keep'en her clean without washing
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From:
keep'en her clean without washing
hey guys..
i noticed a couple guys on here say they only wash there bike once or twise a summer unless it gets in the rain.. i gotta be on my tenth at least. whats the secret to keeping her clean? is there some kinda other stuff to just wipe her down with.
lets here those suggestions!!!
i noticed a couple guys on here say they only wash there bike once or twise a summer unless it gets in the rain.. i gotta be on my tenth at least. whats the secret to keeping her clean? is there some kinda other stuff to just wipe her down with.
lets here those suggestions!!!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,051
Likes: 8
From: Detroit Michigan
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
ORIGINAL: jabroni73
hey guys..
i noticed a couple guys on here say they only wash there bike once or twise a summer unless it gets in the rain.. i gotta be on my tenth at least. whats the secret to keeping her clean? is there some kinda other stuff to just wipe her down with.
lets here those suggestions!!!
hey guys..
i noticed a couple guys on here say they only wash there bike once or twise a summer unless it gets in the rain.. i gotta be on my tenth at least. whats the secret to keeping her clean? is there some kinda other stuff to just wipe her down with.
lets here those suggestions!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,090
Likes: 3,882
From: Murfreesboro , TN
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
I started using this stuff called 'The Bom' for washing my Glide. Spray the stuff on a microfiber cloth, wipe it on, and then dry it off with another microfiber cloth! I can get my Glide all nice and shiny in about 15 minutes!
I only use it for in between washes though. When it's really nasty (like if I hit some rain, or riding through a swarm of gnats!) I'll do the full wash/wax.
I only use it for in between washes though. When it's really nasty (like if I hit some rain, or riding through a swarm of gnats!) I'll do the full wash/wax.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Washington
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
The answer is a Hollywood car duster for the dust, and Meguire's Quick Detailer and Microfiber Polishing Cloths for bugs, and general grime. This combination doesn't scratch the paint and my bike ALWAYS looks showroom new.
I'va had my bike since April 25, and now have 5,500 miles. I've ridden in the rain many times now, been splat by bugs, and had my OL spill a wine cooler all over the seat, exhaust, brake caliper, rotor and swingarm and the Meguires works every time. Only have washed the bike once when at the gas station, the nozzle did not shut off and spewed gas all over.
Works on my Daytona Blue '63 Vette too. Washed it once in 4 years since painted.
Hope this helps
Dan
I'va had my bike since April 25, and now have 5,500 miles. I've ridden in the rain many times now, been splat by bugs, and had my OL spill a wine cooler all over the seat, exhaust, brake caliper, rotor and swingarm and the Meguires works every time. Only have washed the bike once when at the gas station, the nozzle did not shut off and spewed gas all over.
Works on my Daytona Blue '63 Vette too. Washed it once in 4 years since painted.
Hope this helps
Dan
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 0
From: DFW
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
I've had my Bob for 6 months and haven't 'washed' it once. I try to keep it clean by wiping it down regularly with windex, If its gets too dirty to do that (like after getting caught in the rain) I still do not 'wash' it, rather I would describe it as 'detailing the $hit out of it' to get it clean. I live in an apartment and do not have access to a hose/faucet/place to wash it even if I did. I've thought of taking it to one of those DIY car washes and use the 'spot free' setting, but even if I did that, the engine would be hot by the time I got there and I doubt if anyone behind me would be too patient while I let it cool off before beginning. That would also be assuming I could put the kickstand down without it falling thru those grates. I've also thought about buying one of the 1-2 gallon hand-pumped sprayers that people use to apply weed killer/fertilizer to their lawns, but unsure if they put out enuff pressure to really get the soap/etc off.
By the way, I ride every day, but mostly in the city (20+ mi/day), so it doesn't really get all that dirty, except for the occasional rain...
By the way, I ride every day, but mostly in the city (20+ mi/day), so it doesn't really get all that dirty, except for the occasional rain...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 7
From: Gulf Coast
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
I ride my bike full time except for the occaisional day when it's raining when I'm ready to leave or trips to the grocery store.
I don't really ever wash mine,if you mean the bucket of soapy water and water hose routine. I do wipe mine down every nite and polish the bright work about once a week and it looks just fine. I average about a thousand miles a month and my bike gets rained on a lot.
Good Luck
Tom
I don't really ever wash mine,if you mean the bucket of soapy water and water hose routine. I do wipe mine down every nite and polish the bright work about once a week and it looks just fine. I average about a thousand miles a month and my bike gets rained on a lot.
Good Luck
Tom
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 5
From: Concord, CA
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
I ride it dirty! 
Bike is filthy with mud, bugs, road grime, etc...
Only things I clean regularly are the windshield and lights.
It takes too long to clean, time I could be riding.
I have washed it a couple times this year. Once after it got a good coating in salty sea oils. That was more to prevent rust than to make it shiny again though.
Bike is filthy with mud, bugs, road grime, etc...
Only things I clean regularly are the windshield and lights.
It takes too long to clean, time I could be riding.
I have washed it a couple times this year. Once after it got a good coating in salty sea oils. That was more to prevent rust than to make it shiny again though.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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RE: keep'en her clean without washing
CT-18 - it is a concentrate that you mix with water, I put it in a spray bottle.
Spray on all over the bike.
Go for a coffee, have a cigar, read the morning paper or do all three.
Come back and spray the lil' girl with a reasonably high pressure hose.
Chamois the water off the tin and chrome.
ALL DONE
Spray on all over the bike.
Go for a coffee, have a cigar, read the morning paper or do all three.
Come back and spray the lil' girl with a reasonably high pressure hose.
Chamois the water off the tin and chrome.
ALL DONE
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 4
From: Central Jersey
RE: keep'en her clean without washing
I'm like a bunch of the other guys here...haven't washed my bike once since I got it in Oct. 05. Part of the reason is because I've been fortunate to not be caught in the rain yet. Also, I'm constantly wiping the bike down with the Harley (similar to the famous Honda) polish. Spray some on a microfiber cloth...wipe off with a different cloth. I detail my bike after EVERY single ride. Bike looks new all the time.
I guess I'm eventually going to have to wash it because there are parts of the bike that are just impossible to reach with the spray and cloth. And the engine itself is starting to build up some dust spots that are pretty much impossbile to clean without a hose. Honestly, I've been avoiding it, because I know once it's washed, it's gonna be a real bi*ch to detail the whole thing when I'm done.
Todd
I guess I'm eventually going to have to wash it because there are parts of the bike that are just impossible to reach with the spray and cloth. And the engine itself is starting to build up some dust spots that are pretty much impossbile to clean without a hose. Honestly, I've been avoiding it, because I know once it's washed, it's gonna be a real bi*ch to detail the whole thing when I'm done.
Todd