[d0hnj0e]

Ok I want to wash my bike this weekend and never washed a motorcycle before. I don't know what I can or can't get wet/soapy.

Maybe some one can give me a guidline or how they wash there bikes and what is good things to do while washing and what are don't do while washing.

What kinda soad should I use and should I wax? Would canadian tire stuff work? Like car waxes and car cleaners? Is there any part on my motorcycle that cannot get water/soap on? ie. gauges and such?

The more info the better. TY!

 

[zukman]

Good ? You can get Honda cleaner wich is great or just use carwash soap and water. Yes there are things I would'nt want to get wet but hell get caught in the rain once. Myself, I use good old soap and water. Dry off the major water then use my aircompressor to blow out the tight spots. Looks brand new every time.

 

[Nevrsumr22]

You can get everything wet. It's made to get wet. Make sure your chain is greased before you use water but other than that it should be fine. I myself use honda polish and no water. The only time I washed it with water was after I got stuck in the rain and it was really dirty.

DON'T USE ANY GREASY SHIT ON THE TIRES. YOU WILL WRECK!

 

[Hagios]

There's this wonderful stuff called elbow grease. I use it and water. After that, good ol' Turtle Wax. (Roommate has CTS, can't really wash his bike without forfeiting any riding for that day, and I don't mind doing it myself)

 

[f4igrad]

don't use a high pressure sprayer on it. I just hose it off, get a nice soft sponge and soap it down, then spray it off. I then dry it with one of those Absorber towels and I'm good to go. Every 400-500 miles or so I will take it around the block a few times to get the chain warmed up and then oil the chain as well. I use Honda Polish if it just has some bug splats.

 

[qwik huh]

hmmmmmmmmm

 

[freeride]

It's not going to hurt anything to just hose it all down, but if you have access to a dealership and a little cash, I'd buy a can of the Honda polish that other people have recommended here. It's good stuff. No NEED to hose it all down, but not much danger there, either. With the Honda polish and a little degreaser, you can get it all with rags.

 

[brentsR6]

all this is good, remember not to put anything on the tires, had a buddy put some tire shine on his and although he didnt go down, i woulda bet money he would have before we went out

 

[Quik]

you dont need honda polish ot clean your bike you can use furniture polish. works the same or i use aersol glass cleaner. watchout for strong degreasers, they will bite into aluminum

 

[taziscool]

Get $5 and find a local Hooters girls/bikini bike wash/cheerleaders fundraising car wash events.......sit back and enjoy, don't forget to post pics!!!!

 

[TheWraith]

I like taziscool's idea.

 

[93FZR1K]

You wash your bike?

 

[f2benny]

Only use the spray polishers to clean a slightly dirty bike. You can hurt the finish on bike if you try to wipe off gritty dirt with a spray cleaner/polish. Just wash like a car but using lower pressure is wise. Do watch out not to wax right on the edge of fairings or decals, as the white residue will be hard to clean off from the recesses.

 

[Fabian]

Think about what would get wet if you're caught in the rain and go from there.

 

[MaxOwner]

Honda Cleaner is the next best thing since slice bread

 

[Mykl]

Honda spray for plastics, gas tank, and windscreen.

WD40 to clean swingarm and wheels followed by a coat of Honda spray to remove icky film left by WD40.

I don't need to use water, so I don't.

 

[ZX7R95]

For those who do use water I would rocommend using some spray wax that you spray on before you dry...works wonders!

 

[MaxOwner]

Honda spray for plastics, gas tank, and windscreen.

WD40 to clean swingarm and wheels followed by a coat of Honda spray to remove icky film left by WD40.

I don't need to use water, so I don't.

WD 40 hmm.. i usually use simple green.. but i will have to try WD40

 

[Mykl]

WD 40 hmm.. i usually use simple green.. but i will have to try WD40

Can't remember the last time I tried Simple Green on anything with the bike. I may have to experiment with it.

From what I've found with WD40 is that you spray it on and immediately wipe it off with a cloth rag... surface will be perfectly clean and shiney. But if you run your fingers across it the WD40 will leave a bit of a film that attracts dirt. That's easy to fix with some Honda spray polish which makes the wheels shine a bit more and slickens them up a bit.

Poor picture, but here's the result...

...takes maybe five minutes to clean each wheel.

 

[MaxOwner]

...takes maybe five minutes to clean each wheel.

oh really? try 15 mins on white wheels :cry

my cousin uses silicon spray kind of how you use WD 40 on certain parts of the bike.. but like you say, you have to wipe it off quickly or it will attract dirt very easily