BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Anyone bought a GOOD all in one packaged set of Brushes to clean his bikes ?

Didn't wash my bike since I own it beside mirrors and lights that I clean obsessively every 3 or 4 days with my on-board can of Sprayway glass cleaner foam.

I was taking a detailed look on my R the other day and figured that a detail cleaning will now take me a lot of time this is why I am looking for the right tools to do the cleaning easier and in every corners possible.

(This conversation is a kind of a rebound from "Tool Box Specific inventory for the R1200R ?)

Here is where I get my car/bike cleaning products:

http://www.griotsgarage.com

I have a couple of brushes that I purchased from them that I used to clean the spokes on my R1200C. They have just about everything for car cleaning that will work equally well on bikes.

I have never been disappointed by their products. My wife uses their Glass Polish on the bathroom shower glass door and it does a good job on the water spots.

Bill

Thanks Bill !

They have some nice things indeed... I also found this kind of all in one brushe --> http://www.bikebrush.com/spec.html

There is plenty of packages online but I just don't know with which to go...an not waste my money.

I don't really want to make bike shinny I just want the crucial area clean and the whole bike clean in details but I don't care if the chromes, gas tank and fairings don't shine.

I am also concerned by the accumulation of oil and dirt in gear shift mechanism and wonder if there is a good way to wash it well without taking it apart completely.

S-100 in the shade on a cool bike let it soak for a few minutes then hose off with water(high pressure better). make sure you get all the soap off this stuff is strong. No brush necessary

S-100 ruined the finish on several parts on my K-75. Other folks had similar experiences.

Highly recommend Simple Green. Spray on, hose off. Wheeels will require some scrubbing with a sponge before hosing off. Simple Green is way cheaper, buy at Lowes Motorcycle Parts Store or Home Depot, and environmentally safe.

Bruce

FredeR1200Ric wrote:Anyone bought a GOOD all in one packaged set of Brushes to clean his bikes ?

Didn't wash my bike since I own it beside mirrors and lights that I clean obsessively every 3 or 4 days with my on-board can of Sprayway glass cleaner foam.

I was taking a detailed look on my R the other day and figured that a detail cleaning will now take me a lot of time this is why I am looking for the right tools to do the cleaning easier and in every corners possible.

(This conversation is a kind of a rebound from "Tool Box Specific inventory for the R1200R ?)

So the writer of the quote within the quote above is arguing that after not washing his bike since buying it, it is now too dirty to wash.

I love it.

I got caught in a good thunderstorm last week. That took the bug guts right off my fairing and headlight.

Fred - did you ever get around to posting a picture of your bike?

Thanks guys ! I am taking notes...

Mogu, photo's have been posted already a while ago in the photo gallery...
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18625&start=180

Sander Abernathy, indeed ! my mirrors shines and are cleaned twice a week but the back of them collected at least two millimeters of dust, bugs and pollutions. I even kind of like a lot the non-fetishist spirit it express when I look at them but I am not sure the same thing is as good on the more mechanical and crucial area of the bike.

If you're cleaning your mirrors, you are doing a lot more than I am. My face shield is so dirty I couldn't begin to tell you if my mirrors need to be cleaned or not.

I pick up different soft brushes and as long as they are soft it's all good. I also vote for Simple green dilluted. S-100 is too strong IMHO, it did a job on my aluminum Harley cases.

P21S, a wheel cleaner from Germany works well on almost anything on the R12R, without damaging any paint. Only problem - it's expensive. http://www.autogeek.net/p21s.html

I like to periodically REALLY clean my bike because it gives me a chance to really eyeball everything on it and perhaps catch developing problems before they become serious. Did it last night, first REAL cleaning it got since I got back from Nova Scotia. Found a bit of what looks like grease/oil mixed with dirt right around the front driveshaft boot. Have to investigate it if it reoccurs.. (cleaned it off).. wasn't wet, just enough there that it would turn the tip of my finger black when I rubbed it.

Anyway - look at cleaning the bike as an opportunity for spotting maintenance or repair items you may need to attend to..

I don't know about Sprayaway glass cleaner, but do not use any glass cleaner that has ammonia in it, on the headlight lens or windshield. I think it has something to do with it can or will remove the UV-protection and turn it yellow or cloudy.

AncientMariner wrote:Highly recommend Simple Green. Spray on, hose off. Wheeels will require some scrubbing with a sponge before hosing off. Simple Green is way cheaper, buy at Lowes Motorcycle Parts Store or Home Depot, and environmentally safe.

+1 on Simple Green. My preferred cleaner for almost everything.

(Though sometimes I will use a generic orange-based cleaner...)

I used S-100 last time I cleaned my bike (now, when was that, I wonder?). It didn't ruin anything but didn't seem to be anything special--except expensive. In the future I will be using Simple Green.

I use Griot's Garage a lot for wax, plastic windscreen cleaner, brushes, etc. It's a good source of appearance maintenance supplies.

deilenberger wrote:P21S, a wheel cleaner from Germany works well on almost anything on the R12R, without damaging any paint. Only problem - it's expensive. http://www.autogeek.net/p21s.html

I like to periodically REALLY clean my bike because it gives me a chance to really eyeball everything on it and perhaps catch developing problems before they become serious. Did it last night, first REAL cleaning it got since I got back from Nova Scotia. Found a bit of what looks like grease/oil mixed with dirt right around the front driveshaft boot. Have to investigate it if it reoccurs.. (cleaned it off).. wasn't wet, just enough there that it would turn the tip of my finger black when I rubbed it.

Anyway - look at cleaning the bike as an opportunity for spotting maintenance or repair items you may need to attend to..

Words of wisdom as usual Don !

I just need the Minimum to do the Maximum.

So ! I just ordered this EZ brush http://www.bikebrush.com/

Two micro Fiber wash pads http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car ... s&page=all

Now I need a good quality not too pricey soap, P21S or Simple Green ? there is my dilemma...need help to decide.

One Pressurized Spray Bottle http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/too ... als&page=1

One set of swabs for details http://www.griotsgarage.com/p2p/search/ ... als&page=1


Should I buy that ? do I really need it ? http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car ... als&page=1
I Was also thinking to order this thing http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car ... spenser.do But wonder if I really need it ?


Help ?
What else do I need or remove from this shopping list ?

I have a hose, a bucket, a sponge and a chamois. I use whatever car shampoo falls to hand at Pep Boys. I pay a little more attention to wax--I use whatever wipes off the easiest. I get all kinds of compliments on how well I take care of my bike.

Peter