Try Wizard's Mist N Shine and a Wizard's microfiber cloth. Great products and they will definately cut down cleaning time and save alot of total baths.

 

I live a mile away from a do-it-yourself carwash. After riding, I take it to the carwash, blast all the bugs off, and the pressure spray cleans up all the little nooks and crannys all over your bike lile the rear suspension and engine fins. Then I wipe her down with a thick fluffy towel. If I'm real ambitious I'll use some HD spray wax and a soft rag.

 

Well personally I think the "don't use a leaf blower" campaign is a bit over the top. The HOG mag may want you to spend your money on a genuine orange and black HD original air filtered blower for a bunch of money....

"Dirty Air"? maybe if one lives next to where there are a lot of particulates in the air-- like next to a coal mine....

I use a leaf blower and as long as you don't dig the end into the ground how could there be air dirty enough to damage the bike?

I do wet the driveway around the bike as an added measure but that's it. Works for me...

However, each to their own! If I'm wrong I'll see it in the future...

 

ain't that the truth. it did say to buy the HD blower for warm and clean air. I will see what I can rig up, just to be sure.

 

Is water, "hot as you could stand it", a good thing for a wax job? Seems to me that might just take your wax off. I can see it on the windshield but I wouldn't try it on my fairing.

 

Hey Jags, I just re-read my quote post to you above, and I wanted to say that I didn't mean for it to read like a 'rant'... Very sorry if it read like that.. I just get a bit weary of the whole H-D sales pitch to get ones hard earned $$$.

In this case they are selling 'clean air' blowers-- but what about the supposed 'dirty air' in front of the HD blower getting blown onto the surfaces by the clean air?

Let us know how your rigged up filter works. It will be interesting to hear the results after some use.

Later! V2evo96

 

I do not have a leaf blower since I live on a boat. I do have and use a small dedicated vacuum cleaner (connected reverse). Do the leaf blowers they are talking about refer to the ones with the 2-stroke engines? Where does the exhaust go from those? Is it in the air stream of the blower? I do not remember what I have seen and used in the past. If it goes in the air stream of the blower it would not be good to use one of those since about 25% of the fuel / oil mix does not burn in those engines....

 

+1 on the Wizards and micro cloth. I have a mini california duster that I use for dust and then Wizards and micro for the bugs. I have only put water on the scoot 1 time and that was because I got stuck in the rain on a charity ride. Washed her and gave her a good waxing. Dust her everyday and get the bugs after each ride to keep your scoot looking showroom new! (I have also tried pig spit but didnt care for that! just fyi)

 

Hey, good thought and comment! And a good idea about using the vacuum cleaner in reverse. I presume you remove the dirt bag before blowing.

My leaf blower has the intake on the side of the motor housing. The muffler is on the front but is slightly diverted about 45 degrees due to the baffle plate.
The discharge of the exhaust is small and due to the length of the blower discharge tube wouldn't reach the bike. It I thought it did I would divert it further with my gloved hand.
I'm sure there is no exhaust being sucked into the intake though.