Washing your bike?

[xkartracer]

Hello everyone I know this is a dreaded task sometimes but what cleaning
supplies do you like to use for cleaning your bike.I also have spoke wheels
are there any good spray on cleaners for this?I hate wasting time cleaning
when I could be riding.... Thanks to all. Todd '04 VTX 1300s

[NC Hammer]

I wash with regular car-wash and white wall cleaner. then dry and wax with Pig-Snot.
I spot clean with Pig-Snot Detail Spray. Works great on a black bike. The Pig-Snot eliminates the 'swirls' in the paint after you wax.
I jack the bike up to work on the wheels.
I do a full cleaning job twice a year. It takes me about 6 hours total. You need to pick a real cold day or major thumderstorms. When you wouldn't want to ride.

Here's a pic the day after a 'full' cleaning and waxing job:

http://www.vtxcafe.com/gallery/data/500/19Bike-7-18-04-1-800-med.jpg

[DAR]

I also use the automotive products. Any good soap wax and chrome polish will usually do. If it makes your car look good it will most likely make your bike look good. I use Meguires and Mothers products. However I use two thing that make life much easier.

1. Honda srpay cleaner and polish- This stuff is just plane great. Spray it on the rag and start cleaning. You can clean the whole bike with this stuff. Windshied, paint, rubber, chrome...... I keep a can in the saddle bag for touch ups on the road.

2. My trusty lawn blower- After washing it can take forever to dry the bike by hand and then there are still spots you cant get your hands into. Plus if your not fast enought; a bike full of water spots awaits you. Crank up the old lawn blower and its like your car going through the car wash. Pushes the water off the bike, breakes it up so there's fewer water spots, and gets into all the small areas your hands can,t

[roadhag]

i use a product called s-100...cleans exceptionally well, even the chrome and w/shield....but no matter how much i clean and scrub...just can not seem to get that nc hammer look !!!

[roadhag]

oooohhhh...now, i get it...i have to build the bike first THEN clean it to get that hammer look...hah...lol !!!!
anyway, the s-100 also does a great job on bugs and bug juice, etc....

[Mer]

I also just use regular car wash liquid to wash my bike. I spray it down with water first, use a mitt to clean the bike, rinse and dry. A lot of the time I'll just ride my bike around the block a few times to completely dry it. I go back and use the Honda Spray to detail it. I have the Retro so no spokes to clean. One great think I discovered about having a silver bike is that it rarely looks dirty. LOL. The chrome on the other hand is a whole other thing......

[xkartracer]

Thanks for all the replies. Hammer Great looking bike hard to believe pig-snot was rubbed on there you really set the bar high for a clean bike.I really like the hi-way bar you have that is my next add on. I also like the idea Dar gave about using my leaf blower to dry the bike.Thanks all! Have a Great Day!

[roadhag]

hey xkart.....in all seriousness, dar was right on with the lawn blower idea...makes the final touch up much better...no drips, no runs, no spots!!! and then it is back on the road again...enjoy

[chazb458]

Best to use electric. Those 2-cycle jobs may blow or splatter fuel, depending on their condition.

[xkartracer]

Thats what I have elec. leaf blower,chain saw only thing I mix for now is the old weedeater. I actually bought the blower for sweeping my garage the ole push broom
got old.

[NC Hammer]

You guys are funny. I have had the pleasure of riding with a guy from Charlotte, VTXRetroactive, who has a black 1300 that is SO clean it makes mine look like I haven't cleaned it. It turns out that he has gone into detailing as a sideline. He went so far on his bike as to sand and polish the rear, the levers and switch controls. I think he said that the final sanding was done with 2000 grit paper. Whatever... all those parts now look like chrome. In my opinion, it would have been cheaper to buy and install chrome parts than spend all those hours sanding and polishing.

Ok, Seriously, thanks for all the compliments! I don't spend alot of time cleaning, as evidenced by my odometer just about to turn 24,000.

[blkxride]

Wait a minute. You mean we're suppose to wash and clean our bikes?? Damn, Now I have to add that to my list of things to do besides ride... :icon_bs:

[NC Hammer]

Like you don't have any time.

[VTXRI]

For spokes.. I met two guys who ride harley's and I loved the way there spokes looked... they laughed and said you won't believe how we do it but we use a honda spary wax... the first time they clean them real good and then spray the wax on and let it dry.. fight the urge to wipe it off and from then on wash the bike and a couples sprays you're good to go.... they use the Honda spray wax on the chrome parts that are hard to clean and or pick up brake dust... they say brake dust washes off easily once you've put a coating of the hona spray wax

[VTXDeadhead]

For cleaning spoke wheels, I use car soap and a Battery powered dish scrub brush by "Dawn", (in the detergent section of your market.

[mfmaloney]

OK, HD riders use Honda products, I use a spoke brush I picked up at a HD dealer. I put the bike up on a lift and put it out of gear, that way I can get between all the spokes. I use automotive products and a couple bottles of a high quality malted beverage, for medicinal use only - I put the keys away first!

[Mer]

I found out about Honda spray from my Harley riding brother a few years ago. LOL. He said he and some of his Harley buds swear by it.



OK, HD riders use Honda products, I use a spoke brush I picked up at a HD dealer. I put the bike up on a lift and put it out of gear, that way I can get between all the spokes. I use automotive products and a couple bottles of a high quality malted beverage, for medicinal use only - I put the keys away first!

ROFL!!

[blkxride]

Hammer,

It just dawned on me but you forgot to tell them they have to carry swifter mitts too if they want to keep that look.................

[NC Hammer]

You're right!!! You know, when you're just standing around, waiting for that ride to start, a swiffer mitt gets rid of all that unwanted dust on the fenders and tank.
For you 1300 riders, if you ride with 1800 guys, you have to stop for gas twice as often. That's a good time to just get out that mitt and wipe her off while you're waiting for them to gas up. Unless you ride with blkxride, then you have to get out the towels and DRY her off. LOL Back attcha big guy.

PS - I rode to work today. It was 22 degrees when I left at 7:15 this morning. Just turned 24,100. Getting closer to those new white walls. Doing a Toys-for-Tots ride tomorrow, should be adding another 150 miles or so.

[Gaboy]

I use wheel cleaner for the spoked wheels, and a baby bottle brush, as it works great to reach the area between the spokes. I also use the Mr. Clean system, as it has a filter to rinse which prevents spots and cuts the drying time if any. I also use Eagle One Nano Wax with micro fiber cloths for painted surfaces. Leather cleaner conditioner works great on the seats and tank bib.



Gaboy

[blkxride]

You're right!!! You know, when you're just standing around, waiting for that ride to start, a swiffer mitt gets rid of all that unwanted dust on the fenders and tank.
For you 1300 riders, if you ride with 1800 guys, you have to stop for gas twice as often. That's a good time to just get out that mitt and wipe her off while you're waiting for them to gas up. Unless you ride with blkxride, then you have to get out the towels and DRY her off. LOL Back attcha big guy.

PS - I rode to work today. It was 22 degrees when I left at 7:15 this morning. Just turned 24,100. Getting closer to those new white walls. Doing a Toys-for-Tots ride tomorrow, should be adding another 150 miles or so.

Come on mileage!!! I know you can't wait to get rid of the black wall tire!!
Keep ridin' and you'll get there.......

TOWELS??? Hey what's that suppose to mean :hmm2: :bleh:

[shadango]

I found out about Honda spray from my Harley riding brother a few years ago. LOL. He said he and some of his Harley buds swear by it.

ROFL!!

So, before the HD guys use the Honda chemicals, do they glue HD onto the bottles fiorst?? LOL

I stopped at a HD dealer yesterday to see if they had any full face helmets.....they had ONE, and it was an AGV with a hideous looking HD insignia glued to it....and the inner neck padding had HD logos stamped in it....

I dont think I own one piece of gear with the Honda logo on it.....

TO stay on topic, I just started using Plexus on my windshield and some got onto my headlight bucket....seems like it might do the same thing as the Honda spray stuff..... ????

[Retro Rich]

I usually use automotive wash soaps and waxes and they work great; I usually wax after every wash, detail in between with a spray wax. Use a cleaner wax at least once a year.

A tip for anyone that has a retro or other VTX with the cast aluminum wheels. Blue Magic makes a liquid metal polish that works great on these wheels to remove dirt/stains/dust and really brings out the shine, as well as leaving a protective coating. You'll have to do some rubbing and use a bit of elbow grease, but it works great (almost like Tarn-x for househould silver). I used it on my Magna for two years with cast aluminum wheels and never had a problem.