I just looked back 10 pages and cannot see if this has been discussed before.......but, how do you wash your bike.
Personally I remove and cover a few items, to prevent water getting into electrical stuff etc. For example I wrap alfoil over and around the switch blocks, remove the aircleaner cover and wrap the air cleaner in alfoil. Remove saddle bags, and screen. (clean screen seperately)
Then I place the bike on the Lift, near the shed door, so I can sweep out the water.
I get a spraybottle with a bit of CT-18 (truck wash) mixed with water. Spray this all over the bike. Let this soak for a few minutes. Get the garden hose, attached to the rain water tank pump, and with a light flow, go over the bike with one of those hand mitts, starting at the top working down.
Pay special attention to wheels and disc pads, give them a good rinse.
Then I take a chamois and start from the top and work down. Spinning the wheels on the stand makes it easier.
Remove all the alfoil covers, put the bits back., and take the bike for a quick spin to remove the hidden moisture etc.
With the new bike, they actually give you some HD cleaning products, which work well. The saddle soap and wax for the seat and panniers are great.
Does anyone else use the CT-18. I remember talking to some HOG members years ago and this is what they recommended.
TC
I've used Mr Sheen for years with good results.
Is it not advisable only if you intend to re-paint ? I'm keen to see any other reasons why it should'nt be used.
thx
I only wash the bike with water every couple of months. Use Meguires Quik Detailer, helps keep the wax on the bike from breaking down. I have always been weary of using high pressure washers on cars and bikes as water usually goes past places/seals that it shouldn't.
I use Meguires and for the bling i use Meguires no smear window cleaner, Polishes up real nice.
a mate of mine just puts the hose over his and shammys it off, you couldnt tell
There's a chick named Scrubber, she comes and cleans your bike for the right price.
Why would I want to do it?
Hey Gmeikle.....top idea the bunnings garden blower,im same under the tree out the front....never really got into cleaning them that much,when i do i try and keep it simple...
looks like another trip to bunnings.
You get ya bike washed when ya get a service!!!!! Shit, I musta missed something here!!
Had my bike serviced in Darwin last week and it came back with oil running down the side of the oil tank, oil over the lower motor where they removed the oil filter and lube all over the lubable bits
Wash it when serviced? Not in Darwin they don't!!!
I suppose at least I can see they actually done something
I would never use CT-18 as it has to much salt in it. A person who sells chemicals for a living told me that and also it is a Truck wash. Being involved in the transport industry for over 17 years you have a look at all the rusted trucks getting around. All we ever used was CT-18 or 20 but dont now. "Bright Shine" polish I have found is fantastic for chome, and its only $10.00 a tin.
Wash and then Silkolene Pro Prep for me when dry......
I wash my ride only when absolutely required, and use turtle car wash and polish with warm water and a very clean sponge, air blow dry with compressed air and follow up with Harley shine. I figure that the bike is designed to be ridden in the rain so a little water to wash it shouldn't do much harm.
Bt
I use a cap of ct18 in 10 ltrs water, hose bike off first then wash solution over with a microfibre cloth. Hose off then chamoise it , then a quick ride round the block as I dont have a compressor to blowdry.
Only do this once every 2 - 3 months if I am not busy Polish 1 or 2 times a year depending if I have time or bored with Kitten wax(eukanuba wax) and Brite shine the shiney bits. If alloys looking bad a bit of metal polish paste (cant remeber name ) then brite shine that. Its kept undercover and coverd as my Hound like to use the front wheel as a tree, I havnt worked out how to electrify it yet (evil laugh)
Spent most of the day on my hands and knees (must get a bike lift) washing and polishing the bike. Started around 12 and finished about 6:30. Some say I'm anal (obsessively self controlled for thoughs with a weird mind!!) but I like to do the job right. I went out and bought some CT-18 (never heard of it before this thread) at the local servo (the only servo, rip off bastards).
This is the usual regime of washing bike or car:
I think you get the drift. The reason I do this is its 30+ deg here all the time with a breeze and if I don't keep the vehicle /bike wet at all times it dries and I end up with calcium stains that require vinegar to get off. The town water supply is bore water.
Now back to the CT-18. I am absolutley rapt with this product. No streaking nor calcium stains. Followed instruction, put some in bucket, hooked up to high pressure cleaner with hot water attached and away we went. Sponge cleaned as we went. Noticed after a while that I did not need to keep the bike wet.
Got the petrol leaf blower out (another trick from this thread) took the blow nozzle off and blow dried the bike and got all the nooks and crannies dry.
Polishing sux. My fingers hurt so bad. Geez I hate alloy. Tried the Bluemagic paste (another suggestion from this thread) and was not overly impressed. I have always used Autosol and found the Bluemagic on par with Autosol.
When someone finds or comes up with a wipe on wipe off alloy cleaner, ffs let me know!!
Polished the tins with Kitten Liquid polishing wax No1. (only cause there is nothing else in this town) Pretty good product,. Easy on and polish off.
End result is the bike is gleaming ready to blind a few backpackers on the way to Uluru on Monday morning.
The difference between dishwashing detergent and auto wash, is the auto wash has a rust inhibator added, and the dishwashing detergent hasn't. SO, use an auto wash product.
California purple, is certainly a superior product, it shines with ease and will remove blueing, although I have not tried that.
Try using a canuba wax instead of Mr. Sheen, NON silicone, and available in most good polishes, (read the lables), and not hard to apply.
For those who use high pressure air to dry your bikes! I have been informed that there is a high pressure/wide fan nozzle for your air line. I will be intouch with my supplier soon, and will inform you in a couple of weeks.
Hmmm... Is it just me that doesn't let water within 100ft of my bike?
I will admit I avoid rain at every option. They are never the same once wet.
Yes - I am serious!! Call me soft, call me whatever. I just hate riding in the rain for safety and whole bunch of other reasons. Plan is to never have the bike wet - If I can help it.
