Bike Detailing

[sisca77]

Hmmm....I use my daughter's used ones. Other than that....try Walmart or Target  .

[Kopfjager]

Hmmm....I use my daughter's used ones. Other than that....try Walmart or Target  .

[hadesducati848]

i found electric toothbrushes work really well in hard to reach spots around the engine and brake calipers, and i use rainex on the mirrors.

[Kopfjager]

i found electric toothbrushes work really well in hard to reach spots around the engine and brake calipers, and i use rainex on the mirrors.

Good idea, mine just sit on the charger anyway. 

[sbrguy]

i always found that standard washing with soap and water was fine, and when rinsing off just spray it as a fine mist and its fine, sort of like if you rode the bike in the rain, obviously i'm not power washing or even own a powerwasher and aiming it at pivot points, but i think the misting to get all the soap an such off wont' get into the bearings.

[hadesducati848]

Good idea, mine just sit on the charger anyway. 

lol you could or you can just pick up the five dollar ones from walmart
between that and the citrace clean my 848 and 696 look like they came right off the show room floor

[DoubleEagle]

I use what used to be " Honda spray cleaner & polish " now called ORIGINAL bike spirits, spray cleaner & polish.

You can buy it at any bike shop for less than $10.

I spray it on all body work , windscreen, forks, brake monoblocs, engine, and also wheels after they have been cleaned w, ZEP Heavy-Duty citrus DEGREASER sprayed on w, the fine spray setting, available at auto parts stores for about $10.

The " Polish " you just let set for about 5 minutes , then use a micro fiber towel or cloth and wipe it and the bugs and grime off and it should leave a shine like wax or polish like the name implies .

I buy a bag of red shop rags and use them for lower down on the bike and on the engine and exhaust, available at the auto parts store for maybe $5.

ZEP Degreaser, spray it on the wheels and the exhaust system.

Let it set for about 3 minutes but don't allow it to dry .

Flush it off w, cool clean water.

Take a blower of some sort and try and blow all the water off the bike parts that have water on them

You can put the Degreaser on the engine if it has cooled down.

Once the wheels are dry , spray some of the polish on them and shine them up.

You can use the polish on the mirrors also and the gauges and their mountings.

By no means use any tire shine on your tires unless you want to end up on your ass.

You can put the Degreaser on your rear sprocket and clean it , just leave it on for 3 minutes and wash off w, clean , cool water and blow dry, and then use the polish on it.

I know this sounds like a lot to do maybe but hey, I do it every time I come back from a ride.

I guess that's why my bikes always look like new !

Dolph     [moto]

[jc.cyberdemon]

Good idea, mine just sit on the charger anyway. 

does that mean you dont brush?

[gregrnel]

I take it you're British?

Good idea, mine just sit on the charger anyway. 

[geoffduc]

I take it you're British?

And what the F**k is that suppose to mean...

[Vindingo]

This thread is funny.    Q-tips, baby bottle brush cleaners... 

I'm so glad I am not cursed with the affliction of wanting a pristine motorcycle.  I get it, but luckily dirty motorcycles make me happy. 

[Howie]

I guess no one has heard the old adage "a clean motorcycle is a sign of a sick mind"?

[gregrnel]

I'm just propagating the old British have bad teeth stereotype, you know, like Austin Powers.

And what the F**k is that suppose to mean...

[fastwin]

i found electric toothbrushes work really well in hard to reach spots around the engine and brake calipers, and i use rainex on the mirrors.

Kopf, you will appreciate this. I always rotate my old (manual) toothbrushes to the garage tool box and/or gun cleaning kit when I get a new one. Toothbrushes are great for getting to small nooks and crannys on scooters and firearms. Got my shooting buddies to take up the same habit. Believe it or not your basic Oral B type toothbrush will not even be fazed by aerosol Birchwood-Casey Gunscrubber spray!! And that shit is tough on everything!! When the brushes get nasty from bike or gun crud I just spray them clean with Gunscrubber. Gave me a whole new appreciation of toothbrushes.

[Speedbag]

Leaf blowers work great for getting water out of the nether regions.....