Motorcycle Wash & Detailed concerns?

4251 Views 46 Replies 26 Participants Last post by markgbe, Apr 22, 2015

huygiang

Discussion Starter · Apr 4, 2015

Hello to all my fellow Ninja riders, I'm sure you all take good cares of your babies but my concerns is what is the proper way to wash a motorcycle?

I did some research online, watched a few YouTube videos and tried googling as well, everyone does it differently and not everyone does it correctly I guess. As for me, I was a newb back then and went to those car coin wash and use the friggin power wash gun, goes home only to find 3 very tiny chips on the top of my gas tank. Looks like the power wash gun was too powerful for the paint

The water pipe that lead to outside the house was broken and I couldn't wash it at home and all of my friends live quite far from where I'm at. Guess I'm going to have to fill up water buckets and wash it by hands.

Btw, can anyone here with some experience recommend me some good cleaning products (soaps, towels, sponges, etc...)

And if anyone would like to share their ways of washing their bikes, please feel free and chimes in.

thanks fellas

1 - 20 of 47 Posts

westwa06zx6r

· #2 · Apr 4, 2015

Never use high pressure especially on your plastics. It can remove decals and cause paint chips. Go buy a good detail kit with a shammy and a good soft sponge to keep it from scratching. I prefer Mothers but thats just my opinion. I like to wax my bike a couple times a year to keep the paint protected. I live in Western Washington so I get more rain than sun so just want to keep it clean.

40acres

· #3 · Apr 4, 2015 (Edited)

I use S100 to wipe it down after every ride. If I get caught in the rain I wash the entire bike with a hose and some Zymöl soap. I use a shop vac and turn the hose to blow and dry it off, making sure to blow out every single square inch of water right down to calipers, bolts and everything in between. I also run the bike until the fan kicks on after all of that to make sure I evaporate any standing water near the engine and exhaust. Make sure you don't spray high pressure water near any bearings or electronics. I actually never use the jet setting or a pressure washer, but rather the shower setting. Hell, I don't even use a pressure washer on my dirt bike.

Edit: I also have separate wash mitts. One for the painted surfaces and another for wheels, exhaust, etc. I always wash the painted surfaces first and then switch nits to do the rest of the grungy stuff. It also helps to get one of those plastic grates that fits in the bottom of your wash bucket so you can actually get as much dirt as possible out of the mitt between dips in the bucket.

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subiedude09

· #4 · Apr 4, 2015 (Edited)

What i used last year was turtle wax's "ice" car wash soap, and the 2 bucket method (one bucket with clean water/soap, the other with the rinse water for the sponge). I use a microfiber sponge with microfiber briscles on one side, and a traditional style on the other side. only reason i do this is because i am so use to it with my WRX. after wash i would start the bike, and let it idle for 30 min or so while i dried it with an absorber, and a big micro fiber drying towel for the tough to reach places. reason for letting the bike sit running at opperating temp all this time is to dry up any water i cant reach (well thatst the thought behind it). after its all dry, i shut the bike off and use meguiars quick detailing spray and wipe off with a micro fiber detailing rag/towel

EDIT: I forgot to add that i have used a leaf blower to dry the bike as well and to help move any small puddles i cant reach all while the bike is running too.

car wash soap:
http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-...qid=1428162483&sr=8-5&keywords=turtle+wax+ice

sponge (something VERY SIMILAR to this):
http://www.amazon.com/Carrand-45135...162533&sr=8-3&keywords=microfiber+wash+sponge

absorber:
Amazon.com: The Absorber Synthetic Drying Chamois, 27" x 17", Natural: Automotive

detailing spray:
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G144...1979&sr=8-5&keywords=meguiars+detailing+spray

Micro fiber detailing towels:
www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-MIC507...id=1428162144&sr=8-8&keywords=detailing+towel

microfiber drying towel:
Amazon.com: Griot's Garage 11239 Micro Fiber Wipe Down Towel: Automotive

I have heard about people "dry washing" there bike? actualy washing the bike with not a single drop of water interest's, and concerns me. If anyone dry washes, please respond to this in detail. I would like to know more about it, and im sure OP is open to all methods of washing

Reactions: 1

felix

· #5 · Apr 4, 2015

Water only to soften the bugs and rinse if needed, then lots of plexus cleaner and a newer microfiber towel. Wheels and grease, I use dupont motorcycle degreaser. Usually it's just plexus though and a good wipe down.

Reactions: 2

40acres

· #6 · Apr 4, 2015

[/QUOTE]I have heard about people "dry washing" there bike? actualy washing the bike with not a single drop of water interest's, and concerns me. If anyone dry washes, please respond to this in detail. I would like to know more about it, and im sure OP is open to all methods of washing

[/QUOTE]

S100 if it's just a little pollen or surface dust. Works pretty well bud.

Reactions: 1

SSneekey6R

· #7 · Apr 4, 2015

I use a waterless wash made by poorboy's. Works just like soap but no residue and no water (aka no water spots). Then I go over it with a wax or quick detalier depending on the last time it was waxed. All using microfibers.

Reactions: 1

CHEEF13

· #8 · Apr 4, 2015

I use a lot of things if it's not to bad plexus just for the undertake fenders and wheels. I use alcohol based spray wax to remove all the grease from whatever is on paint oils, road grime anything leaves it nice and dry than I use poly (filler wax) and after a mix of paint sealer and carnauba wax.. Apply both and take off after each panel one at a time and just like someone stated I use waterless afterwards to get any little thing on it won't leave streaks doesn't take off wax and paint sealer.

iLean2much

· #9 · Apr 4, 2015

Never use amour all on your seat!
Never use tire shine!

Reactions: 3

subiedude09

· #10 · Apr 4, 2015 (Edited)

40acres said:
S100 if it's just a little pollen or surface dust. Works pretty well bud.

That makes sense if its just pollen or dust (I use a quick detailer for that).
I've heard people washing dirt off their bike with a waterless wash. What concerns me is the scratches that way come with using a rag that has accumilated dirt and such from the was. I cant imagine swirling around dirt with a rag and some solution and no water to rinse the bike off and it not getting scratched to hell.

40acres

· #11 · Apr 4, 2015

subiedude09 said:
That makes sense if its just pollen or dust (I use a quick detailer for that).
I've heard people washing dirt off their bike with a waterless wash. What concerns me is the scratches that way come with using a rag that has accumilated dirt and such from the was. I cant imagine swirling around dirt with a rag and some solution and no water to rinse the bike off and it not getting scratched to hell.

Yeah, I'm not interested in dry washing anything with dirt build-up. If that's what they do, then good for them. I'm not the dumb ass with swirl marks, lol.

Reactions: 2

SCMil

· #12 · Apr 4, 2015

I still am a fan of the two bucket method. One to wash, one to rinse the mit.

1. Start with wheels - Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel cleaner
2. Foam it up - Chemical Guys Citrus Wash w/foam gun
3. Wash with microfiber mit using buckets with more citrus wash
4. Dry with Chemical Guys super thick MF towel
5. Depending on if its a deep clean with paint correction, polish with CG polish
6. Seal with CG M Seal
7. Got extra time/bored...add some CG 5050 wax

Just b/c I tend to be OCD about fine scratches...I use two mits...one for the tank and top fairings and one to wash the lower part of the bike. A crap ton of MF cloths for different things from wheel drying, buffing, all the way to final wipe.

There are a lot of great products, S100, Mothers, etc. I use CG b/c I purchased a LOT of their products when they had a sale.

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subiedude09

· #13 · Apr 4, 2015

40acres said:
Yeah, I'm not interested in dry washing anything with dirt build-up. If that's what they do, then good for them. I'm not the dumb ass with swirl marks, lol.

Thats what im saying :laugh

lance22me

· #14 · Apr 4, 2015

Worst thing you can do: Spray water down the air scoop in front.

Reactions: 1

AoP23

· #15 · Apr 4, 2015

All this technical washing stuff makes me feel insignificant lol. I just rinse the thing with a garden hose and wipe it with soft soap mixed with water, rinse it again and dry it with a towel. :O

Reactions: 5

Ey3l45h

· #16 · Apr 4, 2015

... Wd-40 will knock most of the stubborn stuff loose (brake dust/rubber general grime)

Dish soap for a general wash.

Some spray on stuff a buddy got me (don't remember the name off hand) for polishing.

Ey3

NitrusReigns

· #17 · Apr 4, 2015

SCMil said:
I still am a fan of the two bucket method. One to wash, one to rinse the mit.

^^This is what I do, but unlike SCMil, I just use regular old off-brand dish soap to wash with - it's worked great for all my family members and all their exotic cars for about 50 years so I'm not going to mess with it :bigthumb:

DatNyerr

· #18 · Apr 4, 2015

Why is everybody using Dish wash soap? Is something wrong with reg car wash soap?

NitrusReigns

· #19 · Apr 4, 2015

DatNyerr said:
Why is everybody using Dish wash soap? Is something wrong with reg car wash soap?

Dish soap is way cheaper and works just as good in my experience.

My question to you would be why are you bothering to go buy specific car soap when the shit under your sink works just fine?

Reactions: 2

DatNyerr

· #20 · Apr 4, 2015

NitrusReigns said:
Dish soap is way cheaper and works just as good in my experience.

My question to you would be why are you bothering to go buy specific car soap when the shit under your sink works just fine?

I wasnt sure if it was harder on the surface compared to other soaps since its designed for different purposes. Alot of people online say its bad for paint/wax and too hard on the surface of a bike. I might give it a try tho and see how it goes.

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