Cleaning the bike

[Benno]

I bought some "bike cleaner" and used it to try and clean my bike. It didn't really work and since then it's just got dirtier/muddier.

Would fairy liquid work? Soaking a sponge in water with fairy liquid in, wiping the bike down, then rinsing off with water. I don't have a hose so I'd just pour water on it.

Good/bad idea? I was very disappointed with this bike cleaning spray.
____________________
I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[GrantT]

Get some proper car/bike shampoo from a motor factors or Halfrauds. Mix that with hot water and wash, rinsing off with water from a fresh bucket.

Fairly liquid has salt in, not good

[Benno]

[Walloper]

Bike cleaner may have been a de-greaser compound for shifting grease and oil from the bike.
As suggested buy the proper stuff from Halfrauds.
The stuff you used probably took the wax off the paint too so shit can 'key' into the paint and stick.

Wash and Polish.
Spend as much as you want on it. Like someone you really love lavish it if you want.

I use Autoglym on bike and car. Wash and then the Aquawax. That stuff goes on wet paintwork and rubs off to a shine with a cloth when dry.
But this shit is not cheap.
____________________
W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[GrantT]

[EazyDuz]

carplan shampoo, turtle wax and autosol for me.
____________________
To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[moppy]

Cleaning? What is this cleaning you speak of? I don't think my bike has been cleaned in the last 6 months at the very least. And it's bloody cold outside now, so it won't be getting washed until aleast another 6 months!

[Walloper]

[Slacker24seve...]

Paraffin on the greasy bits. Autoglym on the bits that aren't. If I had anything shiny on my bike I'd use Autosol; as it is the only thing worth doing would be the link pipe/end cans and they're underseat ones anyway. Any attempt to clean them would be like painting the Forth Bridge

If my bike is really, really lucky I'll give it a proper polish then a good wax, but thats only a couple of times a year when I can really give a toss
____________________
Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Nick 50]

I do wash the bike every weekend, but by the time i'm back on a Monday, you wouldn't think it ever got washed
____________________
Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[bikertomm]

You cleaned the bike.. and it got dirtier?

https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/002/626/doing-it-wrong.jpg?1242842328

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xWrdNJukFSY/TL7m7sj-dWI/AAAAAAAAAqg/S-cBzZvcXrc/s1600/Doing+It+Wrong.jpg
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[bikertomm]

More on topic, fairy liquid would work, but it's just as expensive (nearly) and there's loads on the internet about it fading the paint / plastic ect.

If you said that on detailers world they would probably faint


I clean my bike and car like every 2 weeks in the summer, I find just car wash works fine. Though I have some bike related products too - but if you want to do it on the cheap just get some turtle wax shampoo!

Chuck a load of water all over the bike, then sponge and bubble it all over starting from the top and less 'mucky' bits..

Chuck a load over again, change water and new bubbles if necessary and do it again

Then buy some of this :

https://www.manchestermotorbikecentre.co.uk/large/Muc%20off%20swpeed%20polish150826.jpg

Seriously worth it, I fucking love it, comes up really nice. Even on chrome and stuff.


____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Benno]

[Cuchulain]

Shit. I use fairy liquid on my bike all the time....
____________________
CBT 15/6/2011 Theory Test Passed 6/2/2012 Module 1 Passed 11/6/2012
Module 2 Passed!!! 19/6/2012

[Billo63]

Muck off to clean - autosol to polish - where applicable, simples
____________________
I might not be a gynecologist, but I know a cunt when I see one

[neil.]

https://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/H/e/Hein_Gericke_Performance_Motorradreiniger_mit_Gel-Formel_1_Liter_6.jpg
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[i.p.phrealy]

they did a test of shampoos and polishes in one of the car mags a few years back, and the one they rated top?
Halfords economy. they reckoned it even beat Autoglym.
I use the shampoo, but Turtle wax polish.
well on the car anyway, not washed this bike yet, but then it's only been mine a month, done an oil change though. important stuff first.
____________________
it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[Seb]

Not a huge fan of the Autoglym stuff personally, it's alright but you need to start busting out the special stuff as soon as you hit chain fling/tar and the like. Sdoc gel does the best job of cleaning and degreasing on the quick and lazy but it's horrifically expensive. Muc Off's regular cleaner seems a fair compromise of cheapness vs actually being any good.
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Old Git Racing]

Just man the fuck up and clean it properly, stop looking for a substitute foe elbow grease or an app and get in and get dirty, FFs.

OGR
____________________
2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Bomberman]

[stuartt]

if you use a good wash wax it will leave a bit of wax on your bike giving it a bit of protection

[Walloper]

[pinkyfloyd]

[Polarbear]

[yaigi]

I've used Stardrops on mine the last few times I've cleaned it cos it's the only thing that was under the sink that wasn't fairy liquid. Worked fine but then I hadn't let a lot of dirt build up.... now I'm living in a more rural area, got to work this morning, looked at my bike, and it's covered in mud Going to treat it to another wash and a good coating of WD40 this weekend
____________________
What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)