Well, I got cute today with MN weather and took a 99% clean bike for its last ride. Small county road along Mississippi River that is tree lined had salt put down.

Sooooo...... I am living in a condo for first time ever and no close access to DIY carwash. Any suggestions? I have underground, heated garage. Should I just do a bucket and soap and call it good? Obviously I'd be rinsing well and drying. Maybe even up and down HWY right by my house tomorrow to get the last bit of water out of nooks and cranny's. Will this be enough to get salt out?

Seems like a stupid question, but I've always had access to higher pressure wash for end of the year.

 

I'd avoid pressure washers. They force water into places it doesn't belong--gauges, wheel bearings, switches, etc. Just use buckets of water. Use a lot to thoroughly rinse the salt.

 

I'm thinking that's the route I will take. Went down to parking garage and found a puddle of Techron by side of the bike. I had bought a new bottle to add and never did. Plastic bottle must have cracked sometime today. Ate a small hole thru the leather on my tour pak on the low side. What mess......rinsed and washed inside/outside of TP with warm soapy water.......hope that does the trick. Wondering if it will slowly eat away at the leather shell though as the leather wraps tightly around the plastic TP shell.... Rinsing it out probably just swirled it around between it. FML....

 

When you wash the bike, take a rag soaked in water and work it into as many areas as possible. This will help to remove salt from areas you can't see.

Sorry to hear about the tour pak. Techron is strong stuff (great product too). Clean and rinse the TP as best you can. Let it dry and then apply leather conditioner so it doesn't dry and harden.

 

When I wash mine at the end of season(usually once a year),I make sure I can ride for an hour or two to completely dry it before storing.But if you are going to wash it,do a thorough job of getting salt off.Salt is much worse when left wet.
Don't pressure wash,for many reasons.

 

I had mine washed for the first time this year. I do know what those winters are like, I grew up in Chicago.
BTW, went to a bike wash/detailer. Can't beat it for $60; I couldn't make it look that good.

 

I have no access either living in an apartment in Chicago. So I bought a plug in sump pump that threads a garden hose. I drop the pump into a 5 gal painters bucket of soap and water. I also use a pressure nozzle to get a harder stream.

 

Thanks for the replies. Will wash in the parking lot tomorrow when it hits a balmy 40 degrees and ride it for about 30 minutes to dry it extra good (after a chamois of course).

The tour pack smells clean. Will get leather conditioner on it tomorrow as well.

 

I just never understand people riding a nice pristine expensive bike on a road that is laden down with ice control chemicals? I never drove my 2010 Dyna, My 2012 FLHX, nor will I ever drive my 2015 Limited in those conditions. To each his/her own, but never one of my bikes! LOL

 

It's because I'm not a p#&$y.......but still whining about it lol. First time it's ever seen salt. 2003 with 100K, she still looks like new. I had no idea salt had been put down withing 100 miles of me. Looks as if I found the only road.

Anyway, she's all washed up and batter out as of this afternoon.