Cleaning the Bike

[AmostThere]

I read somewhere else about using Spray-N-Wash to clean the bike, in particular the parts with road grime and/or oil. It sort of makes sense since it is formulated to remove grease from clothing. I like that it must be pretty much non-toxic if it can be used on clothes and then rinsed down the drain. Anyway, I tried Shout today since I didn't have Spray-N-Wash. I think it works great and I like not having to buy another product. I think it is also much cheaper than special moto-formulations.

The small residual spots are just a result of my not being completely thorough.

I think a brush with longer and softer bristles will work better next time.

[websterize]

The small residual spots are just a result of my not being completely thorough.

Now that's what they call shooting low. Nice!

[celticus]

I'll have to post a picture of my bike so all of the silent owners of dirty BMWs can know that they are not alone.
By the way that is a very nice looking slider on that clean bike.

Mark

[bobw]

She looks great! I'm with Mark on this though. I clean my bike all the time, but compared to this beauty. Bug guts, brake dust and road grime are always with me

Do you guys ever find dead bugs on the front rim? There is something about the air flow that appears to direct/deposit bugs to their final rest on the rim surface. I can't remember this with any kind of regularity on other bikes, no biggie, just found it interesting that there are always a few after each ride this time of year. Of course it may just indicate I've been off my Meds for too long

[AmostThere]

By the way that is a very nice looking slider on that clean bike.

Mark

I knew you'd like it! Thanks for doing it.

[mogu83]

Spray-N-Wash what a great idea. My wife will love this as the cleaning materials (house stuff) comes out of the house budget and the Gunk I normally use comes out of the 'Harry's Toys ' budget.

Hows this one (it will most likely make the dirty bike guys sick) . If you want to make the side walls of your tires shiny dab a little Coke (the drinking kind) or Pepsi on the sidewall. Let it dry and then do it again. Makes the tires shine and they won't slip, it's sugar and will wash off in the rain and will scuff off in the dry. I don't do it all the time but only during those special wash jobs. Sure will impress the similarly anal bike cleaner weirdos at the next clean bike meeting.

I know this is a sign of some sort of illness but I have a lot of time on my hands.

[celticus]

"it will most likely make the dirty bike guys sick"
Once again you are correct.

Mark

[Rocket]

Spray-N-Wash what a great idea. My wife will love this as the cleaning materials (house stuff) comes out of the house budget and the Gunk I normally use comes out of the 'Harry's Toys ' budget.

Hows this one (it will most likely make the dirty bike guys sick) . If you want to make the side walls of your tires shiny dab a little Coke (the drinking kind) or Pepsi on the sidewall. Let it dry and then do it again. Makes the tires shine and they won't slip, it's sugar and will wash off in the rain and will scuff off in the dry. I don't do it all the time but only during those special wash jobs. Sure will impress the similarly anal bike cleaner weirdos at the next clean bike meeting.

I know this is a sign of some sort of illness but I have a lot of time on my hands.

Harry, do you really still use Gunk? I remember using that stuff to clean the oil off my leaky old BSA about 32 years ago" Still have a tin in my garage. It's older than my teenage son! Only gets used once a decade or so, just to have a nostalgic smell.
Is there a new formula ? (which doesn't leave the greasy residue)
PS, are you in on the group photo idea I posted,.. or do you have too many already?

[mogu83]

I usually have a few aerosol cans of gunk in the garage. When I clean the bike first I Gunk the bottom and the engine. It's biodegradable and cleans off the bugs, road tar and the few oil seepages. And the odor is -- well it's unique and I'm not allowed in the house with clothes that have Gunk on them.

[eddiepat62]

I have never washed a car in my life, and every the bikes I owned were painted flat black as soon as I could get it done... Yet somehow I am being pulled into cleaning my new to me R12R. Where to start and what to use? Shout is available, but is there anything I need to be concerned about?

Wash a motorcycle? Someone save me from this craziness!

[johnmnz]

Now I know why Granite Grey Bikes go faster - the're cleaner

[LeonardoNYC]

Wow! That's the cleanest bike I ever saw. The BMW dealer in Valley Stream NY that's no longer in business had this shop assistant who could clean a bike like you wouldn't believe. When I had my R11R I used to make up things that were wrong with the bike just so it would get a cleaning.

Seriously though..what's the Shout/Spray and wash procedure? Just spray it on like you would S100 and rinse?

[AmostThere]

Seriously though..what's the Shout/Spray and wash procedure? Just spray it on like you would S100 and rinse?

Pretty much. Spray on the 'Shout' and let it sit for a couple minutes then agitate it with a cheapo parts brush from Harbor Freight to get the grime out of the little nooks then rinse. Keep in mind that out here in SoCal it doesn't rain and I don't do any of the ChiTown style offroad thrash.

Thanks for the clean bike kudos, it makes me feel a little better since when I went to check out another guy's R12R from here on the board his made mine look like I just finished the Baja 1000. He had way more miles than me and his bike made showroom bikes look ratty.

[Dale_K]

A little Honda metal polish does wonders for the stainless exhaust. No power tools.

[papasong]

Has anyone tried Holy Cow all purpose cleaner to clean their bike(s)? Earth-friendly, pet-friendly, etc.:

http://www.holycowproducts.com/index.htm

The also make a "Concentrated Cleaner" that supposedly strips grease from engines...

What about Muc-Off? Any users out there?

http://www.muc-off.com/motorcycle/carousel_bike.html

Thanks,
Jeff