Cleaning/Detailing
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 4,244
From: U.S.A. Upstate N. Y.
Cleaning/detailing
Vickers1, I'll wipe it down and towel it dry, and go over it with Surf City garage detail spray after every ride.. If ,I see swirl marks then I'll wash it, dry it and proceed to polish and wax.. I know, I obsessive but the bike looks great. I have a twenty three year old Gravely tractor that I wash and wax along with my cars. My tractor was at the dealer last year and they put in the show room. A customer thought it was new and ask my dealer how much they wanted. He didn't believe it when the dealer told him it was that old. I guess I'm O.C.D. about my toys being clean and taken care of.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
I hear ya. Sometimes I'll give it a wash with a little dawn dish soap in warm water just to get everything else clean but in between, denim cleaner.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Yes new detailer on order for next year! Will not use or recommend this one ever again! Bad thing is that it was at my local Harley dealer! Will be talking to the service manager this weekend.
Last edited by mtstringer; May 9, 2014 at 09:26 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
you Guys do know that swirl, clay scratch remover etc. removes clearcoat and paint from the body?
this'll lead to differences in gloss and will attract the eye- it'll also give dirt a rough place to live
hot soapy water, if you have bug guts, wet a towel and lay it on the fairing. 10 minutes will soften them.
hot soapy water, rinse clean- a good quality wax will help keep dirt, grit, dust and bugs from making as much an impact into the future.
the saddest thing ever is a "car detailer" using a buffer to etch swirl marks all down the side of a car- that stuff can't be undone.
mike
this'll lead to differences in gloss and will attract the eye- it'll also give dirt a rough place to live
hot soapy water, if you have bug guts, wet a towel and lay it on the fairing. 10 minutes will soften them.
hot soapy water, rinse clean- a good quality wax will help keep dirt, grit, dust and bugs from making as much an impact into the future.
the saddest thing ever is a "car detailer" using a buffer to etch swirl marks all down the side of a car- that stuff can't be undone.
mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,185
Likes: 7,961
From: In my head
Living on a ranch with a 4 mile dirt/dust driveway my bikes are always dirty.
I wash them away from the ranch only if I plan on being away for more than a day....
Nothing pisses me off more than spending a couple hours detailing my bike then driving home and having it completely covered in dust.
All my bikes are dirty...
I wash them away from the ranch only if I plan on being away for more than a day....
Nothing pisses me off more than spending a couple hours detailing my bike then driving home and having it completely covered in dust.
All my bikes are dirty...
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
Letting a cloth touch the finish when dust or dirt is on it is probably the major reason that finishes get scratched...or using any paper product on them. For dust, I use a Kozak...it's marketed as a 'dry wash', has been around for generations, I have used them for over forty years and generally, the marketing is accurate. I wouldn't use one in lieu of a regular wash for very dirty or muddy finishes, but it's what I use to keep the every day dust off the bike.
I've recently discovered Lucas Slick Mist, and so far, like it better than any other finish restorer yet. For waxing, Meguiar's Black Wax...again, another product that is so far living up to its marketing. It has a very slight abrasive in it, I believe, and really keeps my black paint looking great. I wax it every other month or so, otherwise, I keep up on the finish maintenance weekly.
I've recently discovered Lucas Slick Mist, and so far, like it better than any other finish restorer yet. For waxing, Meguiar's Black Wax...again, another product that is so far living up to its marketing. It has a very slight abrasive in it, I believe, and really keeps my black paint looking great. I wax it every other month or so, otherwise, I keep up on the finish maintenance weekly.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
Nothing wrong with a service provider speaking to you frankly. If that bothers your sensitivities, and makes you sad, we just can't have that, can we? Move on to a typical mealy mouthed detailer who wouldn't say **** if he/she had a mouthful, but ain't gonna be square up with you. Sheesh. This is the kind of person that you want to hear from...