Clean or Dirty
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
From:
I don't know about the rest of you guys but I hate a half-assed job. It seems my weekend time anymore is very busy with the family so I just use a california duster for the light stuff and keep riding. When I have the time so I don't do a half-assed job, I love to be out in the front yard with a beer or two, dog running around, music in the background, cleaning the bike in a relaxed manner with no schedule to worry about.
Related story:
While in sturgis, the friends I was riding with couldn't stand their bikes getting dirty from the daily afternnoon rains we had, and the the dirt/muddy road we road to get through the campground. Every morning, most of them would take off to one of those do it yourself carwashs and bring their baby back shining. I would laugh at them while I sat around the camp having my coffee. We all knew that by the afternnoon, bikes would be dirty again. I just let me stay dirty until the trip was through. That daily ritual of washing the bikes is not for me.
Related story:
While in sturgis, the friends I was riding with couldn't stand their bikes getting dirty from the daily afternnoon rains we had, and the the dirt/muddy road we road to get through the campground. Every morning, most of them would take off to one of those do it yourself carwashs and bring their baby back shining. I would laugh at them while I sat around the camp having my coffee. We all knew that by the afternnoon, bikes would be dirty again. I just let me stay dirty until the trip was through. That daily ritual of washing the bikes is not for me.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I ride mine daily to work rain or shine, and still get people commenting on how clean it looks. It doesn't take much, and I give it a good wash about every other weekend.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 112,202
Likes: 1,316
From: On a hill among the hills, PA
Try to keep mine clean but 400' of gravel driveway and street sweepers on the rigid they don't stay clean long enough! Included anyone behind me! When mother nature turns ugly i get the cleaning stuff out and git the job done!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 1
From: Delaware
I keep all of my vehicles clean. I spent my hard earned money on them I might as well take care of them. Besides just like yard work, I enjoy doing it. I can get a case of beer and spend hours cleaning and admiring my bike. It relaxes me.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
From: Southern Indiana
I had a question for alot of you all. I Ride every day, sun, rain, whatever But every time someone see's my bike they tell me "You should clean it because then it will look nice" but I like my bike dirty just like my truck. I use them both on a daily basis, I like the fact there dirty because clean bikes just dont seem to be used. My old man has 5 bikes he rides 1 usually and has it cleaned every day and professionaly clean on the weekend. I dont have the time, money or patience for this. Another thing I like about my bike being dirty is who's going to mess with it? It falls over, gets a scratch, fine its covered by dirt no ones going to tell, I have drag bars, they break, go buy a new bar and attach it, no ones going to be able to tell the difference, but thats how I see it. So I wanted to ask you all do you usually have your bikes clean or dirty?
What the hell is that thing? 
Oh...I try and keep the bike and the truck clean when at all possible.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Sur Syde
LOL A Zoot Suit I have always wanted to cruise on a Bourget wearing a Red Zoot Suit. I get told I ride Like Death because I dont slow down for anything until last minute, so I want a red one with black. Im 22, But I like the old school.
First car I wanted to ever own. 1950 Mercury Monarch 3 inch chop, Slammed, 20's, Primer black, silver/blue flames
First car I wanted to ever own. 1950 Mercury Monarch 3 inch chop, Slammed, 20's, Primer black, silver/blue flames
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 23,178
Likes: 19
From: elsewhere
I like mine clean, but it's rarely spotless. Bugs tend to spend a few days on the shield and fairing.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 87
From: Cookson, Ok
Put my freshly painted Fatbob fender on my FXLR Monday and finally took it to the car wash today to wash the grime and rain mess off the rest of the bike to see if the color matched. While wiping the front wheel down, I somehow managed to push the thing over and luckily the only thing that will need replacement is my ISO grip. I took that as a sign that I should have just ridden it til it rained on me again.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 0
From: Flatwoods Kentucky
One of the good reasons to clean your bike often is by doing this, you kind of do a once over the bike while cleaning and maybe notice somethings that might have worked loose or something like that..
Just my .02
Just my .02