[Rumblebear]

I have read that many of us, for the most part, wash, dry, wax,and otherwise maintain the appearance, as well as the mechanical operation of our machines.
I am wondering how many of us will occasionally take our beloved machines to outside detailers for 'professional' service.

I also wonder if you would take your bike to a small american-owned business for this service, or if you might go to some large chain that employs several to do the job.

What are your opinions about these detailers, if any?

 

[Bassdude404]

I head out to the garage with a beer, turn on the XM radio hooked to my garage stereo, and do it myself...I don't trust anyone else to clean my bike....I took it in for it's first service last fall, and they washed the bike before I picked it up....It was cleaner when I dropped it off the previous day...Water spots everywhere...When I got home, I had to do it all over again...

 

[Beastie Boy]

I found a local guy, but I haven't yet gotten up the nerve to let anyone but me wash and clean the bike...

 

[Bono]

I head out to the garage with a beer, turn on the XM radio hooked to my garage stereo, and do it myself...I don't trust anyone else to clean my bike....I took it in for it's first service last fall, and they washed the bike before I picked it up....It was cleaner when I dropped it off the previous day...Water spots everywhere...When I got home, I had to do it all over again...

Hey bassdude at least they washed it. I only get it back with fingerprints on everything!atriot:

 

[msg6]

Hey bassdude at least they washed it. I only get it back with fingerprints on everything!atriot:

Same thing happened to me. I spent hours cleaning fingerprints off my bike after the dealer worked on it. You would think they would take a little pride in their work and not have you drive away with your bike looking like crap.

Mark

 

[Rong]

If the bike were at a point where I felt it needed more effort to clean than I was willing to put into it, then yes I'd consider having it professionally detailed.
There is a small 3 man shop near the house that detailed my wifes SUV and didn't an absolutely incredible job on it. It wasn't cheap but the car didn't look that clean when we bought it. I would trust them to do my bike. Hell at least they really know what they're doing.

 

[DillDawg]

Only if they're hot....and I can sit on the bike while they soap me up.

 

[Brando]

Hey bassdude at least they washed it. I only get it back with fingerprints on everything!atriot:

HAH! I had the same experiance
it made me sick!

 

[networkguy]

Thats too bad you guys had a bad experience. I do all my own detailing except twice a year I take it in for a heavy duty carnuba and chrome polish. There a small chain here in Phoenix that does full service carwash and detail I have always used. When I take my X in the detail manager does it himself and it turns out BEAUTIFUL. I honestly dont have the patience to do that much detail myself LOL Costs me $50 takes him about 3 hours.

I might get flamed for that comment lol

 

[pme5280]

Detailing myself is part of what I enjoy. It's my mental therapy.
2-3 hours and a couple beers.
Aso, most detailers aren't as picky as I am.
P

 

[wivtx1800]

I'm to cheap to let anyone elese touch my bike. I try to touch it up after every ride.

 

[Warlock4]

I head out to the garage with a beer, turn on the XM radio hooked to my garage stereo, and do it myself...I don't trust anyone else to clean my bike....I took it in for it's first service last fall, and they washed the bike before I picked it up....It was cleaner when I dropped it off the previous day...Water spots everywhere...When I got home, I had to do it all over again...

+1. Love to do it myself. Gives me a chance to look it over real good. And you feel great knowing you made it look so good
I wash with liquid auto matic dish detergent..(don't leave water spots usually) But then I pull out the leaf blower and dry it real good...gets all the water out of those nooks and cranneys:bleh:

 

[whiskeyrockr]

on the norm, i clean all my vehicles myself. however, once a year i take everyone one of them down to a local (locally owned) detail shop (they do everything there, window tinting, detailing, everything). those guys are awesome. the owner is a biker (yeah, a rocket, but he's still a biker) and i also went to school with him. i don't trust anyone doing anything that i can do myself, but i do trust this guy. they do wonderful work and damn i swear that the car is cleaner than a new one off the show room. yep, once a year, i let him do the bike too. he once had a guy employed with him that was looking through the glove box and when he saw him, he fired him on the spot. this is the reason i don't trust anyone but him to do the cleaning, cause he his an honest guy and don't put up with the bullshot.