How long does it take to clean a bike?

[Whosthedaddy]

The answer:

2 days! but there is a reason and that being the time a new born needs! Well what else should I be doing on paternity leave?

It was about time that the old bike got a little wash as it was covered in road salt and grime from being the work horse over the winter.

Day 1

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C02%5C28%5Cbikepics-1199103-800.jpg

With some of the body work off to be cleaned individually and make it more accessible to get to the bottom of the grot and sludge.

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C02%5C28%5Cbikepics-1199106-800.jpg

The lines and looks reminded me of the BMW f800

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C02%5C28%5Cbikepics-1199107-800.jpg

The amount of desludging around the front sprocket was very therapeutic and yet quite scary at the amount that fouls the chain with every revolution.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/27022008207.jpg

I admit that may be the end can is not a 'real' Akro after discussion with some more knowledgeable BCF members, but what about the headers? Whilst I had the opportunity I should have given them a quite treatment and polish but I had nowt to hand and couldn't be bothered to go out as I'd come home with far far more than planned.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/27022008209.jpg

The entire bike got a liberal coating and then some of WD40, worked in with a paintbrush and sprayed again.

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C02%5C28%5Cbikepics-1199117-800.jpg

I was tempted to start the bike with no exhaust but common sense got the better of me.

The bike got retired to the garage and I retired to the garden to attend to the body panels.

One by one each got:

Oil based degreaser
A seeing to with the old favourite of WD40 and worked in with a paintbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Water based degreaser
This was Autoglym's motorcycle cleaners turn. More to get rid of the oily WD40 but also to help shift any stubborn bits of grease that has failed to be shifted on the previous step.
Soapy water
What can I say? Gets rid of the Autoglym and any crud thats sitting superficially on the panels. It was literally fairy washing up liquid in hot water as the bike when reassembled would be washed in a car wash / polish.

Day 2

As the bike was still covered in WD40 it was given a coating of the Autoglym motorcycle cleaner and attacked by a new paintbrush.

I tried in the loosiest sense to follow the method used with the WD to try and get into the same places but I found myself flitting here and there.

The wheels were in deed the hardest and most awkward to clean as I don't have a paddock stand yet and unable to remove the rear wheel so it was lots of shuffling the bike backwards and forwards. With the mixture of a degreaser and Autoglym wheel cleaner they started to look the part. Not entirely convinced but better.

After the panels were replaced some Turtle Wax washed and rinsed the bike for some more whoring.

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C02%5C28%5Cbikepics-1199114-800.jpg

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C02%5C28%5Cbikepics-1199110-800.jpg

The bike wasn't as bad as I first thought and certainly looks good for a 10 year old bike.
____________________
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

[TUG]

and then 10 mins down the road and your 2 day stint is ruined
Nice read mate, Very nice job.

____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[Fahd]

Very sexy, the 7R has really grown on me...
____________________
I Ride: Honda CBR 400RR.
I Drive: Audi S3.

[Whosthedaddy]

[Whosthedaddy]

[neatbik]

Im a huge fan of 7r's, im determind to own one someday

[Fawbish]

Looking good WTD



But get them numberplates and road names all hushed up matey...
____________________
"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Keir]

i didnt realise you was so close to me. i thought you was wickford then for some reason i thught you went burnham area.

oh well, bike looks good.
____________________
Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[numark1]

Looks sweet, however you should remove the rear grab handles and wack on a rear seat pod.

[killa]

Those piccy's at first are horrible, i hate looking at that and thinking, shi* how am i gonna shift that.
Fuck it if you can't get it back to showroom, i think a bikes meant to be ridden through all that, the 7R can do. Show it some love and look what happens.

It took me 2 days to get mine to clean, but tidy, i need another 2 days.

Ive ridden it now over a week and a bit and im not happy!

That stuff is nasty on the roads.

Whoring time...

https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/Killa127/n553822039_919577_820.jpg


____________________
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[killa]

[Louise]

Never liked the Z7's untill a work mates boyfriend gave me a lift on the back.
They are nice bikes.

[McGee]

This was my 600 in a strip down clean.

Only took 4 hours etc.

Probably the dirtiest its gotten to.

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5237/20075c105c055cbikepics1dr7.th.jpg

https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8002/20075c105c055cbikepics1bg4.th.jpg
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Scouse]

I can normally rush mine in an afternoon, but usually take most of a weekend to do it properly. Usually still end up sitting spotting little bits that I've missed either way.

[Bendy]

Couple of hours to get all the wet weather mank off. Fairings ftw, as they say, fewer nooks and crannies to faff around with.
<whore>

[Whosthedaddy]

An unfaired bike would be a hell of a lot easier to maintain but poses other problems I suppose.
____________________
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

[ljwalker]

that looks good for a 10 year old bike nice work.

[Bendy]

[Whosthedaddy]

[Keir]

cool, ill keep an eye out for you. Im down there most tuesdays when its nice followed by a bit of BSB (Basildon superbike - cranes farm road!)

Keep an eye out for

me:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/keir_compact/th_26022008091.jpg

or my usual riding partner ('V4' on here)
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/keir_compact/th_GIXTHOU.jpg
____________________
Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[killa]

Oh Keir....illuminous rim tape WHY!>?!?
____________________
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Andy C]

[Whosthedaddy]

The triple is a nice bike and I could imagine that I'd be happy astride the beast that the figures suggest, but the front end????
____________________
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