Bike Detailing

[hillbillypolack]

I kinda do a 'waterline' wash and detail.  Meaning that I don't often hose everything off in the cluster / gauge area with H2O. 

In a shaded area, I rinse the bike with cool water (garden hose) from the steering head down.  Seat is off, wheels propped up on stands, etc.  I know people freak when they hear Simple Green, but it does work really well, and I have yet to have any issue with it removing any finishes on any bike I have owned.  I don't let it sit on the bike though.  I do 1/4 of the bike at a time, and swab it into nooks and crannies with a 2" chip brush.  Those are the really cheap 'paint brushes' you see at Home Depot for 79 cents or whatnot.  If you want to get really retentive (hey, you asked about detailing), cover the metal part of the paintbrush with electrical tape so you don't ding your paint when swabbing tight areas.  I also have a longer brush for deeper areas and cleaning.

Once I'm done with that area, rinse it well and move on.  Front wheel and left engine, side cases and rear wheel, etc.  Try to use different brishes for dirt (wheel spray area) versus paint and cosmetic areas.  Once I'm done rinsing the last area, I'll dry it with a few 3M microfiber cloths.  Like a chamois, but they are re-washable and soft every time.  The wheels etc get shop rags.  Then, to comPLETELY dry the hard to reach areas, I use compressed air and go around the bike 2-3 times.  Follow this with a quick spritz of WD-40 on all pivots and joints. 

Then if you want to go to the next level, get the microfiber cloths and wax the paint and frame. I do that 1 or 2 times a year.  For black, use a synthetic sponge cut into a small 3" wedge, and use that to apply 'Back to Black' or something like that.  the sponge evens out the silicone weirdness, and isn't as shiny.  Never on the seat or tires.

Yeah, it's retentive as hell, but you asked.  It takes me about 40 minutes to do it all, but I likes me a clean bike.

[sbrguy]

thanks for verifying this. good thing i've been to scared to try on any painted surfaces.  whew...

the only reason i know that the magic eraser is abrasive is from taking the paint off the walls in a rental aprtment, its great for getting off small scuffs and such and most times its awesome but if the scuff is really deep you have a tendency to keep using the magic eraser in one place for a couple of scrubs and suddenly you are looking at the primer on teh wall, oops.

that is why i won' use it on any painted surface or plastic surface of a bike, now unpainted metal or bare metal that is a different story it might be good for stuff that you would normally use something like scotchbright or such on, such as the headers or what have you.

[He Man]

im still stuck in teh 1500s. Showers cause disease. So my bike stays dirty 24/7


Anyone speaks one joke about my bike and chicken grease and I will eat your first child!!!!!! 

[ducpainter]

im still stuck in teh 1500s. Showers cause disease. So my bike stays dirty 24/7


Anyone speaks one joke about my bike and chicken grease and I will eat your first child!!!!!! 

My first child is 6'4...

I don't think you can do it.

[Timmy Tucker]

Have never washed my bike, but it also stays in the rain. It's rough enough that the dirt makes it look better. I'm quickly approaching Mr. Incredible dirt levels.

[Kopfjager]

 

[sisca77]

Rode in rain, sleet, and snow/hail on Sunday.Somehow managed to clean and shine the bike with 6 micro fiber cloths, paper towels, sc1, original bike's spray cleaner & polish, and Q-tips.  [moto]

[Kopfjager]

Rode in rain, sleet, and snow/hail on Sunday.Somehow managed to clean and shine the bike with 6 micro fiber cloths, paper towels, sc1, original bike's spray cleaner & polish, and Q-tips.  [moto]

[Kopfjager]

Thanks for all the input. As I said I'm trying to dry clean only, maybe the rims and tires will get wet washed. I have no plastic so no wax on the CF till Nate gets it to properly clear. (or he will hunt me down like a baby Seal).

I have been using some different S100 products, a little WD40 here and there. This bike will never get a lot of road grime, as its cleaned after every ride.

Got some great big fat q tips from the Harley dealer. They are great. Once again, the project is not done, so I don't want it to get away from me.

I keep my shit clean, that's a 92 Toyota in the back round. 

[sisca77]

Big fat Q-tips, huh? I gotta get me some of those.

[jc.cyberdemon]

dont use wd-40 on anything you want painted or cleared may cause problems for the painter later on....

[Kopfjager]

dont use wd-40 on anything you want painted or cleared may cause problems for the painter later on....

[ducpainter]

dont use wd-40 on anything you want painted or cleared may cause problems for the painter later on....

Don't forget armor-all and anything that has silicone in it.

He already got the 'lecture'.   

[Kopfjager]

Post ride clean up, using S100 products.

[Droopz]

What rear sets are those mate?

Bike is sexy