effectively cleaning your bike?

[carlmalibu]

How best to clean a faired bike?

Me little RS is getting some new mirrors and a new fairing and despite having tried cleaning her before I don't think I did a very good job of it.

I was using white spirit to degrease and soapy water to clean then motorcycle spray wax, but I don't think I was doing it very effectively.

Any better ideas?

Maybe we should have a stickied "bike cleaning" thread !
____________________
Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[Jebus]

you used white spirt? that dont sound a good idea, it depend on what you are cleaning, what state its in etc etc but starting with a good hose down to remove all the loose grime is a good idea then get it soaped up with some good quality soap over everything and use a little nylon brush on any tough bits then hose that off.

that should cover the body work and frame, engine you need to be more carefull as its got all the electrics and stuff on it, dont use anything 2 agressive on alloy bits as it can eat into them or strip any plating. Wheels you can use soapy water degreaser or wd40.

Lots of ways to clean bike it all depends on what the bike made from and how dirty it is.
____________________
2nd time around CBT: 8/9/11
125 Varadero

[Wave2k]

I have a Stages to clean my bike, i use something like Muc off to spray on the bike then a normal warm water and shampoo mix to wash.
after thats done rinse well and wait to dry or shammy it down.
i would then wax the whole bike when thats done id go over metal parts with WD40 like the swingarm.
Once all thats done id put instant bike shine on and buff like a mofo to get the taking the piss shiny bike.
____________________
Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Whosthedaddy]

Spent an hour or 2 trying to clean the FZR frame, went mad with a wire brush and soapy water, but the best thing to get rid of the grease and grime is good old WD40 and then a simple rinse off
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[carlmalibu]

its aluminium frame, plastic bodywork.
____________________
Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[Wave2k]

so do most bikes
____________________
Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[dodsi]

Take the fairings off every so often, I do with my ZX6 to keep it spankly.

[craigs23]

[mchaggis]

Castrol Greentec Bike Cleaner -> 3 minutes-> Sponge and water -> Water -> Sun->AutoGylm Instant Bike Shine-> 1 minute-> Lint free cloth -> Done.

Wonderwheels does an ace job on brake dust and spattered chain grease. It's nasty stuff so don't get it on paint and be careful if you've cut yourself, but it does an amazing job. Using a hose nozzle attachment is useful too as you can rinse your sponge without having to swill it in a bucket of grimey silty water from the shite you have already rinsed.


Final step: Lube your chain.
____________________
I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[craigs23]

[mchaggis]

[ram_doom]

I wet it with a hose, then sponge it, then dry it all off with a chammy cloth while the engine runs, then polish it with miracle shine, then spray fs 365 everywhere and dry the excess
____________________
TL1000s, KDX200