General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Can't keep it clean!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 12:53 AM
  #1  
stano's Avatar
stano
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 3
From: New Mexico
Default Can't keep it clean!

I'm always riding and can't keep up with cleaning my bike. What's the easiest cleaning method?
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 12:56 AM
  #2  
girlster8015's Avatar
girlster8015
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Crofton, BC
Default

Spray on heavy duty cleaner, rinse, blow dry, buff.
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 12:58 AM
  #3  
toastman's Avatar
toastman
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
Default

5-10 minute wipe down with some quick detailing spray and a microfiber towel after every ride.

then every few weeks on a rainy weekend, spend a sunday morning doing a lengthier clean on your bike in the garage. swirl mark remover, wax, chrome polish, clean the spokes, etc.

no need to get crazy about it, it's not as much work as it seems.
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 01:01 AM
  #4  
Bluegrasser's Avatar
Bluegrasser
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 760
Likes: 1
From: Mesa, AZ
Default

Ride in the rain.
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 01:05 AM
  #5  
joe.1955's Avatar
joe.1955
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
Default

With a good coat of polish already on the bike, use a wet microfiber cloth to get the bugs, dust off - then follow with a dry microfiber cloth.

Works great between rides and doesn't take long.
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 02:25 AM
  #6  
cike's Avatar
cike
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 354
Likes: 24
From: near dayton ohio
Default

1. take bike to car wash
2. let it cool down
3. spray down with bike bright or S100
4. spray bike (water only)
5. dry off excess water with towel
6. put towel and bike bright in saddlebag
7. ride
Not the perfect detailed job but looks good going down the road and you did ask for the quickest easiest way.
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 02:46 AM
  #7  
wcsj55@yahoo.com's Avatar
wcsj55@yahoo.com
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 11,020
Likes: 3
From: Calumet City,Illinois
Default

So you ride 24-7?
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 03:11 AM
  #8  
OldEnuf2NoBtr's Avatar
OldEnuf2NoBtr
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,165
Likes: 1,910
From: Doghouse... mostly
Default

Have your O/L and spawn clean it B4 U go out.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 03:42 AM
  #9  
PigInaBlanket's Avatar
PigInaBlanket
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 16
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by toastman
5-10 minute wipe down with some quick detailing spray and a microfiber towel after every ride.

then every few weeks on a rainy weekend, spend a sunday morning doing a lengthier clean on your bike in the garage. swirl mark remover, wax, chrome polish, clean the spokes, etc.

no need to get crazy about it, it's not as much work as it seems.
Exactly.
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 04:10 AM
  #10  
DMJFatboy's Avatar
DMJFatboy
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 1
From: Delaware
Default

spray cleaner/polish for the paint and ammonia free windex on the chrome.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:37 PM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE