What's your bike wash procedure?

[s1120]

Ive always struggled a bit with washing bikes. Mine is kept in the garage, and I normally dont ride in bad weather so it tends to just need a good wipedown once in a while, but frankly I really need to get in and clean it well. What do you all use, and how do you use it? It always seems wrong to just spray it down with a hose, and scrub everything with soapy water. So much out in the open on these.

[kballowe]

I add some Meguires yellow carwash soap and some water to a hose end sprayer and then dial-in until I get the suds I want.
 







And then there's that thousand caterpillar wash mitt. 






And then ride to dry....... Alternatively,  there's the power dry approach.  It's fun to play with power tools.






And then detail.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

wet it,

douse it in simple green

use gross brushes on the mechanical stuff, wheels, etc

rinse all that off

wash the paint, brightwork etc with regular car wash soap

check it over and hit stubborn areas again

the go around with lemon pledge or some other stuff like no-buff wax on the paint and plastics etc

thats about it....  I dry it off with combo of chamois and leaf blower

Some folks even use a pressure washer, I dont-- but I only have a gas one and it's a PITA to pull it out and fire it up to wash a bike... Water isn't going to hurt it. I just wouldn't blast high pressure water at seals, wheel bearings, or electronics, etc

if your paint and wheels are clean, it will look pretty good from 5' away without too much effort

[egschade]

I think using a pressure washer on a motorcycle is a bad idea. You want LOW pressure, not high. Too easy to force water past seals into places like bearings where you really don't want it. Same reason you use a leaf blower instead of an air gun to dry hard to reach places.

I basically use BBQs method but finish with a 'ceramic' detailing spray.

[guzziart]

My 2¢ worth...

I'll hose it down first.  I use car wash soap that doesn't have "wax" in it and wash with a micro fiber towel.  I the think the wax part causes the black switch housings to fade.  I use hondabrite or the like on engine lowers if they appear to have oily film ( or heavy bug deposit, road tar,etc,).  I do not spray spray cleaners on switch gear, seat, windshields, upper body stuff.  I think spray cleaners cause switches to fail prematurely.  Don't use spray cleaners if you're washing bike on asphalt. I'll also use spray cleaners on wheels, scrub with a paint brush & immediately rinse.  I don't contaminate soap bucket with spray wash chems.  I wash in sections, don't let the soap dry on bike, rinse frequently.  When washing is complete, I blow off bike with electric blower and complete drying process with turtle wax spray n' dry and micro fiber towel.  I'm not into thick paste waxes or anything too time consuming.  I wash a bike (maybe) once or twice a season....not big on cleaning or polishing.  I'm glad that the most chrome I've got is on the CL350 and not anything else.

Oh, I use Honda spray polish ( or whatever it is called these days) on windshields and forward facing fairing areas to ease the headache of bug removal.

[Gliderjohn]

IMHO just have to be careful using a pressure washer. I have used pressure washers for over 30 years on the T-3 with no problems. BTW you can be on the safe side and go the Texas Turnip route and never wash.
GliderJohn

[bobbyfromnc]

I use the local car wash... low pressure when close, higher at a distance from bike. This car wash also has heated hand held dyers.

1. Allow bike to cool down  (at least 30 min)
2. First I use Scrubby Bubbles (non aerosol) on motor, wheels, frame, tires etc. then rinse.
3. Soap from car wash on entire bike with spray wand
4. Car wash brush with soap.
5. Rinse thoroughly
6. Let drip dry for a few min.
7. Use hand held car wash dryer.
8. Wipe down any remaining water after riding home.

Easy Peasy as far as I'm concerned. To each their own. My 2 cents

[kingoffleece]

S100 and this

https://metrovac.com/collections/motorcycle/products/air-force-blaster-car-and-motorcycle-dryer?variant=18877238345801

[smsw]

I use the local car wash...

I was hoping someone would say they just rode their bike through the local car wash.  Guess this as close as we come.

I use S200 and Simple Green w/ a small brush for dirt accumulations (tooth brush - soft) and a hose with a fine mist spray nozzle.  Low pressure, let the water rinse the soap away.  For quick detailing, I use Meguires spray/rinse followed by a wax touchup.

[kballowe]

How does everyone keep from washing out the hairspray from their grips?

They use Aqua Net.  That's Spanish for water.  It's waterproof.
 

[s1120]

Some great ideas and tips guys!  Thanks. Ill give a few of them a shot and see it it works for me. As for pressure washer.  Ya, I dont like them for cleaning anything I care about. I think unless your really carfull you can cause more harm then good

[AJ Huff]

Wash?

I need to try that someday.

-AJ

[RinkRat II]

        Whenever I can, I'll leave it to the professionals...... ..................




          Paul B 

[Moparnut72]

To dry mine I put the hose on the exhaust side of my shop vac. Run it for a minute or so to get dust and whatever out of the hose before pointing at your clean bike.
kk

[sib]

I wait until it's so dirty I can't bear it any longer, then I take it to a local, experienced motorcycle cleaner and detailer, who does a thorough wash/clean/dry job for $35.00.  He's not as pretty as RatRinkII's professionals, but I bet he's cheaper.

[John Croucher]

I stopped "washing" my bikes. I found that soap, water, washing and rinsing still leaves the task of wiping all the tight spaces and with rags and brushes to remove water and other dirt.

I start at the top, work to the bottom. Wiping as I go.  Using various rags and brushes along with various cleaning fluids.  Using ammonia free window cleaner, furniture polish, mineral spirits, back to black, ACF15 anti corrosion spray. I found that the Back to Black makes a good paint cleaner. 

I am a fair weather rider.  Mostly bugs and dust.  The bikes get dirty just sitting in the garage.  I keep them covered, but they still get dust.  My Brother recently brought His bike from Florida to My house in Indiana.  I was surprised at the amount of salt air corrosion on the bike.  The other thing that surprised Me is that the H.D. motorcycle fasteners are poorly plated and corrode badly compared to other makes from other Nations. 

[LowRyter]

I do wipe down after every ride.  Damp cloth and some spray cleaner/wax.  WD40 and ACF50 on the wheels and brakes.  Gear oil on the chain.

I seldom do a soap and water wash unless it's been in rain or mud.  I have taken my Guzzis to the car wash a few times since it's shaft drive.

[twowheeladdict]

        Whenever I can, I'll leave it to the professionals...... ..................




          Paul B 

Beat me to it.   

[LaMojo]

As I have aged up, I subscribe to the Ken Hand method.  I have used my power washer with the lowest jet force and mid engine speed followed by a leaf blower dry and towel for the shinny stuff. Works good enough for me.

[Scout63]

I wash my bikes maybe three times a year.  I go front to back with S100 and a cloth and brush, hose off gently, dry with a towel then ride.  They get really cleaned when they come apart for maintenance, tire changes, etc.

[guzziart]

        Whenever I can, I'll leave it to the professionals...... ..................




          Paul B 

I obviously have been doing it wrong all these years.

[larrys]

Car wash soap with a cotton rag, blow down with the electric leaf blower, wipe with a clean terrycloth towel, then a blast down the road and back.
Larry

[Dilliw]

Once a year:  Dawn blue and water (carefully around the rubber seals), blow dry, and an ACF 50 treatment. 

After I get back to the garage:  Mequiar's Waterless Wash and Wax.  That stuff works really well as long as you don't try and do all of the bike at the same.  It only takes a few minutes to hit the dirty spots like getting bugs off the forks, etc. after a ride, and then, when the bike is sitting in the garage, do a wheel here/an engine there sort of thing as you walk by. 

[Dirk_S]

How does everyone keep from washing out the hairspray from their grips?

Oh, do people use hairspray for grips?

Glad I saw this.

Again. 

Dangerous sarcasm aside, I rinse the bike down (no pressure washer), spray it down with Muc-Off, rinse again, hit the tougher parts some diluted dish soap or car wash soap and a wash mitt, then I head down to the engine and other lower parts with some nylon brushes. At the end, rinse one more time, then pat down the bike with a chamois, paying careful attention to those nooks and crannies that the sun can’t get to.

Granted, I’m not detail-minded. My Guzzi isn’t the showroom type. It’s a quirky workhorse at this point and fits my personality and cleaning habits—I stick with inner beauty, ha. I just keep it from smelling bad and getting sick. Obviously my way affects resale value and potentially long term health.

BTW So thankful I discovered early enough that I’m not a chrome guy and got rid of the pipes. It’s like dating someone who’s high maintenance when you’re happy enough to wear rubber bands as bracelets for utility.

I use Muc-Off.

[s1120]

Great ideas all. Some of these ive used, but always seemed I was doing things "wrong" and always trying to find the right combo of steps, and products.

Can I switch gears a bit, and ask more on what you all use for wheels and engine, and more "greassy bit"? Im thinking what will work for me is if I hit the tough areas like thoes first then Going over the whole bike like I have been doing will work for me better. 

[Gliderjohn]

I use Mequiar's Mag and Wheel cleaner and Simple Green most of the time. Just be careful not to leave either on for more a couple of minutes.
GliderJohn