Cleaning a black bike

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Oct 28, 2010 | 02:30 PM

#21

CRASH69

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 349

Likes: 22

From: Jersey

IMO I Find if you wipe it down after a run you will scratch it. I give it a blow job LOL with the air compressor. I wash and polish once a week usually sundays. Also after a really good polish job and im not going to use the bike for a few days or so i cover it with a bed sheet it keeps the dust off from the garage. A bike cover gets it dirty again but a cotton sheet does the trick...Mike

Last edited by CRASH69; Oct 28, 2010 at 02:31 PM. Reason: spelling

Oct 28, 2010 | 02:54 PM

#22

Scorpion07

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,602

Likes: 3

From: Southeastern Michigan

Small California Duster, then Maguires Quick Detailer. But - I just used Pledge last weekend and I'm pretty impressed. Might start using that instead of the Quick detailer?
A couple times a year I'll wax with Maguires Cleaner Wax.
You'll get 990 diferent methods out of 1000 guys here.

Oct 28, 2010 | 03:05 PM

#23

cromagnon

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 4,067

Likes: 60

From: Chesterfield, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fcal124

I have my RKC for a month. For the first 3 weeks, I looked for jean marks on the gas tank after every ride and buffed them out, I was obsessed. Now in week 4, I'm over it. I will clean it off before every ride with a small Cal Duster, and get the smudges off the chrome, but the heavy detail work can wait until she looks dirty. It's more fun to ride than clean.
Gonna try Zaino in the spring.

Then after 2 months I decided that I would wash it twice a month. Then after 4 months I decided I would wash it once a month. Then after 8 months I decided I would wash it when it started bothering me. Now after several years I may wash it after people start telling me it's starting to look like ****.

Oct 28, 2010 | 04:07 PM

#24

djl

HDF Community Team

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 12,776

Likes: 2,607

From: san antonio

In south Texas, we can ride about 10 months out of the year, longer if January and February are mild. No time to clean, so I clean both of mine at the end of the season whether they need it or not. You may have heard the expression "ridden hard and put up wet" an old cow hand expression for how some hands treat their horses; it applies to motorcycles as well. Anyone tells me my bike looks like **** and I immediately as them if they want to find out which is faster, my nasty dirty bike or their shiny chromey polished bike; I don't know why but that usually changes the subject.

Last edited by djl; Oct 28, 2010 at 04:11 PM.

Oct 28, 2010 | 04:13 PM

#25

mmzullo

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 114

Likes: 0

From: new jersey

Crash69,
I 'll have to try the comrpessed air. I know wiping down a dusty paint will scratch and there are enough of them on my bike already (PO). I just started using Mequiars scratch x and Tech 2 wax. So far pleased with the look but the heavier swirl marks are still in the paint. But I don't think there is anything I can do about it know.

I heard someone on this forum say something about scratch filler for black ? Is this true?

Oct 28, 2010 | 05:33 PM

#26

gunner11

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 5,356

Likes: 8

From: Roswell, NM

I bought it to ride, not clean. I will give it a quick detail once a week, and a good wash once a month, but with all the wind and dust we're having in New Mexico right now it's useless so I just ride it dirty. it rides just as good

Oct 28, 2010 | 06:22 PM

#27

kredin

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 2,236

Likes: 1

From: Gainesville, VA

I was so proud 4 months ago when I picked up my RK all shiny and new. I thought I'd always keep it that way. Now, 6K miles later, I think it might be ready for its first bath. I'll probably wax it too. (But don't bet on it.) If the weather is nice enough to be washing the bike then it's nice enough to be out riding -- riding wins every time.

Oct 28, 2010 | 07:20 PM

#28