Washing a Bagger
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Perth, Western Australia
Washing a Bagger
After 8 Harleys, I have now bought a 2011 Street Glide 103ci. Not having owned one with a sound system on board - I was wondering how careful one has to be when washing the bike, particularly the inside of the Batwing fairing. Surely getting water into the speakers is going to be detrimental. Thoughts and advice, please.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 400
Likes: 4
From: southern ontario
I never use a pressure washer on any bike. They have to much force and force water in places it should not be. I just use a normal hose and spray lightly on the dash areas. That way it is no different than being in the rain
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,306
Likes: 2,443
From: Eastern NE
Even though you can, I never directly spray water over back side of fairing (dash, radio, speakers, gauges, etc.). Just wipe with damp cloth & dry w/soft towel...works for me & I still haven't had any moisture appear in gauges (like ID'd on other posts).
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,324
From: Western South Dakota
For cleaning, I mostly just use moist cloths and put them on the bike let them soften up up the crap and then wipe it off, and rinse with a cleaner moist cloth, followed by Thunderbolt polish. Same as you'd do for bugs too to soften them up, maybe a degreaser and a light spray for underneath if needed to get the road grime off but that'd be about it. No direct spray for me, don't see the point.
Power washers put water where it shouldn't go..
Power washers put water where it shouldn't go..
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 6
From: Omaha Nebraska
There are times, such as a lot of road spray, when I use a high pressure car wash. However, when spraying the back of the fairing or around the side covers, I keep the spray nozzle way back to reduce pressure.
Never, never set your hard bags on the floor and hit them with water pressure without holding them down or they will tip and go skidding across the concrete scratching their paint as they bobble around. I knew that but it happened to me anyway last night.
Never, never set your hard bags on the floor and hit them with water pressure without holding them down or they will tip and go skidding across the concrete scratching their paint as they bobble around. I knew that but it happened to me anyway last night.
