[Suspower]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering if there was a better way to clean your rims or bike without using Simple Green. I have been hearing a lot of stuff about Simple Green causing some sort of chemical reaction with the non plastic parts on the bike (rims ect..). I was told by some people to clean the dirt and oil off my rims with WD40, but what would be the best way to get it off ?

What products could i use to clean the bike without having the slightest negative effect on it ?

I know that there are tons of threads on cleaning your bike, but i hear so many mixed things (use this, dont use that, use this), i just wanna hear from the pro's on this.

Thanks!

 

[kevin_stevens]

I guess you could use one of the proprietary wheel cleaner products.

I do the two-step process of wiping down with WD-40, then taking the WD-40 off with Simple Green or equivalent. The only issues I've ever seen with using SG are when people don't dilute it as per the bottle instructions. You can cut it 10:1 and it still removes a WD-40 film just fine.

KeS

 

[hellagrant]

I just use the cleaners for car wheels. Cause I know its safe for paint and brake parts. I am currently using....Eagle One...but they are pretty much the same. Foam on, wait 30 seconds, use a wheel brush, rinse off. 2 minutes each wheel.

 

[lunchbox101]

i use simple green

 

[stryder]

I have been using S100 for years, and I have never had any complaints. Just wet the bike, spray on let sit for 10 minutes, once or twice around with a wheel brush and hose off. No work at all

 

[Suspower]

Well for my 300ZX i use "meguiars Hot rims" (link below), you guys know if its ok to use ?

Meguiar's Direct Hot Rims® All Wheel® Cleaner

 

[NattyDrez]

Try to clean your rims every few rides so the gunk doesnt get stuck on there. Then you wont have to make threads on SBN asking how to get it off

Thats what I do and I dont have any trouble getting it off. I just use water, a soft rag, and some elbow grease.

I have never tried WD40 or degreasers such as that as my rims are powdercoated and the shop said not to use anything else other than soap and water when cleaning them.

 

[RayOSV]

I use Motul Motowash on anything with grease on it including the chain:

Motul Moto Wash

It's water soluble and can be safely rinsed into the flower beds. Great stuff.

I'm not particularly recommending the linked store. They were just a convenient site.

 

[Shamrock627]

Whatever you do, DO NOT use that flourescent orange Turtle Wax wheel cleaner crap. After it dried on my rims, they were a hazy white! I had to emergency clean them fast and hard to get it off.

 

[Nightfall]

I just use a rag and soap ... I guess if I had gunk caked up on them I'd spray them with WD40.

 

[g34343greg]

honda polish! better than simple green, purple power, etc. for cleaning rims

and i have white wheels so i do alot of cleaning

 

[Scott_0]

the secret is to keep up on the cleaning of the wheel(s) and it wont be as hard to clean. I use Armorall cleaner wipes (the cleaner, NOT the shine shit) and for the tough stuff, I use WD40

 

[skyjumper88]

I have been useing kerosene for my rims it seems to do a pretty good job with minimal effort and does not hurt my rims. I also use kerosene to clean my chain.

 

[Bpro]

I use lacquer thinner on an old rag followed by a quick wash of dish detergent and a water rinse. Takes the chain lube and brake dust right off.

 

[TroyBoy30]

honda polish

 

[Ballmead]

WD-40 rips the shit off your wheels. I had white wheels on my old K2 GSX-R600 and it destroys the excess lube and gunk. I never had any issues with the paint but you could always wash them after applying WD-40 if you are worried about the paint.

 

[kevin_stevens]

It won't hurt the paint, but if you leave it on it attracts grunge.

I always tell people it's a lot easier to use WD40 (or kerosene, but most people have better access to WD40) to clean the gunk off first than to try cleaning everything with detergents. Wiping twice is easier than scrubbing once.

KeS

 

[Hawkrider]

I've used Honda Polish and Cleaner. It's awesome at removing gunk, but gentle on paint, metal, plastic and leather.

 

[MoldBuster]

Biodiesel (B-100). Absolutely phenominal de-greaser (the asphalt guys use it to clean their trucks out). Doesn't smell nasty like WD-40 or Kerosene. Don't use it if you have an asphalt driveway, it will melt the driveway. Follow with some soap and water. We use it in our large mobile structural drying furnace and our trucks so I have several hundred gallons of it on site. If you use anything that is slippery (B-100, Kerosene or WD-40) make sure you wash your tires so they don't get greasy and you end up with worse than dirty wheels. I'd avoid Dawn dishwashing liquid...my understanding is it will strip the flex agents out of rubber and paint and it strips wax (it is great if you are trying to get the bodywork down to wax free).

 

[NattyDrez]

Ive never used biodesiel, but I do use gasoline to get the bugs and scratches off of my paint. Kind of an old detailers trick..