How Do You Wash Your Bike?

2WV

@2WheelVandal
Feb 25, 2017
476
247
43
South England
I ride a
A motorcycle, silly.
I use Orange or Cherry Snowfoam as that smells best imo in my jetwash(it doesnt jet it out lol) and then i rub that in nicely and gently. Extra concentration on the wheels though. Then I use the jetwash mist function so it inst powerful, to go head to bottom. Especially avoiding the chain. Always when im done, i scrub my wheels (because im from England, and my wheels are white. seriously fml in that regard) then i lube everything, then i shit you not, i get the hairdryer out and dry the bike where the water would eventually sit and potentially rust (i.e. inside bolt heads etc) :)
 
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Jafnhaar

Riding Triumph Sprint GT SE 1050
Jul 13, 2017
117
103
43
East Anglia, UK
I ride a
Triumph Sprint GT SE 1050
Bucket & Sponge........ :D

I am not joking... bucket and sponge with MUC off, decent dirt remover wash or anything like that (Need it in the UK)... followed by water repellent spray that gets rid of moisture in places the water doesn't belong then a nice good polish and wash :D
 

HippoDrone

Admin
Jan 2, 2017
7,683
7,006
113
West Sussex, UK
I ride a
1984 Honda CB100-N
2012 Moto Guzzi V7
2017 Suzuki GSX-R750
2020 Beta 390RR
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660
I use Vulcanet Motorcycle Cleaning Wipes, they are awesome, then wax my paintwork and shiny bits.
 

whingnut

Squidbilly
Jul 29, 2016
159
116
43
43
Virginia beach VA
I ride a
2008 KLR 650 modified for TAT
MTG-ThreadNecromancer_3198.jpg


OK i think i may be OCD about cleaning the bike. i use s100 and Chemical Guys products with the foam gun for low pressure snow foam. so here is my routine.

  • Strip off the Seat, cover the battery and electronics with a heavy plastic bag. remove Panniers
  • then its two bucket method wheel cleaning using various brushes and wheel cleaner
  • rinse wheels, spray (hose pressure) bike and then spray S100 on the engine, under fenders and under belly
  • after a 3-4min soak scrub with a paint safe brush to loosen dirt/grime. rinse
  • now i snow foam the whole bike then two bucket (different buckets than wheels) wash. i will aslo to the panniers as well off the bike.
  • rinse again then mircofiber dry all of it
  • then its waterless wash on the swing arm, pannier racks , around battery and relays with mirco fiber and a soft detail brush
  • the a detailing wax on all paint
  • then metal polish on all metals and wheel coat for protection.
  • finally i use marine or motorcycle leather retreatment on seat/back rest and floor liner renew on all rubber grips/floor boards/ pedals
  • lastly reassemble
i do this once every two weeks or before an event
once a year i do a paint correction, seal the paint and full wax polish
i keep a spray quick detailer/ helmet cleaner on the bike for as needed for bugs or waterspots

i ride almost daily for commuting.
 
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HippoDrone

Admin
Jan 2, 2017
7,683
7,006
113
West Sussex, UK
I ride a
1984 Honda CB100-N
2012 Moto Guzzi V7
2017 Suzuki GSX-R750
2020 Beta 390RR
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660
I've started using a snow foam as my jetwash has an attachment for it, kinda handy... but still need to get a sponge in there to agitate the muck :)
 

whingnut

Squidbilly
Jul 29, 2016
159
116
43
43
Virginia beach VA
I ride a
2008 KLR 650 modified for TAT
I've started using a snow foam as my jetwash has an attachment for it, kinda handy... but still need to get a sponge in there to agitate the muck :)
i would suggest a mirco fiber wash mit. the sponges trap debris easy and will swirl your paint. but yeah SNow foam is the shit!
 
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Meifesto

Semi-Suicidal Dutchie
Jan 5, 2013
1,802
1,608
113
The Netherlands
I ride a
Yamaha XT660R
Riding through a big rainstorm works great.

Otherwise... gardenhose most often ;)
I'm lazy like that.
And in the winter i want a big layer of mud to protect my frame from the roadsalt ^^
 
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motosera

Weirdo, mosher, freak
Jun 4, 2020
283
418
63
Cambridgeshire UK
www.motosera.com
I ride a
Honda CBR1100XX and Buel XB9R Custom
I do too many miles to get too precious... if its just bug splats then a wet cloth to wipe them off. Otherwise a hose, wash mitt and a few suds.

Cars on the other hand, tend to get the whole works from snow foam to chemical guys treats.
 

LandyVlad

King of Mycenae
Jun 8, 2020
582
550
93
53
Brisbane, Australia
gsx1400owners.org
I ride a
Suzuki GSX1400
I'm like motosera - do the foam etc on the car - lots of effort into that (new Mazda3) but not so often on the bike.


Key thing with bikes is NOT to use a pressure washer as that will drive water into all sorts of places you don't want it. (learned from experience) For that reason I don't foam the bike either.

The main issue with (my bike at least) is dirt and brake dust all over the calipers and wheels (especially the rear) so I use a quality wheel cleaner and get in there with various brushes to agitate it before rinsing it.

I give the bike a good degrease around all those areas where chain lube flings
I clean the chain with kerosene (very effective and despite what others may think doesn't damage o-rings etc)

And just use a general carwash detergent to wash the bike itself.

S100 is really good stuff but I don't seem to be able to get that here anymore (well, short of buying 'Harley shine' or whatever its called - which is the same thing repackaged at a much higher price. I refuse).

I typicaly just satisfy myself with a good clean and dry. (use use the leaf blower to shift most of the water) and a microfibre for anything that needs a finishing dry.

I will sometimes apply some 303 protectant to the plastics. Keeps em looking new

Relube the chain and job done.
 

LandyVlad

King of Mycenae
Jun 8, 2020
582
550
93
53
Brisbane, Australia
gsx1400owners.org
I ride a
Suzuki GSX1400
Filmed myself washing the bike with commentary yesterday.

Kept cutting my head off in lots of shots though (D'oh - learning experience)

Just have to edit it and upload it - that'll be the first 'real' video on my channel. Gotta start somewhere eh.
 
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HippoDrone

Admin
Jan 2, 2017
7,683
7,006
113
West Sussex, UK
I ride a
1984 Honda CB100-N
2012 Moto Guzzi V7
2017 Suzuki GSX-R750
2020 Beta 390RR
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660
Is it worth re-recording with a better camera angle? A bike can never be too clean! :D
 

LandyVlad

King of Mycenae
Jun 8, 2020
582
550
93
53
Brisbane, Australia
gsx1400owners.org
I ride a
Suzuki GSX1400
Is it worth re-recording with a better camera angle? A bike can never be too clean! :D

It'll do mate. Gets some content up at least. Its not every shot just some. As I say good learning experience.

All I have to do now is figure out how to fix up the volume/sound in resolve (a job for tomorrow night), do a basic intro, an endscreen and thumbnail. I already have inmind what I'll do for those.

So fingers crossed will upload Wednesday.
 
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