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Easier to keep it clean than to GET it clean IMO. I keep a clean machine and never had a problem cleaning chrome.
This is exactly right. Once you get your bike "showroom clean" it is pretty easy to get it back to there after a week of riding or whatnot. But if you let the bike go, it can definitely be a chore to do so. And if you let it go too far, corrosion can get a foothold, which is very bad. I typically can get my bike back to showroom clean in 30 minutes, which for me is 30 minutes of pleasure, cleaning and inspecting the Fat Boy.
The only things I see is going to be a problem is rusty head bolts and other rusty nuts here and there. The spokes are gonna be a booger but I have a mothers ball and fat shoe strings. There is also some surface rust on the black painted bar that is hidden when the bags are on. I sanded that and gonna hit it with gloss black rustoleum. If I could have kept up with it ya doggone skippy I woulda. Had my bike and the wife's bikes in my shop covered and they went to crap in there (not a temp controlled shop). Is what it is.....little at a time and all good. Lessons learned.
that's my relaxtion time. wife works 7-4:30 mon-fri I work 11AM-7:30PM . she goes to bed I stay in the garage until 1 AM sucking down twisted tea or shine , jamming to some tunes and polishing away! need to get myself a lift.
I finished my saddle bags a little bit ago. Not had time to finish what I want to reinstall them. While I have the bags off, gonna take the seat off and get better access to other stuff. I posted a thread in this forum on Leather Lid Inserts. Not promoting them over anyone else (not used another brand) but these worked for me. I have cleaned part of the chrome on one side so far....thunderstorms this weekend but will get some done. This has actually been fun.
whats the trick to getting in all the tight little places? Yours has a lot more chrome than I by far....how ya get up in there so good?
Lots of microfiber towels. I use various sized rounded wooden dowel tools wrapped in the microfiber to get into the tight spots. I only go to that extreme before a show for a full detail clean.
I got thru with the first wave of cleaning and put the leather lid inserts in my saddle bags. I still have the back rim to clean better but waiting for a new tire and will attack it when the tire is off the bike. Some head bolts are still a little rough and a spot here and there...but looks a lot better.
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