Hard realization today. My bike is a daily commuter.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 12
Hard realization today. My bike is a daily commuter.
I have put about 12,000 miles on my Dyna this first year. Saturday will be a year since purchase.
I clean it good when I can. Most of these miles are commuter miles with a few 500-700 mile trips.
My realization is that since I ride it daily. She will not stay showroom pretty. I went out tonight, and even though I clean it after rides when salt was on the road. There was some spots on the rocker boxes that decided to show their ugliness.
It took Semi-Chrome and Blue Job to get most of them off. I would say 99% of them off. Along with a lot of elbow grease. I had to remove the tank to get to some of the freckle spots. It was a 3 hour ordeal to scrub the pits away. The boxes still look good, and there wasn't any rust. It just hurt to see it.
I came home day before yesterday, and could not wash it, but wiped it down. Did not ride today because of thunder storms. It didn't take long to get some spots on there.
I guess that is what happens when you ride your bike daily. It will start to show that you do.
I clean it good when I can. Most of these miles are commuter miles with a few 500-700 mile trips.
My realization is that since I ride it daily. She will not stay showroom pretty. I went out tonight, and even though I clean it after rides when salt was on the road. There was some spots on the rocker boxes that decided to show their ugliness.
It took Semi-Chrome and Blue Job to get most of them off. I would say 99% of them off. Along with a lot of elbow grease. I had to remove the tank to get to some of the freckle spots. It was a 3 hour ordeal to scrub the pits away. The boxes still look good, and there wasn't any rust. It just hurt to see it.
I came home day before yesterday, and could not wash it, but wiped it down. Did not ride today because of thunder storms. It didn't take long to get some spots on there.
I guess that is what happens when you ride your bike daily. It will start to show that you do.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 816
Likes: 4
From: Stone Harbor, NJ
I have put about 12,000 miles on my Dyna this first year. Saturday will be a year since purchase.
I clean it good when I can. Most of these miles are commuter miles with a few 500-700 mile trips.
My realization is that since I ride it daily. She will not stay showroom pretty. I went out tonight, and even though I clean it after rides when salt was on the road. There was some spots on the rocker boxes that decided to show their ugliness.
It took Semi-Chrome and Blue Job to get most of them off. I would say 99% of them off. Along with a lot of elbow grease. I had to remove the tank to get to some of the freckle spots. It was a 3 hour ordeal to scrub the pits away. The boxes still look good, and there wasn't any rust. It just hurt to see it.
I came home day before yesterday, and could not wash it, but wiped it down. Did not ride today because of thunder storms. It didn't take long to get some spots on there.
I guess that is what happens when you ride your bike daily. It will start to show that you do.
I clean it good when I can. Most of these miles are commuter miles with a few 500-700 mile trips.
My realization is that since I ride it daily. She will not stay showroom pretty. I went out tonight, and even though I clean it after rides when salt was on the road. There was some spots on the rocker boxes that decided to show their ugliness.
It took Semi-Chrome and Blue Job to get most of them off. I would say 99% of them off. Along with a lot of elbow grease. I had to remove the tank to get to some of the freckle spots. It was a 3 hour ordeal to scrub the pits away. The boxes still look good, and there wasn't any rust. It just hurt to see it.
I came home day before yesterday, and could not wash it, but wiped it down. Did not ride today because of thunder storms. It didn't take long to get some spots on there.
I guess that is what happens when you ride your bike daily. It will start to show that you do.
Of course there is a bit of consternation when we realize that some of the side effects or riding daily are permanent - but I choose to look at them as teh growth rings and battle scars.
USMAMule
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: South-Central Minnesota
While I only commute usually April through November here in Minnesota, I long ago came to the same conclusion. I no longer waste valuable riding time detailing the bike. I break out the pledge spray and wipe it down a couple times a week or when I want it to look decent for an event...otherwise it's full of road grime and bug guts pretty much the whole season. This is especially true because I work overnights and commute in the dark for a good portion of the riding season...so a couple hours of cleaning work can be wasted in one quick 16 mile ride into work with every bug in the ditch aiming for my headlights.
Love it when we get a early, hard frost in October which kills off a lot of bugs so my bike stays relatively clean the last month of so of the season.
Love it when we get a early, hard frost in October which kills off a lot of bugs so my bike stays relatively clean the last month of so of the season.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Jeez, I've had my Harley for almost a year and I've only put 500 miles on it. It doesn't help that I've been deployed for most of the year. So I've got some riding to do when I get back. Its going to be a busy year
Better to ride and your bike have some character, than moving from place to place in a cage.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
I've had my bike for a little over a month and have put about 900 miles on her. I feel so guilty when a day passes and she doesn't get taken out to play. Luckily that's only been a couple days she had to stay in the garage so far.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 931
Likes: 11
From: Orlando, FL
EXACTLY what I was going to say.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 324
Likes: 2
I'm just way too picky about mine to ride it daily. It's an 07 with 4k miles. The WG has maybe 9K on it but we bought it used. We really enjoy detailing the bikes. They never leave the garage with a spec on them and they have never seen a drop of rain. That is just how I was raised and I'm a clean freak with everything we own. I respect the guys who ride daily but can't stand to see a dirty motorcycle or vehicle.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
Editbrain ... how many miles on your cage in the same time ...?
I did 11k on my bike last year and 7k on my cage ....
Would that my bike was in pristine, high-gloss, ready-to-show condition 24/7 ... but, if one actually uses his or her bike for transportation that's just unrealistic ....
I did 11k on my bike last year and 7k on my cage ....
Would that my bike was in pristine, high-gloss, ready-to-show condition 24/7 ... but, if one actually uses his or her bike for transportation that's just unrealistic ....
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
That's one of the reasons I bought the black denim paint on my Fat Bob. Of course, for the life of me I can't understand the decision to put polished rocker boxes and wheels on the same bike. My rocker boxes and wheels look like a$$, but I ride it almost daily as a commuter. I only drive the cage when I have to for work, kids, lightning, etc...