Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

cleaning what method?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 09:52 AM
  #1  
goo's Avatar
goo
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
From: mattituck new york
Default cleaning what method?

my crossbones has more nooks and crannies than my bmw '87 r100.

...
i'm thinking you could use a bottle of 409 or something similar then spray on a little water to rinse and blow dry with the blower i use for leaves( at a proper distance)
..

would like to hear inputs on general cleaning.
thx,
goo
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 09:56 AM
  #2  
stupid_rope's Avatar
stupid_rope
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,196
Likes: 14
From: Satans Asshole
Default

take a microfiber towel and shred it up to look like the Swiffer 360 Duster and put it on a stick.

or, spray water and then pig spit/100/whatever the hell you prefer to 'make the black blacker'
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 10:52 AM
  #3  
C O L E M A N F U's Avatar
C O L E M A N F U
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Daytona USA
Default

I try to keep it out of the rain and park it inside every night. Those 2 things help to keep the grime down.

I use Windex on the black and a good chrome polish. All I do is wipe it down before I go for a ride. I keep up with it so it only takes a few min. I also power coated the front end, bars and wheels so even less stuff to clean. I do this with all my other bikes but the KTM - it likes to stay dirty for some reason?
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 11:58 AM
  #4  
WARG's Avatar
WARG
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
Default

Try S100 Totol Cycle Cleaner. Spray it on, spray if off with garden hose on highest pressure setting. I use a leaf blower to dry, then polish with a good polish. I use Harley Gloss or S100 Detailer + Was between washes as a simple detailer.
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:11 PM
  #5  
xxxflhrci's Avatar
xxxflhrci
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Default

Another vote for S100 and a leaf blower. A wash and dry job only takes about 20 minutes.

I have found that S100 works just as well if you mix it 50/50 with water.
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:19 PM
  #6  
WARG's Avatar
WARG
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
Default

Originally Posted by xxxflhrci
Another vote for S100 and a leaf blower. A wash and dry job only takes about 20 minutes.

I have found that S100 works just as well if you mix it 50/50 with water.
I've heard that, I'll try it.
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:25 PM
  #7  
DECON BLUE's Avatar
DECON BLUE
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 521
Likes: 2
From: Port Richey, Florida
Default

If I tried to keep mine out of the rain I would never ride!! Miles well buy a trailer to haul it on.
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:27 PM
  #8  
Damage_Inc's Avatar
Damage_Inc
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 291
Likes: 3
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Default

Spray with water, spray with S100, Rinse with water, check for any spots that were missed, Dry with a Chamois and Microfibre towels. Quick blast down the road to blow dry then Chamois and microfibre again. Done...
Also did the S100 Brightener for blacked parts after a regualar wash back in June. It's probably had 3 washes since then and still looks like I just brought it home!!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

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

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:28 PM
  #9  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

wipe her down after riding, wipe her off before riding and clean and wax it in between. do the rims bout 2x month, keep her in the garage and that keeps her looking good.
U don't have 1/2 the chrome or any bags and shield to keep up as lots of us do
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:58 PM
  #10  
jknowlton's Avatar
jknowlton
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 954
Likes: 4
From: CA
Default

air compressor to blow off all the crap that gets caught underneath the oil filter and and in between the engine.

I use PIG SPIT for the engine and wrinkle black parts, just spray on, no washing. I use Simple Green for cleaning and getting gunk off. Ammonia based window cleaner for the black denim (HD recommended). For complete wash, use liquid dish detergent (HD recommended) for the black denim.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:03 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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