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Bike cleaning

ATJ94
6 years ago

Hi all,
What's everyone's suggestions on bike detailing/cleaning?
I'm coming off Super Sports where everything is bloody plastic.

Looking for suggestions particularly involving cleaning the, I don't even really know what it's called, sprocket maybe? (See below image)

And just in a general sense, what are everyone's cleaning tactics for washing their HD?

I'm sure this has been covered, apologises if I missed the topic.

Far Canal
6 years ago

Best not to use a karcher/servo power cleaner anywhere near the wheel bearing.
Never really found the sprocket gets too dirty on my bike unless you have a chain drive.

Neale
6 years ago

Me.
I wash the oily/ greasy bits in household grade kero with a paintbrush, give it a few minutes then hose off.
Wash the bike with whatever you use. I use $1 a litre Coles home brand dishwashing liquid.
Then dry it all off with a leaf lower, be careful not to hit the bike with the end of it.
Been doing this for over 15 yrs, never caused any problems.
If I want to polish the paint I use Mr Sheen.

JFE
6 years ago

I like S100 engine brightener for the engine etc - works well.

tussuck
6 years ago

For the Rims etc stay away from Acid or Alkalyne based cleaners as they are not kind to the Alloy (having said that, that's what I just used on my Sporty wheels as they are bare alloy and covered in 6 years of 'stuff' + I am polishing them with S100 etc after they are clean)
I use a good wheel or car detail decontamination product such as Scholl Concepts RIM or CarPro Iron-X (both from Waxit.com.au based in Melbourne near the airport)
I had a good thread here on semi-pro process for clean and polish located here: Search for "My polishing Tips" and that should pull up the extensive thread on cleaning.

Daggs
6 years ago

Shit! You’re meant to clean then? Bugger.. I better do it this weekend

ATJ94
6 years ago

Thanks fellas! I'll have a crack this weekend.

JFE
6 years ago

Quoting Daggs on 24 Jan 2019 03:12 AM
Shit! You’re meant to clean then? Bugger.. I better do it this weekend

Careful - some bikes/cars fall apart if ‘actually’ cleaned.

Benno
6 years ago

Quoting JFE on 23 Jan 2019 06:49 PM
I like S100 engine brightener for the engine etc - works well.

JFE, where you getting the S100 engine brightener from , I cant find it here in Oz.

Mr.Mow
6 years ago

I know loads of people use Dishwashing liquid.. But keep in mind what its designed to do, 'Cut through grease', don't really want grease cutting agents getting into a bike, its also usually pretty high in salt and other caustic ingredients.
I think I paid about $18 for a big 2lt bottle of meguires or some other decent carwash at autobahn, had that damn bottle about 2 years, wash all 3 of the cars and the 2 bikes vaguely regularly and theres still a good 1/3 left.

tussuck
6 years ago

Quoting JFE on 23 Jan 2019 06:49 PM
I like S100 engine brightener for the engine etc - works well.

Quoting Benno on 24 Jan 2019 04:25 AM
JFE, where you getting the S100 engine brightener from , I cant find it here in Oz.

I got my S100 from Harley Heaven in Melbourne

graeme
6 years ago

I use glass cleaner on chrome and wheels s100 on black motor bike is 17 years old and still looks good 2001 lowrider

Ratbob
6 years ago

Meguiars soft wash gel, bucket, water and microfibre cloth, never hosed a bike in my life. Using a bike lift sure helps. As the CVO doesn’t have any black engine finishes I don’t use any brighteners, they’re usually full of silicone, horrid stuff.

Benno
6 years ago

Quoting JFE on 23 Jan 2019 06:49 PM
I like S100 engine brightener for the engine etc - works well.

Quoting Benno on 24 Jan 2019 04:25 AM
JFE, where you getting the S100 engine brightener from , I cant find it here in Oz.

Quoting tussuck on 24 Jan 2019 06:45 AM
I got my S100 from Harley Heaven in Melbourne

Thanks Tussuck.

bloodog
6 years ago

INOX on every thing but the tires, break drums and belt, if the bike is sitting or a few months INOX and just let her sit. The motor will smoke for a bit when taken for the first ride. O and the seat gets a bit slippery INOX will not affect you're wiring

tussuck
6 years ago

Whats with the 5l container. My S100 is a solid paste in round tin about the same size as a car polish tin. (my bad just checked and I have the Polishing SOAP - absolutely awesome for polishing alloy!)

tussuck
6 years ago

https://s100.com/products/
I llike the kit witha bit from each product

JFE
6 years ago

Quoting JFE on 23 Jan 2019 06:49 PM
I like S100 engine brightener for the engine etc - works well.

Quoting Benno on 24 Jan 2019 04:25 AM
JFE, where you getting the S100 engine brightener from , I cant find it here in Oz.

Mate I got mine from Canberra HD.

steelo
4 years ago

Resurrecting an old thread but I’ve been looking after my brother in laws heritage and thought I’d better give it a wash and polish before Wade’s ride tomorrow.
He has whitewalls which were quite dull and grimy. Wheel cleaner and gurney only went part way. Scrubbing brush did nothing. So I got out some mild wood sandpaper and gave them a quick rub down while the bike was up on the stand. They came up a treat.

GGUser260 likes this post

Rivo
4 years ago

Regards cleaning whitewalls I had the most success with a normal scouring pad and dishwashing liquid and warm water.

Left a great shine and didn't take long to do, always used a lift under the bike so I could spin the wheel around easily.

steelo likes this post

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