have a chain, so I don't give a shit.

The DRZ gets pressure washed with only water thrown back in it's garage corner after a day on the trail. The 50 gets the same treatment if I ride it off road, if I just race it on road, it never gets washed.

Homeslice · 04-14-2011, 11:48 AM

I usually only use 2 products ------ a fine polishing liquid for removing fine scratches, and a polymer sealant that acts like wax but isn't.

RedRider2k2 · 04-14-2011, 12:02 PM

Pressure wash it when the Headlights have trouble cutting through the bugs.

marko138 · 04-14-2011, 12:19 PM

Rae...if you get it nice and clean once then hit it with some of the bug stuff Gas posted, or Turtle Wax, or Plexus it'll be easier to keep clean if you knock the bugs off it periodically.

You don't need to hit crevices with a toothbrush like I do.

Particle Man · 04-14-2011, 12:20 PM

Car wash concentrate and a hose. Then some cleaner wax and then Turtle Wax Ice.

caveman · 04-14-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azoomm

This.

Fuck you guys and your "I'd rather ride it than wash it" bullshit. It isn't that hard.

I'm with Azoomm, I like to wash my bike. I find its very therapeutic and relaxing. I like to make sure to knock the stuck on bugs and road grime off at least once every week or maybe stretch it to two weeks during the spring when the rain starts leaving it all spotty. During the summer when its mostly dry I will go to once every two weeks or when the grime is just......blegh. I like to keep it clean like Marko said but I don't wax it every time I wash it.
My washing method is simple; little bit of Turtle Wax Zipwax car wash foamed up with HOT water from in the house add in some cold from the hose to cool it down. Got a nice microfiber wash mit and and always as with all vehicles never start to wash a dry bike. Soak her down real good and start from top to bottom front to back. Since I have the removable saddle bags, I pop them off and wash all sides once a month and that way I can check on the tire pressure and the condition of said tire better as well. Since there are so many damn crevices and nooks and crannies I pull out the yard blower and get as much off then wipe off the rest of the water with a synthetic shammy called the Absorber.
Then a quick application of the Bug Slide that Gas previously mentioned. Done. Go for a ride.
As for the end of the year before the bike gets put away for the winter nap. I do the same as above except no blower just wipe it dry. Then we (Gas and I) used the clay bar and then polish and wax. Quick oil change and cover up and tuck her in for a nice winter nap. (Plugged in with battery tender, of course.)

Is it over the top? Nah. Its personal preference. If you don't care to ride around on a dingy, dirty, looks like you just picked it up at an auction look then that's your thing. But I take a bit of personal pride in my ride and like to show it.

marko138 · 04-14-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caveman

I'm with Azoomm, I like to wash my bike. I find its very therapeutic and relaxing. I like to make sure to knock the stuck on bugs and road grime off at least once every week or maybe stretch it to two weeks during the spring when the rain starts leaving it all spotty. During the summer when its mostly dry I will go to once every two weeks or when the grime is just......blegh. I like to keep it clean like Marko said but I don't wax it every time I wash it.
My washing method is simple; little bit of Turtle Wax Zipwax car wash foamed up with HOT water from in the house add in some cold from the hose to cool it down. Got a nice microfiber wash mit and and always as with all vehicles never start to wash a dry bike. Soak her down real good and start from top to bottom front to back. Since I have the removable saddle bags, I pop them off and wash all sides once a month and that way I can check on the tire pressure and the condition of said tire better as well. Since there are so many damn crevices and nooks and crannies I pull out the yard blower and get as much off then wipe off the rest of the water with a synthetic shammy called the Absorber.
Then a quick application of the Bug Slide that Gas previously mentioned. Done. Go for a ride.
As for the end of the year before the bike gets put away for the winter nap. I do the same as above except no blower just wipe it dry. Then we (Gas and I) used the clay bar and then polish and wax. Quick oil change and cover up and tuck her in for a nice winter nap. (Plugged in with battery tender, of course.)

Is it over the top? Nah. Its personal preference. If you don't care to ride around on a dingy, dirty, looks like you just picked it up at an auction look then that's your thing. But I take a bit of personal pride in my ride and like to show it.

I use the absorber too....used it for probably 10 or so years. Works great.

dReWpY · 04-14-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caveman

I'm with Azoomm, I like to wash my bike. I find its very therapeutic and relaxing. I like to make sure to knock the stuck on bugs and road grime off at least once every week or maybe stretch it to two weeks during the spring when the rain starts leaving it all spotty. During the summer when its mostly dry I will go to once every two weeks or when the grime is just......blegh. I like to keep it clean like Marko said but I don't wax it every time I wash it.
My washing method is simple; little bit of Turtle Wax Zipwax car wash foamed up with HOT water from in the house add in some cold from the hose to cool it down. Got a nice microfiber wash mit and and always as with all vehicles never start to wash a dry bike. Soak her down real good and start from top to bottom front to back. Since I have the removable saddle bags, I pop them off and wash all sides once a month and that way I can check on the tire pressure and the condition of said tire better as well. Since there are so many damn crevices and nooks and crannies I pull out the yard blower and get as much off then wipe off the rest of the water with a synthetic shammy called the Absorber.
Then a quick application of the Bug Slide that Gas previously mentioned. Done. Go for a ride.
As for the end of the year before the bike gets put away for the winter nap. I do the same as above except no blower just wipe it dry. Then we (Gas and I) used the clay bar and then polish and wax. Quick oil change and cover up and tuck her in for a nice winter nap. (Plugged in with battery tender, of course.)

Is it over the top? Nah. Its personal preference. If you don't care to ride around on a dingy, dirty, looks like you just picked it up at an auction look then that's your thing. But I take a bit of personal pride in my ride and like to show it.

of course you enjoy washing your bike, its a HD!
Why do HD riders polish their bikes so much?
makes it easier to spot on the side of the road!

Tmall · 04-14-2011, 05:58 PM

With the Buell, I'd wash it when it really dirty, just a regular old wash.

With the KX, I hose it down every time I ride it, followed by a wash. Followed by any maintenance that it needs. Followed by a chain inspection, degrease and proper lubing. Followed by cleaning and oiling the air filter. I think I'll start waxing the plastics to see if it makes it any easier to clean.

Funny enough, it's quicker to keep the KX clean than it was the Buell, the rims on the Buell would take about 20 minutes each. I can do the whole KX in that amount of time.

04-14-2011, 12:02 PM	#4
RedRider2k2 Holier Than Thou Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: N.B, Canada Moto: 06 ZX10R, 18 400 Ninja, 11 KLX250s Posts: 463	Pressure wash it when the Headlights have trouble cutting through the bugs. __________________ Good judgement is the product of experience...Experience is the product of bad judgement. Sometimes The Faster It Gets, The Less You Need To Know. But You Gotta Remember The Smarter It Gets, The Furthur It's Gonna Go.

04-14-2011, 12:20 PM	#6
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	Car wash concentrate and a hose. Then some cleaner wax and then Turtle Wax Ice. __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

04-14-2011, 11:18 AM	#1
anthonyk WERA White Plate Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: '01 Aprilia Falco Posts: 1,041	Soap and water once every few months (maybe), though the screen and lights get cleaned with Plexus pretty regularly. Washing the bike and car are mostly just opportunities to let my 3-yr-old slosh soap suds around, and shoot something besides me with the hose.

04-14-2011, 11:41 AM	#2
Trip Hold mah beer! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven Moto: 08 R1200GS Posts: 23,268	I usually only wash mine when I ride in winter salt conditions or when the bugs get too thick to see through the windscreen. I don't have a chain, so I don't give a shit. The DRZ gets pressure washed with only water thrown back in it's garage corner after a day on the trail. The 50 gets the same treatment if I ride it off road, if I just race it on road, it never gets washed.

04-14-2011, 11:48 AM	#3
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	I usually only use 2 products ------ a fine polishing liquid for removing fine scratches, and a polymer sealant that acts like wax but isn't.

04-14-2011, 05:58 PM	#10
Tmall Aspiring Rapper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Halifax, NS Moto: '12 CB1000R Posts: 3,569	With the Buell, I'd wash it when it really dirty, just a regular old wash. With the KX, I hose it down every time I ride it, followed by a wash. Followed by any maintenance that it needs. Followed by a chain inspection, degrease and proper lubing. Followed by cleaning and oiling the air filter. I think I'll start waxing the plastics to see if it makes it any easier to clean. Funny enough, it's quicker to keep the KX clean than it was the Buell, the rims on the Buell would take about 20 minutes each. I can do the whole KX in that amount of time.