How Do You Wash Your Bike?

[Scelder]

Hose it down, use automobile shampoo with a sponge and wash it with water again

 

[SmokyOwl]

Soak heavy stuff with water first to loosen it up. Then soap & sponge, again if necessary. Rinse off & dry with microfiber towel. Once a month I use claybar & hand wax.

First time I washed....used the garden hose. Then it wouldn't start....so I don't do that anymore.

 

[Lurch]

What's clay bar?

 

[SmokyOwl]

What's clay bar?

It's pretty much exactly like it sounds....it's essentially putty. You use detail finish spray where you'll be using it, and glide the clay bar over the lubricated surface. It pics up goo and debris from like bugs & tree sap from the pits of the clearcoat, essentially prepping it for a better finish of wax. If the clay bar grabs onto the surface, it's removing some gunk, and you want to keep gliding over the surface until it's slippery. I used it on my 3 year old car and the only surface that really made a difference was the roof....but on my 33 year old bike, holy crap was it filthy.

If you drop it on the ground though it instantly become useless and must be thrown away. It's used on cars quite often; I know both Meguiars and Mothers have nice little packages with the clay bar, the detail spray, and a microfiber cloth usually for around $20.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063X7KG/?tag=yoursiteranke-21

I don't know if claybar can be used on plastic surfaces though. I found myself being much more careful when filling up with gas, as ANY leak of gasoline on the tank takes away the waxing job and leaves marks.

 

[AmpdMoto]

Fastest way to get a clean bike:
Step 1 - Spray entire bike with can of scrubbing bubbles foaming cleaner
Step 2 - Drink a beer
Step 3 - Rinse bike off
Step 4 - Drink another beer
Step 5 - Repeat process for any missed areas

Learned this method from some old school bikers at a rally.

 

[Marbro_za]

I fall down in puddles..

 

[Deanos]

Bucket with soap and warm water and give her a niiiiiice, slow wash and rub down!

Then I go hose down the wife!

 

[Sidewinder]

I use a pressure washer, then soap and sponge it down, then I use a horse hair brush too scrub the cooling fins and everything else hard too get too, pressure wash again. Then I use an electric leaf blower and the air compressor too blow the bike off, then wipe the rest down with a towel, then Polish with a microfiber cloth. Looks like new every time lol really it looks new all the time.

 

[thezattack]

Just hit it with a water hose and some soap then dry it with a microfiber cloth

 

[R-Rated]

Just wondering how you do it. What products are best? easier to spray it down or just get the dirt spots with a sponge?

I found Mequires has a good wash. I use a mitt and then dry it with Synthetic shammy.

I only worry about washing it when the front of the muffler gets dirty.

 

[XeonGhos7]

I follow the rule of Clean-Wash-Warm-Lube

The wash takes place every weekend during the monsoon or every other weekend when it's not monsoon

I clean the chain first, then wash the bike. Dry it with a blower and let it sit for a while. Then I warm up the chain while the bike is on center stand since my bike has one. Then I lube it and baam! It's done

 

[JoshAFJ]

In the 3 years that I have ridden I have never washed my bike :/ I feel bad for it, but oh well.

I do plan on taking it down to a car wash bay thingy and spraying her down good soon. I have some road rash that I am going to be sanding down and painting once it gets a little colder and I'm not riding as much.

 

[Redbeardsv]

I have used sprayway foaming glass cleaner to dry wash with microfiber rags. I have never let mine get so dirty that it needed to be hosed off. My bike doesnt like water at all.
I have been a professional aircraft detailer for the last three years, and this is the same method we use to clean aircraft too. Most of the aircraft I work with get cleaned every time they fly though. We only wet wash and degrease something if it hasnt been washed in a really long time, or it sits outside mostly

 

[MotoMisc]

When I see it rain, i ride

No but seriusly, using soap, spunge and high pressure water

 

[Cndn Ray]

Ye ol bucket n sponge. I also have a scrub brush from ikea for the rims, it works wicked to get in those hard to reach spots!
Then i got a polishing head which attaches to a drill for the exhaust That shit's gotta shine!!!

 

[DutchyDoes]

Just some hot water, a soft sponge and that's it! I do this after every ride.
Every app. 1000km I use a simple degreaser for all parts around the chain section and wheels.
I've got my bike app. 8 yrs and it still looks like a beauty queen!

 

[MotoMisc]

Just some hot water, a soft sponge and that's it! I do this after every ride.
Every app. 1000km I use a simple degreaser for all parts around the chain section and wheels.
I've got my bike app. 8 yrs and it still looks like a beauty queen!

Aww my bike would live a happy life in your hands ;D Need to start wash my more

 

[BlackMamba]

I wash mine twice a year on before the salt goes down one when the salt is gone. the time in between is filled with ACF50 spray to neutralize the salt.

 

[Djibalz]

I use car shampoo for the painted parts (tank, side panel, windscreen, etc) and a dishwashing cream soap for othe parts (tires, swing arm, forks, exhaust etc).

I also use normal water, a sponge, and a brush for scrubbing.

It takes longer time but I am more satisfied with the result better than I use a pressurized water.

 

[DFG]

I just use a bucket and sponge, only thing I do is put a plastic bag over my phone charger cable but aside from that just spray her down soap her up and rinse it off.

In between, because I have a black bike. I use the Turtle Wax Black Jet Black detailed kit.