How Do You Wash Your Bike?

[Jafnhaar]

Bucket & Sponge........

 

[2WV]

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)

 

[Jafnhaar]

Bucket & Sponge........

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

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I use Vulcanet Motorcycle Cleaning Wipes, they are awesome, then wax my paintwork and shiny bits.

 

[CBRHoonigan]

with the tears of the salty motherfuckers on youtube

 

[2WV]

with the tears of the salty motherfuckers on youtube

Your bike must be gleaming then haha

 

[CBRHoonigan]

Your bike must be gleaming then haha

Tears are quite salty im expecting rust to appear anyday

 

[whingnut]

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.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

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]

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!

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I think I have one of them somewhere!

 

[Meifesto]

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 ^^

 

[Hippo-Drones]

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 ^^

Protective mud is the best, worked for the Mary Rose!

 

[motosera]

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.

 

[WEB]

I don't

 

[Meifesto]

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

I don't think i ever washed a car of mine...
I drive them through the carwash when i want to sell them, and that is it xD

 

[LandyVlad]

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]

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.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Is it worth re-recording with a better camera angle? A bike can never be too clean!

 

[LandyVlad]

Is it worth re-recording with a better camera angle? A bike can never be too clean!

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.