Cleaning the bike

[AmostThere]

Okay, so I'm from the world of cars where it is soap and water and a bucket with a hose for the rinse. How do you clean your bike and will you suggest products that work for you?

[Dauntless]

I just use car wash soap and an unused microfiber cloth. I get a pack of them from Costco or Sam's club and always use a new one when washing or waxing. My bike is black and I learned that it is too easy to scratch it due to dirt trapped in the cloth. After I wash it, I use a leaf blower to get most of the water off, especially from the jugs.

[ka5ysy]

Simple Green, several brushes and microfiber towels.

[Lost Rider]

Mine gets washed every time I ride in the rain. It's free and environmentally friendly.

[TT RDHS]

Mine gets washed every time I ride in the rain. It's free and environmentally friendly.

[kudzu]

Mine gets washed every time I ride in the rain. It's free and environmentally friendly.

I knew that was SOP for GS's but I wasn't sure about R's.

[spoon]

+1 for the Simple Green. I use it on the grunge. After the wash a good coat of wax makes it look nice.

[Lost Rider]

I knew that was SOP for GS's but I wasn't sure about R's.

I thought it to be true of all BMW's...

OK... the few times I have washed my bike I used a little dish soap in a bucket with a micro fiber towel, and a brush for the wheels.
Since I'm single the wheel brush goes back under the sink becoming the pan brush again.

I use Goof off for tar removal and Zymol for waxing.

[ErikM]

First off never use dish detergent, or simple green or any detergent not made for washing cars those products are made for removing or breaking up grease, they also remove wax. Anyway these guys have a great how to section if you want to learn how a car/bike should be detailed http://carcareonline.com/howto.aspx they also sell the BEST car care/ detailing products on the market.

[Lost Rider]

Funny how something as subjective can be the BEST of anything, especially coming from someone trying to sell you something....

A few drops of mild dish washing liquid in a bucket is not going to hurt my bike, and honestly from the handful of times I've washed it, I'm not too concerned, considering...



Look here on this great BMW car forum for the real deal on detailing.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

[MJB]

That's one reason why I bought the Granite Grey.....does not show the dirt..

I buy a jug of "Car Soap" from my local Canadian Tire Store, or any store that sells car stuff.
The jug will last over a year and costs about $10.00
Use it also for my car....

[ErikM]

I'm usually in aggrement with you Chi but in this case.. First, the "best" was my opinion not the web sites. Although since Zymol, P21S, One Grand, Wurth, Connolly, Lexol, Sonex, 3M, etc are considered by many detailing professionals to be arguably the "best" and or some of the best..

Second,I wasn't try to sell anyone a thing just pointing to some great "how to" articles since many folks really don't know how to correctly detail.

Third, I did look at the link you posted and the writer also makes mention that many feel that dish detergent etc aren't the best choice for washing a fine well maintained finsh, and that all things considered that a proper PH balanced car washing soap is a better choice. Interesting note here is that the makers of Zaino (a well thought of high end product) DO recomend using Dawn or the like since They feel it removes wax, since the Zaino process is one where they want the paint as fresh as possible to start in on.

In any case for those that care, do what you want.. For me I've always used Sonex to wash, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze to polish (when needed), One Grand Blitz Wax to finish, and Meguires quick detailer in between. As always YMMV.

Funny how something as subjective can be the BEST of anything, especially coming from someone trying to sell you something....

A few drops of mild dish washing liquid in a bucket is not going to hurt my bike, and honestly from the handful of times I've washed it, I'm not too concerned, considering...



Look here on this great BMW car forum for the real deal on detailing.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

[AmostThere]

Okay, I'm riding along minding my own business when out of nowhere I'm attacked by a runaway white plastic grocery bag. It zeros in on my right header pipe, wraps completely around it and melts! Aaaccckkk! My pristine beauty is now tarnished. I think I've read about hosing down the area with WD-40 or a similar product and letting it soak off overnight. It was a really nasty melting plastic smell for a few miles but that has diminished.

Any ideas for removing melted plastic gunk from the header pipe?

[Lost Rider]

Any ideas for removing melted plastic gunk from the header pipe?

BTDT.
You're screwed, sorry.

The plastic will burn off eventually, but will leave a stain.
I tried many different compounds and methods with no success. Finally I just stopped worrying about it since it has faded into the rest of the stains and discoloring on my spotted poo brown headers. Part of the BMW's personality.
Maybe someone else has the miracle cure...
I think that having the headers coated could get rid of the plastic scar if it bothered you that much.





No worries ErikM, if everyone agreed it wouldn't be a very interesting world would it?
I was just answering the OP's original question; how do you wash your bike?


-Joe

[Dan-A]

S100 (http://www.s100.com/s100_tcc.htm). Spray it on, hose it off, blow dry, done!

[Dan-A]

Mine gets washed every time I ride in the rain. It's free and environmentally friendly.

Mine got washed by the rain yesterday.

[daveyator]

I melted the case on my K1200RS's muffler once (boy I like the way the cases sit a bit further away on the R12R). I used "goo gone". It took a little effort but it removed the plastic and didn't damage the surface. I know the header gets hotter than the muffler but it might work.

[AllanCook]

S100 (http://www.s100.com/s100_tcc.htm). Spray it on, hose it off, blow dry, done!

+1 on S100. Makes a tiresome task pretty quick and easy. Not that I spend that much time cleaning mine.

[Phillo]

I use something which I guess is similar to S100 but not in a pressurised can called Kleen Green, I cycle it through my high pressure washer, dowse the whole bike with it leave it for about ten and then spray it off with the HP washer (remembering of course to not get too close to certain items)