How often do you wash your bike

[rodekyll]

No, it's a metzler, I think.

[lucian]

Sometimes the bug guts gets a wipe. It hasn't seen a hose for more than 12 months. I used to wipe it down after every ride and wash it once a week. Then I dropped it. Now I can't be arsed.

Just focus on your logging and a roller map and we'll all come wash your bike for you   

[davedel44]

I wash mine more than Ken Hand does.

Dave
Galveston

[Chet Rugg]

Dusty Ken may take offense to that. I 'm sayin never ever and that's no shit man.

[RayB]

I wash my bike based on condition. As BMWdavid mentioned , there are lots of bugs and sometimes mayflies on rutal routes here in Indiana. I remove the bug juice after a ride on both my bikes. Thorough wash down only happens anout twice per year though-unless I have been running in the rain. Between my bikes I hate doing afull job on my EV....too many shiney bits. My R100 takes anout one third the time to clean.

[Lannis]

No , he swore on a Texas flag that he washed a motorcycle once , scared him so bad it stunted his growth 

  Dusty

He's waffling, though, we have photographic evidence on this very site that it's been washed, and thoroughly washed too.

Just because a team of very engaging girls in bikinis washed it FOR him doesn't mean he didn't WASH it .... !!   

Lannis

[SmithSwede]

I am schizophrenic about bike washing.   I do believe in keeping good wax on paint and chrome.  Some at least every four months or so, I'll do the ultra clean, and wax and polish everything. 

Having done that, if the weather stays nice, I'll do a quick polish every weekend to kept things gleaming.

On the other hand, if the bike gets all grotty because the weather is bad, and it keeps raining, well, I may just keep riding a muddy mule.  Maybe for weeks on end. Ok with me.

Some for a long road trip.  If it will clearly be nice weather for days, I'll spiff and shine.  But if there is any chance of rain, I'd rather hit the road and not be irritated later that my clean bike got dirty.

I think way too many people avoid actually riding the bike for fear of messing up the chrome they spent 5 hours polishing.   I'm not in that camp.   They are meant to be ridden, so ride them !

[SmithSwede]

Oh yeah.  Another thought about washing.   I think it can do more harm than good.  I use minimal water.  Avoid instruments and bearings.   Blow the water off immediately with a leaf blower.   Then ride.  It's more important to keep things oily and greasy and dry than shiny. 

Same philosophy with guns.  More guns are screwed up by over zealous cleaning that honest use.  Jacked up muzzle crowns, bores stripped of "seasoning" lube, too much gun solvent in action and on wood.   Just use the thing!

[Idontwantapickle]

I usually just wash the "buggy" parts and the wheels. Mostly it's just gas and 

Hunter

[JeffOlson]

At least weekly during the summer. During the winter, not as often.

Oh, and I ride nearly every day, even in the rain. (I commute by Moto Guzzi or Vespa, and I work most days.)

[not-fishing]

G11 doesn't like to get wet and she tells me with her fritzy electronics.

I do give her a wipe every couple of weeks but never a hose.

[John A]

Deb and pulled into a Best western hotel in Little Rock AR after about 200 miles on dirt roads just looking around Arkansas. There was a group of  Goldwing riders with what appeared to be new bikes and new leathers posing. They did not acknowledge our presence, I looked over at Deb, who looked like she and her Ambassador had just came in after a month in the bush. I wash when I start to worry about corrosion  and if I plan on doing some posing....

[Perazzimx14]

Depends on which bike. To dual sport bike gets washed/hosed off far more than the road bikes.

[steven c]

The lemans and Eldo stay cleaned because they are old and speacial , the Buell when it looks dirty,which takes a while with no shinie bits,the XT if it was a muddy ride.

[unclepete]

A bike can hold only so much dirt before it starts falling off on its own ; besides we're in a drought here .

[hooah54]

I like mine to look good when I ride.  Once a week on the wheels that were re-powder coated a few years ago on the Cal II, yes Dusty I still have it, and Mother's California Gold Instant Detailer in between the quarterly wax jobs.  Linkages get a good dose of white silicone lube after each wash.  About the same for my piaggio MP3 250 ie.  The r1150R gets a monthly. 

[kirkemon]

I wash when needed. Between washes I use a spray wax on the tank, side covers, and other painted areas to keep it looking nice.
When it deserves a full cleaning I use this followed by a leaf blower:
http://simplegreen.com/cleaning-tips/rooms/hobbies/motorcycles/extreme-motorsports-cleaner-degreaser/

[Scud]

I wash when needed. Between washes I use a spray wax on the tank, side covers, and other painted areas to keep it looking nice.
When it deserves a full cleaning I use this followed by a leaf blower:
http://simplegreen.com/cleaning-tips/rooms/hobbies/motorcycles/extreme-motorsports-cleaner-degreaser/

I use regular Simple Green when things have gotten greasy. Works great. I have an air compressor, so when I wet-wash the bike, I use compressed air with a blow-nozzle to get water out of all the little places. It's amazing how much water comes out of screw heads and all manner of other places. I generally give it a quick ride too - so the wind and heat will help get rid of the remaining moisture. A little WD(Water Displacement)-40 for places such as footpeg pivots.

The Scura gets special treatment - matte finish products. Normal polishes and waxes can destroy a matte finish.

[Penderic]

Washing sucks.

You're gonna be green with envy! I got a new vacuum on order! Oh boy!

Its a 2 gallon wet-dry portable that uses 120 ac power OR uses 18/20volt lithum Dewalt battery packs, with a 1 micron HEPA filter with washable reusable filter! Super quality expanding hose! 


and it blows.

[Guzzistajohn]

Sorry Kimosabe, can't vote. It's not a timed event, It's when they're dirty or excessively bug splattered. But you know I like a clean machine. anything worth having is worth taking care of in my opinion. If everyone else wants to ride a funky Guzzi, knock yourself out!

[Guzzistajohn]

Wait , in this deal you would be Kimosabe 

 AND , tell the truth , you fit in the first category 

  Dusty

I don't think I have ever washed pre-ride. And I NEVER wash on a trip, an old beemer rider told me it was bad Ju Ju.

[SmithSwede]

Wow.  That red CX100 is gorgeous. 

[Doppelgaenger]

I keep the bike looking as new as possible, and I've had people ask me if it's brand new.

Every Guzzi is a brand ambasador, I like to keep it looking spiffy.

But I'm also lazy. I'll wax every week because it only takes 10 minutes but cleaning the swingarm is more like every 4-6 weeks.

I also keep the oil off of the trasmission case as it drips off the right TB. So far it hasn't had a chance to stain the metal there.

[Scud]

She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean.  - AC/DC

My Scura was spotless before this ride, and a couple muddy run-off sections did enough "damage" to warrant another full clean (and I hit a few flocks of bugs later).



I want to keep this one looking new as long as possible.

[Penderic]

Wash?

[Farmer Dan]

When we were in Sturgis we got rain one night.  That's the only bath my Eldo has had this year.

[Texas Turnip]

He's waffling, though, we have photographic evidence on this very site that it's been washed, and thoroughly washed too.

Just because a team of very engaging girls in bikinis washed it FOR him doesn't mean he didn't WASH it .... !!   

Lannis

NO. The bikini babes would not wash my blue/bug Guzzi. Beaver has pictures that prove they wouldn't touch it.

I like to look at a clean bike, however, if I clean mine and take off I'll hit fresh tar, or I get to follow the water truck thru construction or the road crew is sawing cement or a bull hauler passes me and.....
OTOH there are some so paranoid they won't go down a 1/2 mile a gravel to see something.

How many on this list have had their Guzzis abducted by the dealer and taken to a car wash?

Tex

[atavar]

I must concur, a black bike really does look cleaner most of the time. It's Meguiars  quick detailer for me about once a week depending which bike I ride.

 And yes Dusty, I voted

   Paul B

Nothing better than Turtle Wax "Black Wax" for a black bike.  I keep a bottle of their Black Detailer on hand for a quick wipe down every once in a while too. 
I know a lot of people look down their noses at Turtle Wax but those folks have been making vehicle wax for quite a while now and they have it pretty well figured out.  It's easy, it's shiny, it protects the paint --  what more could you want?

[Beaver]

NO. The bikini babes would not wash my blue/bug Guzzi. Beaver has pictures that prove they wouldn't touch it.

I like to look at a clean bike, however, if I clean mine and take off I'll hit fresh tar, or I get to follow the water truck thru construction or the road crew is sawing cement or a bull hauler passes me and.....
OTOH there are some so paranoid they won't go down a 1/2 mile a gravel to see something.

How many on this list have had their Guzzis abducted by the dealer and taken to a car wash?

Tex

Lannis, Tex is right.  Those sweet bike washers refused to touch Tex's bike because it was soooo covered with bugs and dirt.  Ewwwww!   They swatted him away with their towels.


Beaver

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Nothing better than Turtle Wax "Black Wax" for a black bike.  I keep a bottle of their Black Detailer on hand for a quick wipe down every once in a while too. 
I know a lot of people look down their noses at Turtle Wax but those folks have been making vehicle wax for quite a while now and they have it pretty well figured out.  It's easy, it's shiny, it protects the paint --  what more could you want?

Been using the regular Turtle Wax for years.  Got the tank on the BMW so shiny that you can see your own reflection.