Question for Whitewall Tire Owners
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 191
Likes: 2
From: At Work
The problem I have is two fold one costs money and I'm still working on the second. A jack is an absolute, I still need to do that. The second is that my bike does not get dirty enough to require a soap and water wash very often. Normal 50-100 mile rides get them dirty. An easy sort of "dry" clean method has not been found. They look nice, but it is difficult to keep them as clean as I would like without soaping it up and hosing it down.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
+1 on the Westley's and a 3M Scotchbrite pad. Just rinse off the tires and rims with the hose when you're done and no harm will come to your rims. Been using this crap for years.
Who?Me? You can't see how dirty your tires are while you're riding. Just ride more.....What kind of roads are you riding on if they get dirty in 50-100 miles?
I clean mine occasionally (3 times in 1K miles), and no matter how crappy they look, they still come clean. Gotta have a lift, it takes 10 min. and you don't have to soap up the whole bike.
Who?Me? You can't see how dirty your tires are while you're riding. Just ride more.....What kind of roads are you riding on if they get dirty in 50-100 miles?
I clean mine occasionally (3 times in 1K miles), and no matter how crappy they look, they still come clean. Gotta have a lift, it takes 10 min. and you don't have to soap up the whole bike.
Last edited by FDHOG; Dec 7, 2010 at 01:07 PM.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Macon GA
If yoy want WWWs and want them to look good, you are just going to have to clean them.
I wash my bike about once a month. I use windex and a rag after every ride, and I wash just the tires about once a week.
Ita a PITA to pull the bags and do the whites every week but its worth it to me. Nothing beats the looks of WWWs on a classic.
I wash my bike about once a month. I use windex and a rag after every ride, and I wash just the tires about once a week.
Ita a PITA to pull the bags and do the whites every week but its worth it to me. Nothing beats the looks of WWWs on a classic.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
Mine only really get dirty when I ride in rainstorms, and the brake dust gets deposited on them.
I'd much rather use the Wesley's over Simple Green. Simple green will definitely corrode aluminum, and will strip certain coatings off as well. It works like a champ, but it's really nasty stuff.
Wesley's works okay and I'm not as worried about damaging my rims, although I am quick to hose them off.
I've only cleaned my whitewalls twice in 2500 miles, I don't have a lift though. Santa should be delivering one in less than a month.
I'd much rather use the Wesley's over Simple Green. Simple green will definitely corrode aluminum, and will strip certain coatings off as well. It works like a champ, but it's really nasty stuff.
Wesley's works okay and I'm not as worried about damaging my rims, although I am quick to hose them off.
I've only cleaned my whitewalls twice in 2500 miles, I don't have a lift though. Santa should be delivering one in less than a month.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,930
Likes: 4
From: OHIO......UGH !!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood, Texas
White Walls
When I had my 06 Roadking Classic, I used Comet w/ bleach, Scrub Brush, SOS Pad, a Bike Jack, lots of elbow grease and little time. Always paid off to go the extra mile. You want to set off a classic from the others just clean those white walls up real good. Beautiful bikes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,373
Likes: 4
Bear in mind using steel wool, SOS, scotch brite etc when cleaning you white walls. These products are "abrasive". The reason you see results with them is because not unlike paint you are removing material from the surface. JMHO.