Bike cleaning

[rt3856]

OK, I like my bike to be clean and the 2011 TE449 has more nooks and crannys for dirt to get into than the grand canyon.
any suggestions from anybody on a way to speed up the cleaning process?
It seems like I spend as much time cleaning as riding.

 

[Blakelpd5]

any suggestions from anybody on a way to speed up the cleaning process?
It seems like I spend as much time cleaning as riding.

Thats a sad, sad, situation. My solution (may not be best for everyone), to less time cleaning, is a pressure washer, and only wash it when I need to work on it. Saves a ton of time!

 

[rt3856]

Thats a sad, sad, situation. My solution (may not be best for everyone), to less time cleaning, is a pressure washer, and only wash it when I need to work on it. Saves a ton of time!

yer killin me!
I know, I ride by my self a lot and am kinda weird about maintainence. so cleaning is just part of inspection.
There are some times I do that.

 

[jtemple]

I don't care for the pressure washer approach, but I'm starting to consider it. Hand washing it when it's covered in mud is a lot of work, and there is still dirt all over it in places you can't reach.

What spots do you avoid when pressure washing?

 

[PALMER84ONE]

Crystal Simple Green is my new favorite. Cleans real good and nocks greasy dirt off in the pressure spray of a hose. No need for a pressure washer...

 

[ray_ray]

Go to the bathroom cleaning section in about any store ... There you will find numerous spongy tools and many other pokers for cleaning all sorts of parts and places on these parts ... Most are pretty cheap so buy several for testing their action ....

 

[JPinNC]

Liquid Performance motorcycle cleaner is the best stuff I have used, no brushing, regular old garden hose; gets expensive though; Shout stain remover was recommended by many, I tried it, great results for the price.

 

[Jack]

The Mother's power ball helps too. It can get into the inside of the hub much better than I can. http://www.motherspowerball.com/

 

[typeone]

best trick i ever learned... spray bike with reg garden hose to get the chunks off... concentrated Simple Green cut 50/50 with water in a spray bottle... spray a section at a time, use various size paint brushes to work it in and around, let soak for a min or two, no more, spray off.

i dont use my power washer anymore. bike gets super clean in minutes.

 

[McKay]

My black engine block stays water spotty/dirty. I guess I need some brushes

 

[kjclark7]

best trick i ever learned... spray bike with reg garden hose to get the chunks off... concentrated Simple Green cut 50/50 with water in a spray bottle... spray a section at a time, use various size paint brushes to work it in and around, let soak for a min or two, no more, spray off.

i dont use my power washer anymore. bike gets super clean in minutes.

i'll second simple green with a 50/50 mix with water. i use it on my street bike and truck too. its great stuff and makes cleaning the hard to reach areas much easier, especially the engine.

 

[Rattletrap]

Before I left for my 3 day 1200 mile trip, my riding buddies told me to at least wash off my tag so I wouldn't get stopped by the police and they would have to wait on me. But when I do wash it I use Purple Power, its a good cleaner but watch for the fumes.

 

[Catang5oh]

Simple green first, get the major stuff off. Then soak the thing with Tire Foam, any brand works. We used this stuff for years detailing cars, and engines. Spray it on, start bike and let it get warm and the foam does its magic. Bike will be dealership shiny till it's next dirt sample.

 

[kjclark7]

Simple green first, get the major stuff off. Then soak the thing with Tire Foam, any brand works. We used this stuff for years detailing cars, and engines. Spray it on, start bike and let it get warm and the foam does its magic. Bike will be dealership shiny till it's next dirt sample.

i'm going to give that a try next time. i would think that the dirt comes off easier after you do the tire foam soak.

 

[Clarkey]

I found this out by experimenting with different ideas. When the bike is clean, spray all over with tyre shine, not the seat or brakes though. Spray everywhere you can get to. When you get back from a ride, soap up the bike. I do this with the pressure cleaner attachment. let it soak for a while in the shade, then hit it with the pressure cleaner and Bobs your uncle, clean bike. When dry apply more tyre shine. I then have to degrease around the chain & sprocket area because I'm not shy with chain lube, 90 gear oil applied with a brush lol.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[ray_ray]

I found this out by experimenting with different ideas. When the bike is clean, spray all over with tyre shine, not the seat or brakes though. Spray everywhere you can get to. When you get back from a ride, soap up the bike. I do this with the pressure cleaner attachment. let it soak for a while in the shade, then hit it with the pressure cleaner and Bobs your uncle, clean bike. When dry apply more tyre shine. I then have to degrease around the chain & sprocket area because I'm not shy with chain lube, 90 gear oil applied with a brush lol.

Hope this helps you out.

I do just about the same with that tire shine stuff on my bikes when I want them shiny ... And using a tooth brush to apply oil to the chain, both top and bottom of the chain and all the sliders and chain guide, really cut down on cost and the chain seems to stay lubed much longer ...

Almost any spray lube such as wd-40 or cheaper stuff will help remove grease ...

 

[Clarkey]

Hi ray_ray. The reason I use tyre shine on a clean bike because the dirt is harder to remove from an unsealed surface.
The tyre(aust)shine acts as a barrier and comes away well with the dirt. In the past i've haven't used it and found the every part had to be scrubbed. Must be the type of dirt down under hehe. I started using tyre shine on my new bike before my first ride lol. May even help with corrosion etc, time will tell. I buy the cheapest and when on special at an auto mart.

Cheers

 

[R-J van Hulst]

`I have to promise the cleaning crew to get my bike dirty


so they have a go at it.


Robert-Jan

 

[BadMotoWeazal]

Liquid Performance motorcycle cleaner is the best stuff I have used, no brushing, regular old garden hose; gets expensive though; Shout stain remover was recommended by many, I tried it, great results for the price.

I use this product too. I cut it in half with water. I remove the air filter & cover the air box opening. Then I get the heavy dirt of with a hose & brush. Spray soap on the bike in sections, brush sections & rinse. Chain first, then wheels, then work from the top of the bike down, engine & pipe last. After the wash I get my leaf blower & blow the water out of all the bolt heads & crevices. Lastly I've been using a WD-40 silicone spray to shine it up (avoiding rotors & seat), then I WD-40 the chain until it's time to ride (then I use a chain oil). When I really want her clean I remove the tank & sub-frame.

 

[BadMotoWeazal]

I've found these little bendable wheel brushes work well....

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...sh-autocraft_6140122-p?searchTerm=wheel+brush