How often do you clean/wash/detail your bike?

[azoomm]

I clean mine all the time.

When I rode on the street I would clean mine every time I put it into the garage - and detail/wax every month. And, I'm almost fanatical about a clean chain.

Since having the bikes at the track it wasn't possible for me to clean the bikes everytime I rode them - and I missed it. It wasn't just about having a spotless bike, it was about bolt checking and making sure things were doing what they were supposed to be doing. Point - a bolt came loose on the front lower that we didn't notice - the cowl tilted and wore a small hole into the lower oil cooler.

Now - I have a paved driveway down there with a water hose right outside the door. Bikes are clean. CLEAN. *phew*

[buzzcutt2]

As I stated I never clean mine...but I really should clean it now though...lots of bugs on the ride yesterday.

[Dnyce]

Originally Posted by azoomm

It wasn't just about having a spotless bike, it was about bolt checking and making sure things were doing what they were supposed to be doing. Point - a bolt came loose on the front lower that we didn't notice - the cowl tilted and wore a small hole into the lower oil cooler.

aw, you beat me to it.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by fnfalman

I clean mine when something impairs functions.

True dat.

Originally Posted by marko138

I'm with the mighty DLIT and Yamerhaw...I keep my shit proper. I paid good money for my rig and I want it to look good. I clean before and after every ride. Sometimes with Honda Polish...or when it's really dirty I'll get the soap and bucket out.

So you wash yours what, once... twice a year?

If I do anything, it's soap and bucket. To me that's shit's easier than dicking around with the various polishes and 400 rags.

Originally Posted by Dnyce

my 750 is pretty dirty if you get up on it, it looks ok from 20ft tho. mostly because its been raining everyday, and my dumbass kept riding anyway. probably why i got sick. oh well. usually tho its pretty clean, not quite dlit status cuz i bought it used and its got a few scratches, nicks, etc. i ride it to work everyday, so i only really clean it friday after work, so its pimped out for the weekend. during the week i just wipe it down, try not to let the brake dust build up. white rims are a bitch, hate em.

my racebike i try to keep ultra clean, i've torn it down to the bare frame atleast once strictly because it sat for awhile and dust, light oxidation, some overspray, had taken over. usually i just spend about two hours going over it the weekend before i go racing. i wish i could roll it off the truck and into a big plastic bubble in between races.

i HATE cleaning, but i look at it like this, other than just looking like shit, if the bike is dirty as fuck, how will u spot a slight leak, alil extra wear, something about to break or something of that nature before it becomes a big problem? to keep a bike clean you gotta go over every piece of it, and it doubles as a inspection, so you find lil things before they turn into big things. thats my thinking anyway

See... I do post ride checks and various maintenance instead of washing. I'd rather be wrenching than polishing. That being said, it depends on the bike. I kept my 500 very clean... The Buell looked better dirty... My 954 was filthy all the time cause I hated it... The TLR doesn't have enough riding on it to need cleaning... Once I fighter the Tiller, it's gonna be dirty all the time and fucking like it.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Dnyce

aw, you beat me to it.

It amazes me how many people don't... it takes maybe 10 minutes.

[Dnyce]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

See... I do post ride checks and various maintenance instead of washing. I'd rather be wrenching than polishing.

the cleaning IS the post/pre ride check to me. if you take the time to check it, might as well clean it. ive yet to get out a bucket and wash, cuz if you always do it....

Originally Posted by azoomm

... it takes maybe 10 minutes.

what she said.

[Yamerhaw]

yeah i mean i can wash/dry mine and wax/polish in less than half an hour


as far as all other maintenance, it is done religously, Amsoil synthetic with suzuki filter every 2,500 miles , chain clean and adjusted, clean/fresh brake fluid, cables lubed,etc. i take care of my stuff, not gonna take care of all the other stuff and not keep it looking good, yeah i'd rather ride than clean, but i dont ride all day everyday, so when i'm at home, i can just go out to the mancave and shine my baby

when i sell a bike you can tell its been taken care of