I didn't wash my previous bike very much, only paint was 2 fenders and tank. I normally just sprayed the hell out of it with some Windex, wiped it down and then waxed it. I'm noticing that the shark probably needs to be washed with an actual hose due to the amount of grime that gets on it and how dry wiping can scratch the clearcoat up.
When you guys wash your bikes what are the do's and dont's? I'm assuming you wouldnt want to directly spray the shit outta the console because of water sitting in the speakers and radio or possibly seeping into gauges? What about the seat, whats the rule for that? Do you remove the bags or just spray water/cleaner/rinse between them and the fender?
Also what cleaners do people use? I've read about s100 and how its super easy, spray on, wash off, but I've also seen horror stories about it marring paint and powdercoated parts. Are there other spray on/spray off cleaners that work well with no risk? Is it better to take a sponge to it?
Ideally I would like to be able to spray the bike down with water, spray on cleaner, rinse off, and dry with my air compressor and then wax. Is that feasible?
I've had it twice where I thought I wrecked my stereo after a wash, next day it was all dried out and workin fine. I try to stay away from it with the power washer now...
I usually use a power washer to clean my bike, spray on some soap, then rinse it off with pressure, of course not too close and stay away from the inner fairing and air cleaner, but it works great.
If I have a few hours of spare time, I'll take the bags off and give it a full handjob in all the nooks and crannies, then I blow dry with my leaf blower, and towel off anything left behind.
Using compressed air to dry prob isn't a good idea. There is alot of moisture buildup inside the compressor tank that comes out from the hose. Ever open the drain on your compressor and see all the water that comes out. You can put a filter/ dryer on your compressor that will help. I have a small shopvac that I use for drying only, just put the hose on the outlet side, instead if the vac side. You can buy small nozzles/tips that will concentrate the air, it dries really well.
+1 on the shop vac. Read a thread that they were using leaf blowers. I didn't have one but have a shop vac. It works great. Just depends on how dirty I get it before the bags come off. I got caught in the rain a few weeks ago. Had to take them off to clean it up.
I don't use water very often, maybe once a month or after I get caught in the rain. Between washes I use Lucas Slick Mist and a micro fiber towel. I don't wash and reuse my micro fiber towels either. When they are dirty they become grease rags or chrome polishing rags.
I try not to get the seat too wet if I'm getting ready to ride (I don't like a wet arse) Leaf blower works great for drying
I use S100 products. There are many good products out there. But I would "NEVER" use a pressure washer!! I don't want all that water pressure getting into any electrical connections,ect. I use a water hose & a fine spray pattern. Good Luck.
simple green on the bugs...mr clean car wash with the filtered rinse- takes out the hard water- and leaf blower to dry- with the rinse there are hardly any spots
Mr Clean is excellent. It takes bugs right off, I put my bike away wet after using it, and the next day, I bug slide it for a quick shine, then I ride it. The cheapest place I have found the Mr clean is overstock.com. Amazon carries the replacement filters and soap. I take the saddle bags off to clean the back rim, so my rule of thumb is if the back rim needs it, so does the back of the saddle bags.
I use Wizards Products (see link below). Best stuff ever!!! Their spray on bike wash is the best thing I've every tried and I've tried a lot of products including Bike Bright and S100. Spray the entire bike with it (including the dash, gauges, speakers) and hose it off with mild pressure from a garden hose and never ever use a power washer. You can damage things really easy. For mild detailing use their Mist-N-Shine. It looks like you spent hours waxing your ride!!!
I just use my 17 year old son........LOL He got a 12 switchback and I get a clean bike when needed....so far working out good for me...lol
We acually use a product that our harley dealer sells called Cajun shin. It works great on all surfaces. Wet a micro cloth and add cajun shin to it, wipe bike down and take a dry micro cloth and wipe over. Clean and fast.
I also use a Hog Blaster to get almost all the water off the bike. When done it's almost completely spot free. Just a little wiping with a microfiber cloth and I'm good to go. I have used a leaf blower in the past but it left a haze on the surface.
I strip my bags, raise it up on the bike jack, spray down with Bike Bright, hand wash then rinse. Blow dry with leaf blower, wipe off the rest. about once a month I wax, polish, and clean the spokes by hand. still shines like new 13 years later..Putting it up on the jack allows me to get all the underside, spin the wheels, and it means less bending over...
I only do a full-on wash every few months when the motor starts looking grimy but when I do, I pull the bags, side covers and seat. With the bike on the jack, I spray the motor and wheels with Simple Green and use automotive car wash soap for the tins (and hit the chrome wheels again with the soap). The majority of drying is done with an electric leaf blower ($25 from Walmart), and the rest is picked up with microfiber towels. (Cotton towels of any kind WILL scratch paint, no matter how soft!)
I never spray water directly at the gauges or electronics ... they still get a little wet but there's no sense drowning electrical items when it's not necessary. I usually throw a coat of wax on the paint and powdercoat afterwards along with some chrome polishing. (I keep a LOT of wax on the paint.)
In between washes, I keep the bike looking clean by using a Swiffer after rides to get rid of dust. Sometimes I'll follow that by wiping down the paint with a wet microfiber towel to remove bugs and such and dry with another. It really helps to keep everything good and waxed. Everyone has their preferred method (including "I ride - not clean"), but this is what works for me. I have no swirl marks whatsoever.
I wash it maybe once a month but its always shiny! I use a cleaning/detailing spray in between with a microfiber towel. If I'm actually washing it I use the s100 spray on, let sit for a minute and spray off. I never wash the console, I hand do that. If she's real dirty I'll take a sponge to her and some regular car soap.
+ S100 wash products
+ low pressure water
+ Leaf blower
+ Finish with microfiber towels and some Harley Gloss if necessary
Bettery Yet:
See if your dealer has was service. I routninely get mine washed at dealer for $14.00 in about an hour and a half....but of course that doesn't include the money I usually spend looking aroung while they are doing it!
I have used the s100 spray for the last 2-3 times with good results. Havent seen any negative effects on paint or powdercoating like OP heard about. Cuts my cleaning time down alot. Leaf blow dry.
I take mine to the $.25 cent car wash and blast it about once a week and about every day when on a road trip. There is nothing to be afraid of when blasting the bike at the car wash, you can use the high pressure on most everything but the dash just keep the end of the wand a couple feet away from the bike, on the dash area just take your hand off the trigger and use low pressure, don't concentrate the water on the radio but getting the radio wet is OK just make sure the AUX jack is plugged and the CD door is closed, the speakers are marine grade so you can't hurt them with water and I never got water inside the gauges because they are sealed. I have a Black & Decker electric broom and it fits in the saddlebags and I use that to blow off the bike (I don't take it on road trips) around the dash and control area then wipe the bike down with microfiber towels. I wash all the bikes I had at the car wash and I been washing my RG for 4 years at the car wash and I never had any problems. In between washes I use lemon PLEDGE and a microfiber cloth , so don't spend your money on fancy over priced cleaners a $4.00 can of lemon PLEDGE will clean your bike great, by the way you can use the PLEDGE on paint , chrome and the windshield. People get paranoid about getting the bike wet but HD makes the bike pretty much bullet proof when it gets wet, how many riders have to ride in the rain (downpours at times) or have their bike sitting outside the motel room or tent in the rain while on a road trip
Zymol spray detailer or spray glaze. Love this stuff! Can do the entire bike in about 5-10 minutes. Only wash it about once every other month. Use the leaf blower to dry and then a quick wax.
well when it comes to my vehicles clean,call me anal.
i wash the bike at least once or twice a week. i also wax it often. usually the waxing gets done on my lunch hour to pass the time.
the wheels are the bigest pain . the brake dust kills them .
i use the mr clean process. dry with leaf blower and finish with the microfiber towel.
i also use mcguires scratch x which takes out any swirl marks or fine scratches, then apply mcguires gold class wax to finish.
if i am in a hurry,i will use the duster first,then some spray on pledge for a quick clean/shine.
i do stay away from the seat and inner fairing as much as possible.
I was her with soap and water whenever it's necessary, regardless of the time interval. If the level of filth requires soap and water, that's what she gets.
Saddlebags get removed and washed separately. This allows for a thorough cleaning behind them and the rear wheel.
I use the garden hose and a bucket of suds. Wash it pretty much like I was my truck: rinse, scrub, rinse.
I don't dwell on certain areas, but I don't avoid them either. After all, it's a motorcycle... a vehicle that will get ridden all day long in the rain if that's what Mother Nature throws at us.
Dry off with the leaf blower (don't do that step with my truck).
I don't do it each time, but I'll apply a nice coat of wax to finish.
Those times that she's just dusty, it's Purple Slice.
I have used S100 for years and it comes with a sponge Never an issue 2 bikes painted inner fairing,many custom paint and powder parts never a problem for finish failure.These are gloss finished bikes.I do keep the hose lite around the dash, blow the heavy water off bug slide the hard water spots.I have noticed that the S100 SEEMS to makes it easier to spray and wipe between wet washing.Read the instructions !
I am sad to say but I haven't washed mine in months. Maybe twice so far this year.... typically I wash it monthly...
Need a reason to get away from Lesley.
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