cleaner question
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
cleaner question
OK....just got back from a 2-week, 4200 mile trip. Bike is just plain fricking dirty. All over. I don't have time to go any place special for a deep clean/foam/pre-soak or what ever. What can I use to "spray" bike down to start cleaning action before I wash? I'm too lazy/tired to do a search through all the threads, so hoping someone smarter than me can offer couple suggestions of what I can pick up at autozone/orielleys/etc. I need to head out shortly for oil and filter for oil changes and want to stop by auto parts store and get something that will help ease the baked on bugshit, road grime etc before I start my clean process. Thanks for any suggestions and preferences.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,135
From: W. Texas
Next I'll do the tank and lowers and side covers. clean well and rinse off. Next the saddle bags and rear fender. clean well and rinse off.
Then go over the bike with Original Bike Spirits. I like the stuff.
If bugged up bad I have gone to a self service car wash on occasions and been careful around the wheel brgs and such.
I have Rode the bike home and done the polish thing soon afterwards and worked out fine.
Not the day I get home but soon as I can.
WP
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 99
From: Hopewell Twp, PA
I have been using Bike Brite for a long time. I mix it with water 50/50. Always worked well for me.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Philadelphia, PA
I use bugslide usually leave it on for a few minutes then gently wipe it off. Works well for me. Doesn’t give the brightest shine but gets the bugs and dirt off.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 10,772
From: SE Michigan
what you are looking for sounds like a prewash....i was looking for the same thing for exactly what you describe
I know how to properly wash a bike, rinseless, waterless, two bucket...but like you, there were trips that left the bike filthy
I went with a simple hand pump foaming gun and a product called Lift by CARPRO. Mix 10:1 , and foam up the bike...DO NOT PRERINSE, don't touch the bike, just let it dwell for a couple of minutes being sure not to let the foam dry and then rinse thoroughly
Lift is made to do just what it's called, by letting it dwell for a bit, it lifts some of the dirt and grim off of the bike, this lets you remove a lot of contaminants safely without marring the surface
what you are doing is reducing the effort you'll have to put in when you properly wash it....after thoroughly rinsing it off, I blew it dry and then treated it like it was still a dirty contaminated bike
Bilt Hamber makes a well regarded prewash as well
I used an IK Foam Pro 2
this is now a part of my arsenal, i used it when the bike is super contaminated, and as a first step in a full detail
I know how to properly wash a bike, rinseless, waterless, two bucket...but like you, there were trips that left the bike filthy
I went with a simple hand pump foaming gun and a product called Lift by CARPRO. Mix 10:1 , and foam up the bike...DO NOT PRERINSE, don't touch the bike, just let it dwell for a couple of minutes being sure not to let the foam dry and then rinse thoroughly
Lift is made to do just what it's called, by letting it dwell for a bit, it lifts some of the dirt and grim off of the bike, this lets you remove a lot of contaminants safely without marring the surface
what you are doing is reducing the effort you'll have to put in when you properly wash it....after thoroughly rinsing it off, I blew it dry and then treated it like it was still a dirty contaminated bike
Bilt Hamber makes a well regarded prewash as well
I used an IK Foam Pro 2
this is now a part of my arsenal, i used it when the bike is super contaminated, and as a first step in a full detail
