after beach cleaning tips
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: atlanta ga.
after beach cleaning tips
i am all ears if you folks have any tricks you have learned for cleaning your bike after doing the massive bugs/salt/rain thing. i read on another thread a few weeks ago about putting gun oil on the spokes. i did that when i got down there. yesterday when i got home i washed the bike with simple green and water, to knock the bugs off and clean the salt away. prolly try to polish it up today or tomorrow.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
i live in florida and spend al ot of time riding in salt air. you did what should do. wash and rinse the bike thoroughly when you get home. if you are in north florida, especially the panhandle, love bug season just started. make sure you get every one of those damn things off. their enzymes will eat into your paint any place you don't remove them.
I love simple green i can find as many ways to use it as wd40. if you use it on your bike make sure it is totally rinsed off. especially on anything aluminum.
also, you will need to re wax your if you used it on the paint. it does a pretty good job of removing wax too.
I love simple green i can find as many ways to use it as wd40. if you use it on your bike make sure it is totally rinsed off. especially on anything aluminum.
also, you will need to re wax your if you used it on the paint. it does a pretty good job of removing wax too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 22
From: Jacksonville Beach, FL.
I live at the beach and have to keep my spokes waxed on a regular basis to avoid rust. i can't stop the rust all I can do is slow it down. My bike is outside, not in a garage...
If I don't wax monthly, I end up scraping rust off the spokes.
I can't afford upgrades and all that stuff, but as soon as I can afford it I will be buying stainless spokes and putting them on.
I have a 1200c but there is still some aluminum on it (triple trees) I have to rub Mothers on it quite frequently and wax them also.
The best thing you can do is to wax everything that doesn't get hot.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
"After beach cleaning tips"
Thought this was going be about getting the sand out of cracks!
My mind must have been in the gutter.
Thought this was going be about getting the sand out of cracks!
My mind must have been in the gutter.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: atlanta ga.
i live in florida and spend al ot of time riding in salt air. you did what should do. wash and rinse the bike thoroughly when you get home. if you are in north florida, especially the panhandle, love bug season just started. make sure you get every one of those damn things off. their enzymes will eat into your paint any place you don't remove them.
I love simple green i can find as many ways to use it as wd40. if you use it on your bike make sure it is totally rinsed off. especially on anything aluminum.
also, you will need to re wax your if you used it on the paint. it does a pretty good job of removing wax too.
I love simple green i can find as many ways to use it as wd40. if you use it on your bike make sure it is totally rinsed off. especially on anything aluminum.
also, you will need to re wax your if you used it on the paint. it does a pretty good job of removing wax too.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 38
From: The real N.CA (not S.F. Bay Area)
I live on the coast and salt corrosion is a very big concern. After every ride, I wash the bike, blow dry it and then apply ACF-50 to all metal surfaces. Wipes off easily before the next ride. I have no rust, so far. It's worked for two years now.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 377
Likes: 1
I "detailed" a bike last summer that was taken to the beach and never cleaned properly. It was a 2008 Fatboy with under 500 miles on it... Yes under 500. I say "detailed" because in 4-5hours I usually do a full wash and wax and polish on a bike. I only worked on the chrome on this bike. It had thunderstar rims on it and they were so pitted and corroded that I could hang rags off of them. Just like sandpaper Guy bought it, rode it to the beach, came home, let it sit a while, then brought it to the shop and put it up for sale. None of the chrome will ever be the same. What a waste of money.