Ducati Monster Forum

Hey guys,

I was using Simple Green about two months ago to thoroughly clean my new to me Monster.  I would spray some onto shop towels and wipe away on all parts of the bike.  After reading posts about the stuff, I'm now concerned I may have damaged some bits of the bike.  The lower triple in particular looks slightly etched, but no other parts of the bike look "off".  Any thoughts on what I should do now?  Would it be prudent to rinse the bike, 2 months later?  Should I just forget about it and move on?  Thanks guys.

On a related note, which parts of a Monster 620 are aluminum? 

Get a magnet, if it doesn't stick to that metal part, its a good bet it is aluminum.

If the parts look alright, you probably didn't do anything terrible.

I think most stuff on the 620 will be aluminum. Steel frame, steel swingarm (Pretty sure they didn't put an aluminum swinger on the 620, right?), maybe the headlight bucket?

As Krolik said, magnet around a bit and you'll find out.

People used to have this problem with their aluminum wheels.  Sometimes the cleaner would get under the clearcoat of the alum wheels and start etching away.  Its not too late to give it a good rinse again.  Simple Green is usually pretty mild for treated surfaces.  Did it leave a haze on the finish or does it look like its from underneath?

The lower triple isn't hazed, it more or less looks splotchy.  Honestly, nothing much looks too bad.  I went over all the plastics and rubber with Armor-All, and everything is back to being nice and black.  From the way some of the posts read on this forum, you'd think Simple Green will turn your metal bits into brittle husks of their former selves.  I'm assuming this is not the case, but posting the question to appease my OCD. ;)

Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

I've had the same problem and have used this to clear it up http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-One-1035605-6PK-Nevr-Dull-Wadding/dp/B001IXQHBY (http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-One-1035605-6PK-Nevr-Dull-Wadding/dp/B001IXQHBY)
BTW, I use alcohol and a microfiber towel to clean my engine and wheels.....no streaking and after some 6K plus miles no problems. 

just go toss your bike in the weeds and get it all good and scratched up........maybeeven a few broken bits. The OCD will then stop and you'll have a proper bike. Mine got washed this year once.

I use alcohol but not for cleaning. ;D I don't have any streaking but I am going bald. [thumbsup]

Haha, guys, the bike is far from pristine.  It's a 2004 Monster 620.  I'm the third owner.  It's got it's fair share of scratches, bends, tank dents, etc.  Just hoping I didn't screw up any of the metal bits. 

Muskrat, I'll check out that Nevr-Dull.  Seems the Navy folks are all about it.

And pompetta, don't cross the streams.

Do not armor-all your tires.

The seat isn't a great plan either.

Mr. Incredible, thanks.  I skipped lubing the tires, seeing as friction is our friend.  As for the seat, the old guy got some leather treatment love.  And yes, it was a little slippery at first ;)

how do you wash off the shit stains then?

Idk-I've never washed a lawyer  :-*

 :P  we only get them from dealing with shifty clients...

yeah, no armorall.  saw an idiot do that and riding away from the bikini bike wash.........CRASH  [clap]

Next time, dilute the simple green with equal parts H2O. And rinse when you're done.

The simple green I have (maybe a different concentrate) is one part to 10 parts water and works great, I've never had a problem with it.

Remember to use the wad polish on smooth services.  Try it on small spot first.  Cleans the shit out of chrome too......benefits of having a Harley  ;)

I like using Simple Green for a lot of my cleaning, but I did find out that using it on carbon fiber that hasn't been cleared over=bad.

Rinse, don't spray, no high pressure water. Especially those quarter machine self-wash stations, they are NOT for bikes. I can't believe I saw a guy doing that once (yes I do ride in the rain, I am in the Portland OR area and ride all year round).

The Doc

Gotta be careful what your spraying. I use the high pressure about once a year to get all the grease off of the engine cases and swingarm. When I used to ride dirt bikes, they got the pressure treatment often. Especially when I had been riding in the sand dredge.

I never had any problems with simple green either. Maybe that's because I rinse? I find that the salt air does enough damage to metal bits on its own.

Dirtbikes yes, but they get stripped down every so often, I have seen linkage and steering head bearings from bikes that got pressure washed not cared for, ouch!!. I do agree though one has to watch where they aim that stream! I won't pressure the Duc though.

Stay away from the swingarm pivot if you use pressure.

The seals aren't very tight and those bearings have very small needle rollers that get toasted by water.

as long as you stay away from the seals and any bearing areas, it is ok.

i have done it for years, but you have to be careful.  also with the case half and cover seals.  the new (new??) gasketless seal will rip out.

but it's great for getting the grime off the bottom of your engine or behind the vert head.  you just have to do it surgically.

Yea like I said careful, and you don't have to do it too often. Some people don't wash their bike at all.

raises hand

Got caught in a frakin monsoon yesterday.  Calling the bike rinsed.

How waterproof are those electrical connections behind the headlight?  There's a pretty big connector there that's just open to sucking up water.

The only people I've ever heard of having issues with water and a bike are those who actually wash it.

There's a lesson in there, somewhere.

You should open that connector and see the three rubber ribs that seal out water then make your own conclusion. Even if you decide its pretty waterproof I would avoid spraying the high pressure water right on it.

There may be other factors involved there...  ;)

true, I have pictures to prove it  ;D

it really depends.  they are supposed to be pretty good but you might find some people (ahem) who went behind our fine bolognese engineers and put electric grease into the main ones.  i've pretty much gone thru my bike and removed and replaced everything so it wasn't because i was bored one sunday morning. i have just found it good practice to add the grease when you remove a connector. 

There is a weather proof connector on the oil pressure sensor.  Do a search on "oil light rain" on this board.