i'm going to wash my bike for the first time...DO'S AND DONT'S?

[clubhousemotorsports]

Very common that when a tank gets lifted and then put back for the line  to get pinched as it is a very soft line.

[Massinova]

I use my bike as my main mode of transportation to commute to work (City Driving)when weather allows.  Consequently, I usually end up washing my bike every 2 weeks. 

1. Honda bright dirty parts of engine or other greasy/dirty aluminum parts
2. Quickly rinse with a hose ..no nozzle, avoid exhaust pipe outlets, or drowning your console (you can get it wet ...just don't drown it.
3. Soap-er up using soft "Clean" sponge or brush.
4. Repeat Step 2
5. Hand dry your bike using "clean" cotton rags. Make it a habit to dry the external portion of prominent electrical connections.
6. Use your desired product to polish protect the tank and other painted components if needed (You don't need to do this every wash ...depending on the product).
7. No need to apply your "your desired product" to protect carbon fiber components. Just avoid keeping it direct constant contact with UV light.
8. Use your desired product to clean protect seat, unpainted plastic, and rubber components
9. Clean break rotors ...I use a clean rag with a light coat of WD-40 and wipe them down.
10. Last but ans probably most important.  Clean your chain, I prefer to use Chain Wax.

[ephophex]

@ Massinova:

WD40 on your brake rotors?!?

I know it's more of a solvent than a lubricant; but, I personally would be worried about getting it anywhere near the swept area on the rotor, or on my pads. 

My $0.02:  If I suspect there's foreign schmutz of any kind on my rotors, I wipe them down with alcohol (evaporates quickly, and leaves no residue).  If they're just a little rusty because they got wet, I just depend on the pads to clean 'em up.

Oh, and as for general bike washing, I'd echo the other thoughts expressed by many others earlier - no hard direct spray; use a good quality auto soap; waxing the tank can help keep tank-bag scratches at bay; and I use a 10:1 spray solution of water:Simple Green to remove the more stubborn greasy stuff on wheels, swingarm, etc.

[mihama01]

Very basic advice:

I use a hose pipe (low pressure water). Try to keep spraying direct at the wheel/steering head bearings or electrics/behind the guages/fans/sensors/air filter intake or chain.

For the bugs, people say try to soak them off, that is keep them wet for about 10 minutes or so. Guess you can use a wet cloth layed across the windscreen.

Be careful not to get polish/oil or wax on the brake rotors or tyres.

Be aware than running the engine when wet will likely leave marks where the water drips evaporate on engine case and exhaust . ( I believe this is in the manual)

Use clean cloths for all upper paint surfaces and windscreen, otherwise any grit picked up will scar the paint or plastic screen.

You can then resue the clothes to do the wheels/engine that don't matter so much.

After washing but before drying, pick the bike off its side stand and try to lay it off to the opposite side, you will be suprised how much standing water there is caught in all the nooks and crannies of the engine.

Don't clean it and put it straight away, try to let it dry naturally outside for a while (Pick a sunny day).

Pay special attention to areas that matter, oil drain plug, suspension adjuster screws, ignition lock, suspension linkage, fork sliders etc. Consider applying a thin film of grease or WD40 to protect these areas after cleaning.

Add fabric softner (nah just kidding!!) 

[Carman]

you can use compressed air to get all the water out of the cracks, but don't do a hard direct stream it may blow water into seals

[Capo]

I got one of those air force blasters to dry off the water.

I had the same problem with the drain, turned out to be a blocked pipe, Ducati gave me a new Carbon tank even tho the warranty was a year out of date (the original was steel). I love Ducati 

[Clickjack]

After years of bike ownership I would have never thought about this...  So what do most people use for soap?  You guys who use WD-40, how?

Cleaning and lubing the chain... what do you guys use?  how do you get the rear wheel up to rotate the chain?  How often do you clean and lube the chain?  After every wash?

[Howie]

After years of bike ownership I would have never thought about this...  So what do most people use for soap?  You guys who use WD-40, how?

When I do wash my bike I use S 100 whatever soap I have on hand.  WD-40 is a good solvent for grease and tar.  Spray or wipe on.  Wipe off.  Since it is also a lubricant do not get it on tires or brakes.

Cleaning and lubing the chain... what do you guys use?  how do you get the rear wheel up to rotate the chain?  How often do you clean and lube the chain?  After every wash?
How to clean a chain:
http://www.ducatitech.com/info/chain.html
Chris Kelley is one of our sponsors and a star in the Ducati community.  I do my chain every 500 miles or so or after a long ride in the rain.  My favorite product is Motorex.

[Clickjack]

The reason I ask about the soap, is several guys have said that plain old dish soap will kill your clear coat...

[DucatiBastard]

yeah, dish soap is no bueno, it's waaaaay to strong on the clear.

[Clickjack]

So car soap is the way to go?

[DucatiTorrey]

What about monster 696 Darks??? they aren't cleared. Just matt black. Is there anything i should be aware of with cleaning that since i cant wax?\


thanks

getting it soooooon!!!!!

[OstOgBajer]

I don't bring a hose near my bike. Don't feel like it is any easier than cleaning it all by hand. I clean fenders with a wrung-out rag w/ car-wash soap, then wipe down the entire bike with a wrung-out rag w/ water followed by a dry cloth. Wheels are wiped down with wet paper towels first to get rid of that nasty brake dust which turns towels into trash so quickly.

[prudolph]

stay away from the ingintion switch.
I hosed mine down pretty good, the only problem i had was the imobilizer got messed up for a bit.
leave it outside for a while to dry out or inside put a worklamp or those shop spot lights and let it go for a while.

[darthmoto]

I don't see any reason to use a hose for a bike. Theyre not like cars where you want to spray off dirt from a large surface area. And most of the gunk in tight spots on a bike wont spray off, so there's really no point in using spray to get at places. I just take a small bucket, fill it with hot water, car soap, grab some microfiber rags, put my gloves on, and go at it. The hot water will dissolve the bugs and gunk. Thats all. And Pledge too, on some surfaces.