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G'day, all of the photo's i see of people bikes they're all just so clean. I ride most days so as you can imagine i don't clean my bike after every ride, i do usuall give it a hose off but. Just wondering wat you fella's do to keep ya bikes looking like new??? don't you guys have mud

Vanrock wrote:I ride most days so as you can imagine i don't clean my bike after every ride, i do usuall give it a hose off but. Just wondering wat you fella's do to keep ya bikes looking like new??? don't you guys have mud

Well...for us...we clean them after every ride (Mud or not...and believe me, we get mud. Nice, ugly, thick, Elmers glue river mud.) Depending on conditions, I always alot an hour or two for cleaning as part of the days schedule. I will admit that there have been times that we came home late and did not wash the bikes until the next day HOWEVER, our rule is "Start clean...End Clean!" I have never transported DIRTY bikes TO the ride.

The only real exception to this is if we are camping/riding and there are no wash facilities available. In a case like that, you just have to go with the flow otherwise, Clean is Cool!!

nedirtbikr wrote:

Vanrock wrote: I have never transported DIRTY bikes TO the ride.

I've stopped at the car wash on the way to a ride to clean a bike only to have it covered in mud 30 min later. You have to show up with a clean bike. For me I have a month or 2 when it's too cold,snow,Ice to ride. So I prep,add parts,clean and dream of riding. We also plan days off and schedule the riding/racing season.

A product that DD turned me on to called S100. It's the schnizitz! Ken sells it.

Joe

A product I found at my local shop is called "hole shot" stuff works wonders in less than 5 minutes on the caked on mud. Just wash down to get the big struff off and then spray this stuff on let it set for 5 minutes and rinse. Presto a clean bike top to bottom.

They all lie!

All they do is sit around and take pictures of them...every once in awhile, theyll push em outside and do it there.

skotti wrote:They all lie! All they do is sit around and take pictures of them...every once in awhile, theyll push em outside and do it there.

There's always that internet detective that catches us posers! Damn you!!!

well im cheap so....... Simple Green mixed 50/50 with water and a old dish sponge after every ride keeps my bikes and atvs clean

Vanrock wrote:Just wondering wat you fella's do to keep ya bikes looking like new?

BTW, Dawn dishwashing liquid, soft nylon bristle brush, sponge, power washer, and a 14-year to get the real dirty crap on the bottom for me.

DD turned me on to S100, its sold as "Hondabrite" at Honda dealers too, AWESOME stuff. Also I have a 5 h.p. pressure washer which is a must. And a chain brush bought from Ken. I also use Simple Green, and a 3M sponge with Scotchbrite scatchy stuff on one side to scrub off boot marks. Plexis to polish the plastic and protect it. And "elbow grease" a product that has been around a long time.....

I use a degreaser called BURST. It non caustic and will not screw up the aluminum. Rinse off the heavy stuff, spray the bike down with burst. Let is sit for a couple minutes and rinse.

The best thing is if you can find a local distributor, you can usually buy it in 5 gallons drums for less than $20.00.

Also once clean, spray everything from the seat down with WD40 or some type of silicone. DO NOT SPRAY SEAT!!! This keeps the mudd from caking up and sticking. Also protects the metal.

Orange Blast degreaser...



Less then five bucks at Walmart...

The steps:

1) rinse bike

2) spray with simple green

3) add some soapy water and scrub with different sized kitchen brushes to fit tight areas

4) Rinse bike well

5)Start bike and do some highspeed wheelies up and down the block to eliminate excess water. Ride the brakes a little bit to dry them out

6) pull into garage and hit with compressed air to remove any water thats left. (this includes all the moving parts and under the brake lever rubber boot ETC.) add general purpose spray lube to all moving parts

7) finish with light coat of WD40 and wipe with clean cloth (this includes the chain)

hit the plastics with some auto interior type spray

Somtimes Ill remove the seat and plastics before washing to get a more thorough job. be sure to cover the exhaust tip and protect the air box from water.

Well at the moment i haven't riden for three day we just got back from the coast and i will be riding with a few mates on the block tomorrow. All great ways of cleanin ya bike and very devoted to keepin them clean. But this leads me to ask. How often are you fellas riding????

Vanrock wrote:But this leads me to ask. How often are you fellas riding????

Well, right now, we're snowbound. But, when the weather is regular...I ride anywhere from three to four times a week and definately at least one of the weekend days.