Filthy Bike
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Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: El Paso, TX
Filthy Bike
By just riding around town and to work a few times I noticed on the vivid black get pretty dirty, I know I shouldn't wash it all the time so what is the best way to keep it clean. I have wiped it down the windex ammonia free but still looks dirty if you put the light up to it and look closely. I have also notice little scratches like swirl marks in it but again you have to look closely at it. So I need some advise as what to use in between washes and how to keep it looking it best!! Any advise out there!!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 12
From: SE Florida
Windex will eventually remove all the wax and hence--------all the shine!!
Especially on black or dark colors.
Buy a few good products for cleaning and waxing, and some chrome polish (HD makes a great one, imho) and sit down a detail it.
And check out some of these black bikes.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/273442-show-your-ride-picture-showdown.html
I'll bet there's no windex near any of them.
So, STOP THE WINDEX
Especially on black or dark colors.
Buy a few good products for cleaning and waxing, and some chrome polish (HD makes a great one, imho) and sit down a detail it.
And check out some of these black bikes.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/273442-show-your-ride-picture-showdown.html
I'll bet there's no windex near any of them.
So, STOP THE WINDEX
Last edited by Yachtman; Sep 3, 2008 at 10:54 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Heh-heh-heh I use meguires gold and lots of elbow grease. In between I have been told a swiffer duster works well but, I just like to wax her. The vivid Black looks wonderful when it is clean but, I laugh because it really is a neverending labor of love! Good luck
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
Here check out this site for plenty of VERY good info on detailing your bike....and also just quick cleaning for in between the heavy detailing.
http://hawgwash.stores.yahoo.net/index.html
And check out this link for a perfect "how to" on detailing
http://hawgwash.stores.yahoo.net/detailinghog.html
http://hawgwash.stores.yahoo.net/index.html
And check out this link for a perfect "how to" on detailing
http://hawgwash.stores.yahoo.net/detailinghog.html
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Eastern TN
As much as I want a Vivid Black bike, threads like this are what will probably convince me to go with a blue or something. I really hate cleaning bikes. My current one only gets washed in the rain, and it doesn't rain very often in SoCal.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
I live in Georgie where we weren't able to wash our cars or bikes for most of last year due to the water shortage. Riding a vivid black ultra....it was killing me to leave it alone.
I discovered a few years back that a California duster, lemon pledge and a couple of micro fiber towels worked wonders. Use the duster to get the small particles off and then wipe down the entire bike with the lemon pledge.
I use one micro fiber towel to put in on in small areas at a time and another to buff it out. The results are fantastic and it takes me 5-10 minutes to do after most rides. You can use the pledge on the plastic, painted surfaces, chrome and leather. The bugs don't stick as well to the fairing / shield and come off easily.
BTW - lemon pledge is very similar to the Honda spray wax or the was in most public car washes. The other added benfit is that it leaves no, nada, zero white residue....even works on tires.
I discovered a few years back that a California duster, lemon pledge and a couple of micro fiber towels worked wonders. Use the duster to get the small particles off and then wipe down the entire bike with the lemon pledge.
I use one micro fiber towel to put in on in small areas at a time and another to buff it out. The results are fantastic and it takes me 5-10 minutes to do after most rides. You can use the pledge on the plastic, painted surfaces, chrome and leather. The bugs don't stick as well to the fairing / shield and come off easily.
BTW - lemon pledge is very similar to the Honda spray wax or the was in most public car washes. The other added benfit is that it leaves no, nada, zero white residue....even works on tires.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 384
Likes: 2
From:
+1 on the california duster.....Not sure what to say on the pledge though.
SO....
California duster.....spray on detailer....and TOP quality microfiber towels.
Using top grade microfiber makes a huge difference on spiderwebs and swirls. Check out the cobra line here....
http://www.autogeek.net/mictow.html
SO....
California duster.....spray on detailer....and TOP quality microfiber towels.
Using top grade microfiber makes a huge difference on spiderwebs and swirls. Check out the cobra line here....
http://www.autogeek.net/mictow.html
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From:
+1 on the california duster.....Not sure what to say on the pledge though.
SO....
California duster.....spray on detailer....and TOP quality microfiber towels.
http://www.autogeek.net/mictow.html
SO....
California duster.....spray on detailer....and TOP quality microfiber towels.
http://www.autogeek.net/mictow.html
