How do you wash/clean your bagger?
Novice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Drive thru the car wash once a week.
Honestly, after the bike has cooled off, I pre-soak the dirty areas with a soap-water using spritz-bottle. $1 at Home Depot. Then i mix soap n water in a 5 gallon bucket. Soap=Turtle wax car wash. Tough spots use Bug n Tar remover. Chrome I use Old fashion polishing compound. Windscreen/all lenses Novex #1
Honestly, after the bike has cooled off, I pre-soak the dirty areas with a soap-water using spritz-bottle. $1 at Home Depot. Then i mix soap n water in a 5 gallon bucket. Soap=Turtle wax car wash. Tough spots use Bug n Tar remover. Chrome I use Old fashion polishing compound. Windscreen/all lenses Novex #1
I only was after getting caught in the rain on the ride, usually I grab a clean micro fiber and my bottle of "Bug Slide" ( http://www.bugslide.com/products.html ), spray it down, and buff it off. After a real good polish job I'll hit it with bugslide After a ride the bug juce come right off. Rinse out the rag after use and hang to dry. Been using the same green microfiber for 5 years. This stuff is great on all surfaces.
Last edited by inthechateau; Sep 10, 2011 at 11:04 AM. Reason: can't spell
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I know most people take great pride in cleaning their bike, and claim they really enjoy it. I have to be honest. I really really don't. Don't get me wrong...IMO there is nothing better than a freshly cleaned and polished HD. I just hate doing it. Takes me at least 3 hours to do it right, and I've always said if its worth doing, its worth doing right. I also end up with several battle wounds from the sharp edges when I'm trying to get in those small spaces to polish. So...unless I have 3 hours to dedicate to the job, I don't do it at all. Obviously that leads to a dirty, bug splattered bike.
Has anybody found a good solution to quickly, but thoroughly, clean your bagger? I've tried S100 and I was not impressed.
Has anybody found a good solution to quickly, but thoroughly, clean your bagger? I've tried S100 and I was not impressed.
My bike will be 4 weeks old this coming Tuesday. It'll get it's first bath that day when the dealer does it before returning it to me after it's 1000 mile service.
But it still looks as good as the day it came into our home. Thats because every night, I take a damp cloth, and a dry clean towel, and wipe all the bugs off the front of it, and anywhere else they may be. And I'll hit it with a California Duster occasionally, also, to keep the dust down.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: ohio
didnt read through all 8 pages to see whats what lol
i use the s100 total cycle cleaner, basically coat the motor, underside of motor, frame, wheels etc etc, sometimes i even put some on the paint.
i use a small soft bristle brush on the dirty areas (underside of motor, front of motor, etc)
let that all soak in real good
then i rinse with water
i have a foamer i use, fill with meguairs gold glass car soap, and foam the entire bike up
let sit for a few minutes
rinse
then i have my 2 buckets with grit guards in them
one for soapy water, and one with water
wash the entire bike with the soapy water, rinsing my mit out in the 2nd bucket frequently
rinse
bring her in the garage, and blow dry the bike off
then go over the entire bike with meguairs quick detailer (works great on my denim paint)
finish it up with the harley or s100 engine brightener
and hit what little chrome i have with chrome polish.
also every other wash ill do a light buff on my windshield to get any scratches out there may be
i use the s100 total cycle cleaner, basically coat the motor, underside of motor, frame, wheels etc etc, sometimes i even put some on the paint.
i use a small soft bristle brush on the dirty areas (underside of motor, front of motor, etc)
let that all soak in real good
then i rinse with water
i have a foamer i use, fill with meguairs gold glass car soap, and foam the entire bike up
let sit for a few minutes
rinse
then i have my 2 buckets with grit guards in them
one for soapy water, and one with water
wash the entire bike with the soapy water, rinsing my mit out in the 2nd bucket frequently
rinse
bring her in the garage, and blow dry the bike off
then go over the entire bike with meguairs quick detailer (works great on my denim paint)
finish it up with the harley or s100 engine brightener
and hit what little chrome i have with chrome polish.
also every other wash ill do a light buff on my windshield to get any scratches out there may be
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 3
From: Moline, IL
i wash mine every week and sometimes more if im going to be heading out on a ride, i cant ride with dirty chrome. every weekly wash my bags and seat come off my SG and i get all the details, adams polishs are the best on the market in my opinion and trust me ive tried almost everything known, ive tied lot of $$ into cleaning lol. i was pleased with the harley denim cleaner as well for daily wipe down before i head out.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 590
Likes: 1
From: O'Fallon, MO
1. Put 2 to 3 gallons of warm water in bucket.
2. Add two capfulls of Optimum No Rinse to warm water.
3. Drop a microfiber towell into warm water.
4. Take microfiber full of water and ONR, start at top on bike and wash one area at a time.
5. After washing one area, take a dry microfiber and dry that area.
6. Move to next area and repeat steps 4 and 5 until done.
I do the same with all my cars as well. I never use a hose, save tons of water, and can wash inside the garage without getting gobs of water everywhere. I also use quick detailer on the painted surfaces if I'm just dusting in between washes. A few times a year I'll polish the paint and apply a sealant or wax.
2. Add two capfulls of Optimum No Rinse to warm water.
3. Drop a microfiber towell into warm water.
4. Take microfiber full of water and ONR, start at top on bike and wash one area at a time.
5. After washing one area, take a dry microfiber and dry that area.
6. Move to next area and repeat steps 4 and 5 until done.
I do the same with all my cars as well. I never use a hose, save tons of water, and can wash inside the garage without getting gobs of water everywhere. I also use quick detailer on the painted surfaces if I'm just dusting in between washes. A few times a year I'll polish the paint and apply a sealant or wax.