Online: Hilly

Cleaning your bike

  • bungle
    bungle
    6 years ago
    Probably a can of worms question but here goes, what products/techy things do you recommend for cleaning my bike. The tank has some light micro scratching which I would like to try and ease out with a glaze or the like. What is the go guys?
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    6 years ago
    If the paint on the bike has not been corrected before then it often has swirls and marks throughout so the FULL process I went through on the tins was:
    • Rinse
    • Foam cannon the bike down (only foam touches the paint) - optional step.
    • Let sit for 5 mins to loosen the dirt and then rinse off
    • Standard shampoo wash then but using two buckets - 1 x for the soapy water and the other to wash the cloth before putting back in to soapy
    • Rinse bike again
    • Claybar all the paint and rinse (used to use Mothers yellow bar but now use their Speed Clay foam bar)
    Paint is now pretty much a 100% clean surface to work with....
    BUT if your OCD then spray with a decontamination product like CarPro Eraser and rinse one last time

    • Step 1 is a mild cut using Scholl Concepts S3XXL Gold which is a diminishing grade mild cut
    o Tool used is a good quality DA Polisher….none of that crap chit that attaches to a drill!
    • Do a section at a time – ie ½ a tank at a time
    • Wipe down with new microfiber towels
    • Step 2 is a swirl remover using Scholl Concepts S30+
    • Again wipe down with new microfiber cloths
    • Wipe paint down with an Isopropyl alcohol solution to remove ANY polishing residue
    Paint is now pretty much a mirror finish…so lets protect it.

    • I use CQ Quartz UK Ceramic coating and apply per manufacture directions
    • I do this process twice as the ceramic does layer up.
    Paint is now protected from scratch and is sealed

    • Then within an hour of the ceramic I spray with Carpro Reload to provide a silky smooth feel, to add a sacrificial layer on top of the ceramic and to provide a water resistance that has to be seen to be believed.

    Your DONE…
    Wash when too dirty (2 bucket method EVERY time)
    Or spray with a good detailer/polish if just dusty (I’m using both carpro Reload and a trial of Meguiars Ultimate Quik Wax – not sure whhats going to win as both seem good products and are priced on par)
    Use CLEAN or NEW microfiber cloths – the number of times I see a good finish buggered through cheap dirty cloths is … too often.
    AND never forget to ride the chit out of the bike….its not there to be looked at!
  • robnicko
    robnicko
    6 years ago
    whereabouts is that Lucifer?  
    reminds me of near Everton / Beechworth in the Vic high country
  • Big Steve
    Big Steve
    6 years ago
    I spray some diluted truck wash on the wheels tyres frame and motor.

    Wait 5 minutes then rinse it off

    I then use a new microfibre cloth in a bucket of warm water and Meguiars NXT Generation Car wash.

    I have also started putting a plastic bag over the right hand control, the air intake and my swingarm bag.

    I generally scrub all the shiny bits then rinse off, then do the not so shiny bits and rinse again.

    I used the compresser with a blow gun to remove excess water and then give the mirrors and dash glass a scrub with mr sheen on a clean microfibre cloth.
  • brucefxdl
    brucefxdl
    6 years ago
    sometimes i get a bit carried away,but usually diluted ct18 in a spot sprayer.let this soak 5-10 mins.then another quick go over. then brush and micro fibre mit.drip dry a few miuets out of the sun and finish with a couple of micro fibre cloths and turtle wax "wax and dry".comes good without a polish.all this on a cold bike.cheers.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    6 years ago
    Is it me or do others find a buzz cleaning your motorcycle? 
    Tuss, you have got it and you have got it bad, but, in saying that I will follow the line you have drawn, making the time. 
    Good shit, just cleaning my bike on a fuken Sat night for a coupla hours but don"t tell anyone, and I'm buzzing, musta been port used in cleaning.
    Sad, but she looks good and I feel good that she looks good. And PB no wisecracking. Is cathartic and good for the soul.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    6 years ago
    Agree...its very relaxing cleaning the bike....put on some good sounds and then just zone out and clean.
    For me all I have to do now is wash and spray with a good hydrophobic coating and wipe off.  ALL the other steps I do are a once a year (actually its only 1/2 the tasks as the paint is now mint anyway) and thats basically a re-coat of the ceramic.  The ceramic means no scratches on the surface so its its real breeze to take care of.

    I hate looking at the nice shiny bikes all polished up to chit only to see all the swirl marks in the clearcoat - makes me wonder why even bother with polish.
  • bungle
    bungle
    6 years ago
    Had a great ride down to Wooden Bong during the week, wrapped up about 400 K's, wracked up plenty of bugs n wet road works so put the bike under the hose and followed a few steps of the above and the ol'girl responded pretty well (didn't use the polisher, no new pads), will get the S30 and the polisher onto it next time. Now to go and get dirty again..... mmmm nice and dirteee


    Light buff with the polisher will take out the last of the scratches on the tank and I'll ceramic seal it next time, cheers Tussuck

    Oh yeah put on the tall boy seat, that has changed things!
  • snappy
    snappy
    6 years ago
    now that the the dealer isn't washing the bike i mean servicing the bike  because the warranty has finished i let the rain wash the bike 
    ive got better things to do such as ride , catch up with friends,  work , family life  , watch the grass grow, etc, etc 
  • bungle
    bungle
    6 years ago
    Yep, in the car forum. The R got some mirror shine magic too.

    Took me all of an hour to bet the paint job mint Snappy 'n 'sides rain never gets wheels clean ;-]

    Pretty much air duster for a few minutes for the next wash, unless I get caught on fuck'n wet roads