Keeping a gleaming bike gleaming

[swiftb]

I recently purchased a K7 GSX-R 750 which is pretty much immaculate and I really want to keep it that way. It doesnt look like its ever seen rain.
Its going to be going into hibernation in my garage probably sometime in the next few weeks until spring.
My garage does get quite damp though, its a shitty concrete sectional jobby detached from the house so its going to very cold, damp and wet in there.
At present my routine is wash the bike with car detergent, rinse with clean water, rub over with cloth to soak up the water. Then run the bike for 5mins or so to get rid of any remaining water. I then pull into the garage and go over the whole bike in every nook and crannie with an airgun attachement with my compressor. Once im happy its clean and dry I spray most of the plastics/frame etc with AutoGlym Instant show shine which is a light polish which you just buff on/off with the same cloth.
I then get a rag with a bit of clean oil on it and go over various bits like most of the alloy stuff, the calipers, the headers and fork legs etc.

Ive read about this acf50 stuff on here a few times, but as im not actually riding the bike is it really neccessary to use this? I was planning on just going over the bike with wd40 in a few weeks before I put it away for the winter and cleaning it off in spring - or should I fork out the extra and use the acf50??

[rac3r]

Why no 749

If you're not riding WD40 should be fine apart from that polish and cover up with a breathable cover as well the usual storage stuff to do with the battery etc
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[pinkyfloyd]

Its a bike ffs!! It's meant to be ridden. If it was meant to hibernate it would be a fkin hedgehog!
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[swiftb]

[Bloke]

I'd ease up on using polish and switch it for a wax. Polish will take a layer of paint off.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[brooky]

[swiftb]

[swiftb]

[Itchy]

Unless you are Mr Muscle Craig then don't bother!

ACF50 is considered to be dodgy by some as it does nothing to neutralise the salt, Extreme3d years ago made a very long detailed arguement against it.

There are two alternatives.

FS365 spray, which I use, you spray it on salt is neutralised, it does however layer a thin layer of crud on the bike though, this crud acts as a protective film. If you ride in a harsh enough winter you can get this layer pretty thick like I managed on my old NTV.

There is also the grease solution, just simply cover everything bar the wheels and brake discs in cheap grease. Then use a degreaser to undo it in summer.

I prefer the FS365 route though £5 a bottle lasts about 1-3 months depending on usage and washes off.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[pinkyfloyd]

A motorcycle is not a toy its a form of transportation. Many people make this fundamental mistake and as a result thousands of bikes around the world are looking out of their garages wondering what rain actually is and have never experienced winter. Its a sad and depressing state of affairs that a bike is mistaken for an object of pleasure and only used when the conditions are just right.

May the god of motorcycles strike you down with his fury if you so much as let a speck of rain fall on his beloved creation!

Go forth my son and hide your machine away for the winter and the rain. Banish the fallen leaves to whenst they came and never let your toy see the snow and ice and feel happy in the knowladge that your bike will remain showroom pristene condition.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nzugeSPS3oc/0.jpg

I'll climb down if someone gets me a ladder!
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[kawakid]

Whatever you do don't ride your bike through winter if you want to keep it looking immaculate.

This picture was from my not even 2 year bike, that was ridden 365.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/mondeokid/Image1.jpg

I do have another bike, that I only tax for 6 months a year. I Keep the bike on carpet in the garage also and I also keep it covered. What I do is once a month I go over the bike with a rag and wd40 all over it really (apart from brakes).

My main recommendation for keeping your bike looking mint, is to wash it after every ride and never let your bike see the elements. I've done that now for 3 years and it looks absolutely mint.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[stutterin' sam]

Dod of vaseline dissolved in a pint of petrol and apply to vulnerable bits with a paintbrush, petrol evaporates leaving a thin film which will last and protect all winter.
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It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, some idiot on a sports bike would be stupid enough to try and pass them.

[J D]

Need a nice exhaust to go with the shiny bike then i got a racefit for sale
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m0l0t0v wrote: Chris, just so you know, JD is a nutter

[L4Isoside]

How about insulating your garage?

[truslack]

[Clanger]

Best way of keeping it gleaming, is to put it in your lounge and don't let anyone touch it, ever...

Either that or hire a Polish worker to clean it and polish it after every single ride out.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I have two shiny shiny bikes, so will be using the duc. Bigger engine gives out more heat

So business as usual..ride-clean-ride

Pat
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[brooky]

[M1ghtyDUck]

Once an engine attached to a train,
Was afraid of a few drops of rain.
It went into a tunnel
And then squeaked through it's funnel
And wouldn't come out again!

Henry from thomas the tank engine learned his lesson. You should too!

[swiftb]

[SuziCat]

[ms51ves3]

I used FS365 on the TZR last year when it was sat in my concrete garage. I'd use that over ACF50 because it's cheaper and you're not riding it.

With the ER, as I'm riding it through winter, I'm going to ACF50 the entire bike and then spray the bike periodically with FS365. The best of both worlds.

[swiftb]

[ms51ves3]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]