Washing...
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 123
From: Meridian, Idaho
K gonna take the consensus of the group and say no wand washing. Figured I would ask. I appreciate the responses. Will be using (luc.who's) way since he too has a denim bike. I would rather come here and ask then do something stupid. Thanks for the help guys.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
I prefer hand washing the bike, but I have washed my bike and countless other machines that were just as valuable or more with a pressure washer.
You do have to be extremely careful, and you are taking a chance, but it can and is done thousands of times a day with decent results.
I say decent results because I don't think you can make a bike or a car look as good with a pressure wash as you can with a hand wash.
Dennis
You do have to be extremely careful, and you are taking a chance, but it can and is done thousands of times a day with decent results.
I say decent results because I don't think you can make a bike or a car look as good with a pressure wash as you can with a hand wash.
Dennis
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 26
From: Sheboygan,Wi
Other then the pressure being bad for the bearing seals,who wants to go the the car wash and let the bike sit 30 min to cool off. I cringe at the thought of flooding cool water on a hot engine.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 123
From: Meridian, Idaho
Ya I could see me doing it without asking, then coming on here and Sooo I was washing my bike and..ya no thanks. Glad I asked lol. Friends say "Man don't over think everything you do with your bike just ride the damn thing." It is/was a lot of money to me and I want it to last. SO I am extra careful with it. My other HD was the same way had to baby the thing always. Nothing wrong with being to careful.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 127
You have pretty much answered your own question. Now the question is "Are you just looking for trouble"?
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 123
From: Meridian, Idaho
. No trouble seeking here haha.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 280
From: North Cental Iowa
I guess I F'd up hundreds of times over the 200K miles & almost 20 years bike riding & washing, oops no problems yet. Oh by the way, what happens when you're riding that hot bike & hit a rain storm? I do let mine cool off for 10-15 minutes if it's real hot, do what you want with you "baby", I'll do what I want with my motorcycle.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,185
Likes: 7,961
From: In my head
This whole pressure washer thing is way over blown.
I think i've hand washed my bikes a handful of times over the years, other than that, it's always pressure washers.
I keep the nozzle about 4 feet away from the bike and let it fly. The spray is not strong enough to hurt ****..
If you want to tear up some stuff. stick the nozzle up against your electronics and let it fly, then you might do some damage.
No need to spread misinformation.
I think i've hand washed my bikes a handful of times over the years, other than that, it's always pressure washers.
I keep the nozzle about 4 feet away from the bike and let it fly. The spray is not strong enough to hurt ****..
If you want to tear up some stuff. stick the nozzle up against your electronics and let it fly, then you might do some damage.
No need to spread misinformation.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 15
From: The City Of New York
No pressure washing. My method below:
My Workflow:
Pre-spray bike with Simple Green Motorsports Cleaner & Degreaser. Let sit for 2-3 minutes. Spray off with hose. Two-5 gallon bucket method. One with clean water, one with gel type car wash soap and water. Gentle touch application with a chenille mitt. Rinse mitt in clear water before returning to soap bucket to remove grit. Hose on gentle spray to remove soap from bike. Dry bodywork and chrome with "The Absorber", wringing often. I use two of them and rotate as I work. Let bike air dry for about 15-20 minutes (not in direct sunlight). Spray detail mist on bodywork and chrome, one section at a time. Buff with a microfiber, rotating 4 or 5 cloths often. (Traditional Mother's Gold Paste wax 2x per year in place of the detail spray.)
My Workflow:
Pre-spray bike with Simple Green Motorsports Cleaner & Degreaser. Let sit for 2-3 minutes. Spray off with hose. Two-5 gallon bucket method. One with clean water, one with gel type car wash soap and water. Gentle touch application with a chenille mitt. Rinse mitt in clear water before returning to soap bucket to remove grit. Hose on gentle spray to remove soap from bike. Dry bodywork and chrome with "The Absorber", wringing often. I use two of them and rotate as I work. Let bike air dry for about 15-20 minutes (not in direct sunlight). Spray detail mist on bodywork and chrome, one section at a time. Buff with a microfiber, rotating 4 or 5 cloths often. (Traditional Mother's Gold Paste wax 2x per year in place of the detail spray.)