Cleaning Idea's, got 'em, give 'em!

[alph]

The other day i was looking at the cycle, and tried to clean my rear trunk tail lights.  i tried using Q-tips, even a rag with a pencil in it to reach into the tight nooks, nothing worked.  so, i did the next most logical thing, i took it apart!!  nothing was able to get the elevan + years of gook off.  i tried hand soap, dish soap, car wash, even turtle wax!!  until i tried "Goop" hand cleaner.  here's a before, after shoots;

[NITRO]

Great, that's one more thing I have to put on my spring to-do list. Thanks Al.

[MP]

Beautiful!  Be sure to bring some along to Keystone, so you can do mine there!  LOL   

MP

[Valker]

Looks nice.
My best cleaning tip...............Don't! ;-)

[MrBones]

Valker your my HERO

[don07tncav]

Valker walks his talk too! 

[El Borrego]

I try to keep my bike clean and shiny.  My riding buddy has a 1996 BMW K1100 and unless he is riding in the rain it is never cleaned.  His story is that it doesn't go any faster nor ride any better cleaned.  He does maintain it very well mechanically.  I make him ride way out in front or behind me so that people won't think we're riding together.  Just kidding but I do ride him pretty hard about his dirty bike.

[cookiedough]

I too have tried about once every year to get into those rear light rings with wax/rag but find it almost impossible as well.  I just let it collect more dust is all.  No solution I guess unless removal like you did.

The worst part of cleaning my bike which I only do 4-5 times all season long besides the windshield splatters is the rear wheel  rims since the I/S side bags make it almost impossible to get the grime/brake dust, etc. off of the rims.  My water bucket at the end of 2011 was pitch black since this past riding season I neglected washing the rear wheel rim all riding season, yuck!  I like Valker's idea much better, do nothing.

When I was younger, more ambition, and without kids, I use to wash my cycle and vehicles once every other week and wax at least 2-3 times per year, not anymore.

[NITRO]

I only ended up washing my cycle three times last season, but do try to keep her looking somewhat presentable. With the number if gravel roads Alph leads me to, it's a full time job!
As for the rear wheel, if you polish it well and wax whenever you have it off, it makes cleaning much easier.

[Valker]

My bike got somewhat clean (parts of it) when I worked on some parts last summer. I cleaned nearly the whole thing in November................................................................................. .........................................of 2001.

[alph]

I only ended up washing my cycle three times last season, but do try to keep her looking somewhat presentable. With the number if gravel roads Alph leads me to, it's a full time job!
As for the rear wheel, if you polish it well and wax whenever you have it off, it makes cleaning much easier.

hey, what can i say, when i was younger i wanted a dirt bike, but my mother was deathly afraid of cycles so i was never allowed to get one!!  i've got several years of dirt road riding to get it out of my system!! 

and by the way, those 200 miles of hard rain we road in last summer isn't what i'd concider on of those 3 washes is it??

[larswlvs]

After washing use Cascade dishwasher soap in the rinse water,it will dry leaving no water spots. Quicker drying can be obtained by using an electric leaf blower

[cookiedough]

I've used a clean soft cotton cloth (old sock or hand towel) to wash with car wash/warm water and use a chamois cloth (otherwise known as a shammy) to dry that I make sure is clean and use wet ringing out when needed by hand.  Has worked for me for years.  Only thing you have to be careful about is getting a speck or two of dirt in the chamois cloth when drying and to not rub to hard on the paint or chrome.  I once must of had some dirt/sand on the shammy and cleaned the entire side dry once on my vehicle and when I got done it had fine scratches all over in the paint before I realized it.  Took the entire day to buff out with 3M fine rubbing compound the fine scratches in the paint that luckily did not go thru the clear coat.   Any good wax is fine to use on the paint and I use plain old cheap jar of turtle wax chrome polish you can buy at walmart for under 2 bucks to get the chrome shiny and it does take off some stubborn fine rust on the chrome if you let it sit on the chrome longer and rub harder to get the fine rust spots off.

[Parker]

After washing I use an electric leaf blower to dry the bike. It works great, gets in to all those nooks and crannies you'll never get by hand and leaves no wipe marks. I might use a chamois for a few small touch-up spots, but that's it. Works great, just like the finale' at the drive through car wash, but only more directed by you.

Have Fun.

[alph]

After washing I use an electric leaf blower to dry the bike. It works great, gets in to all those nooks and crannies you'll never get by hand and leaves no wipe marks. I might use a chamois for a few small touch-up spots, but that's it. Works great, just like the finale' at the drive through car wash, but only more directed by you.

Have Fun.

don't laugh, i get on the cycle and zooom down the highway on ramp going 90 mph!!   almost got a ticket one time