First of many stupid questions

[Bazz21]

I use chain wax rather than an oil, the wax when applied to a hot chain (i.e. just after a ride) sets and doesn't fling off, i use wd or cdc to clean my chain and i also spray it on my engine, keeps road grime and rain stain from setting on the alloy/paint.

I also tend to lube regularly, it's cheap, and better to do it more than not enough.

Leave the pressure washer in the shed, they're bad news for bikes, especially road bikes, yep, they're made to be ridden in the rain but a regular hose is fine with a bucket and sponge, decent quality car wash and chamois. As one of the other guys said, air boxes and bearings can get moisture forced in from a pressure washer but worse than that, electrical plugs/wiring can also be affected possibly leaving you stranded somewhere.

Mr Sheen and Windex are probably ok (dishwashing liquid is not! contains caustic soda) but i prefer quality automotive products, meguiars car wash,  final inspection, and wax, cleaner wax is excellent, all engineered for paint work, not furniture, just depends on how fussy you want to get i suppose.

good luck, ride safe.

paul.

yep do as paul said and u wont go far except for windex is a no no on anything plastic based as for your seat meguirs vinvy and platic restorer is great and not slippery and cleans the grime of well and as for your chain  i wax mine after every ride and there will be lots saying thats bullshit but i never have to adjust my any where near as much about twice a year cheers bazz

[Uba Tracker]

Hey Darkhorse, there's a staggering array of "this is the best chain lube ever" opinions out there, and for for the most part they're all correct. Favoured brands and application intervals all born out of personal experience which is what you'll develop over time yourself. However, that said, I use Belray Super Clean chain lube. It's a wax style lube, applied to a warm chain for best results and states that it is categorically 'Non fling'. They're not lying. After 12 months and 5000km of using it at 500 km intervals there is not one drip, dag or speck of chain lube that has been found anywhere on my bike other than the chain. I haven't needed to adjust the chain tension in that time either, but in all fairness I shouldn't have after only 5000k's.
In terms of cleaning old chain lube off, Kerosene is the hot ticket, low odour if you want. Use a small paint brush to apply and aggitate the old lube off. Kerosene is a hydrocaron and if left long enough will just evaporate and leave next to no residue except maybe traces of the old chain lube. My tip for a great clean to remove the kerosene/chain lube residue is by using a simple laundry pre-wash spray like Preen or Friend and then just use a low pressure garden hose to get rid of the lot, trust me it'll be absolutely spotless and neither the kero or the pre-wash is harmful to painted or plated finishes. Follow up with a general soap and sponge wash to get rid of bugs and road grime and you should have a sparkling clean bike. I've been using this cleaning regimen for 30+ years and I'm fussy to the point of being OCD. Have fun..........

[Two dogs]

Don't forget to take your front sprocket gaurd of every so often.
Its amazing how much chain lube and dirt and crud build up there.
One of my track day friends had an off due to a big blob that had built up under there finally flung off
directly onto his rear wheel 
I did mine last week and was amazed how much had built up in six months.


I am adding this to the likely list of reasons a certain Tri colour owner crashed recently , as we all know
how filthy he let his bike get once he had Brian's concourse trophy in his hands 

[koko64]

Don't use Windex glass cleaner on plastic. Windex All Surfaces cleaner is the one to use on areas for a quick clean like wheel grime and wiping down tank, screen, etc. I don't use it on vinyl as a treatment, but it does clean well. Glass cleaner only for glass.
I've tried many chain lubes and only a few brands of waxes didn't fling off, some which were mentioned like Bel Ray which I now use. You gotta wipe off the excess after its absorbed into the links with most lubes to be sure. The one that flung off the most was Shell chain oil. I use it as an all purpose lube for hard to get spots, but not on the chain. It's not a wax, the wax version mentioned I'm sure is better.