precautions 4 washing bike
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 462
From: Arizona
Prep the bike - I always take it out of the garage.(makes a big mess if I wash it inside the garage)
seriously...
I only take the bags off so I can wash all around them. Leave the seat, and no direct water spray on the stereo.
seriously...
I only take the bags off so I can wash all around them. Leave the seat, and no direct water spray on the stereo.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 359
Likes: 2
From: USA
I just put it on a jack about 2 inches off the ground. Use some dish washing liquid or a good automobile car wash soap with a old dish or hand tower or a soft rag. I do not wash it in the sun... I prefer to wash it late afternoon or at night under the lights... I remove my bags at least every other wash, depending on how dirty the bike is.
Turn on the water hose just enough to rinse it, should not need a hard spray. I do not use pressure washers and would not advise it due to water intrusion of the wheel and swing arm bearings. I would not hard blast water into the radio, gauges, speakers or hand controls.
Dry it off after washing with compressed air or a blower...then towel dry to prevent water spots.
I never worried about the ecu or the seat...once is a while I will take the seat off to wash all the dust and dirt under it off.
Scrub the wheels/tires last with the same soap mix I washed with.
Turn on the water hose just enough to rinse it, should not need a hard spray. I do not use pressure washers and would not advise it due to water intrusion of the wheel and swing arm bearings. I would not hard blast water into the radio, gauges, speakers or hand controls.
Dry it off after washing with compressed air or a blower...then towel dry to prevent water spots.
I never worried about the ecu or the seat...once is a while I will take the seat off to wash all the dust and dirt under it off.
Scrub the wheels/tires last with the same soap mix I washed with.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,524
Likes: 57,080
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I just put it on a jack about 2 inches off the ground. Use some dish washing liquid or a good automobile car wash soap with a old dish or hand tower or a soft rag. I do not wash it in the sun... I prefer to wash it late afternoon or at night under the lights... I remove my bags at least every other wash, depending on how dirty the bike is.
Turn on the water hose just enough to rinse it, should not need a hard spray. I do not use pressure washers and would not advise it due to water intrusion of the wheel and swing arm bearings. I would not hard blast water into the radio, gauges, speakers or hand controls.
Dry it off after washing with compressed air or a blower...then towel dry to prevent water spots.
I never worried about the ecu or the seat...once is a while I will take the seat off to wash all the dust and dirt under it off.
Scrub the wheels/tires last with the same soap mix I washed with.
Turn on the water hose just enough to rinse it, should not need a hard spray. I do not use pressure washers and would not advise it due to water intrusion of the wheel and swing arm bearings. I would not hard blast water into the radio, gauges, speakers or hand controls.
Dry it off after washing with compressed air or a blower...then towel dry to prevent water spots.
I never worried about the ecu or the seat...once is a while I will take the seat off to wash all the dust and dirt under it off.
Scrub the wheels/tires last with the same soap mix I washed with.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 684
From: Forest Hill, Md
Years ago the rule was only use the cheapo, 99 cents a bottle, pink dishwashing stuff. Wasn't strong enough to remove the wax, not sure if that still holds true.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
common sense.
i always take the seats off the bikes i wash/detail.
no direct water sprayed into anything electrical (ecm, coil, lights, wires around neck, cockpit of touring bikes, etc)
other than that wash it as if it were a car.
after initial rinse, spray simple green all along the underside of the bike and let sit for about 2 minutes, rinse that **** off and watch thousands of miles of grease, road grime, and small animals come pouring out from under your bike.
i always take the seats off the bikes i wash/detail.
no direct water sprayed into anything electrical (ecm, coil, lights, wires around neck, cockpit of touring bikes, etc)
other than that wash it as if it were a car.
after initial rinse, spray simple green all along the underside of the bike and let sit for about 2 minutes, rinse that **** off and watch thousands of miles of grease, road grime, and small animals come pouring out from under your bike.