Cleaning yer bike...

[gavcarter]

What do you use?
I haven't been on the road for a few years, getting close to getting back into it and getting a full license under my belt so I can start riding my bikes instead of just looking at them!

I know I have a huuge choice of stuff, muc-off still seems to be going strong but is it even worth the money?

I still have plenty of brushes, sponges etc so im just after a half decent cleaner for plastics, and a good one for engine and wheels etc.

Also chain lube?

I used to use chainsaw oil or wurth dry lube - never bothered with wax its too annoying...

Any recommendations on cheap but good, or not-so-cheap but worth the money?

Cheers

[TUG]

Things I use?

Muc-off: This gets rid of road dirt, usually I'll wet the bike down, soak it in muc-off then sponge it down then power wash off.

AND THEN

WD-40: This gets rid of chain fling and brake dust on the wheels, chain and brake calipers (when using a rag and tooth brush). WD is epic but requires another hose down and use of brake cleaner on the disc and tyres to remove the oil left over.

Brake Cleaner: Can use this instead of WD-40 but it drys really quick and sometimes just smears dirt, it will also pool the dirt as it evaporates.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Sable]

I coat myself in wd40 then rub myself all over the bike.

Or I coat the bike in wd40 then rub it all down.... One of the two.

I don't hose it down after. Just 1 coat. Rub. Done. Always looks clean after.

[Copycat73]

washin up liquid,
petrol & WD40
Mr. Sheene

chain = halfords cheapest spray grease & wax
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caveat emptor

[Clanger]

Cleaning isn't something I do a lot of these days...I considered this idea when I bought this bike. Nothing shiney, nothing pretty...just a basic black bike. Perfect.

I basically cover the bike in GT85, then maybe once or twice a year or so get a bucket pour in hot soapy water (okay I do use Autoglym product because it was a present and I've not used it all yet), and get a big sponge and latex gloves on, and wash it, throw clean cold water over that, rinse it down with a cloth...then repray it all with GT85 again. Sorted.

After I've been out for a ride it gets a good dose of chain wax (when required).

Often I just use wet wipes to clean bugs off the screen and braking dust off the wheels...
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[pinkyfloyd]

Cleaning?

I've learnt there are 2 types of bikers. Those that clean their bike and those that ride their bike. I know a guy that will spend 3 hours cleaning his machine after an hours ride. Screw that I'll stay out for 4 hours and enjoy my day.
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[hmmmnz]

ive had my beemer for 2 years, and it still hasnt been cleaned,
missed its yearly cleaning as i was away for the weekend, so it'll have to wait till next year,

really, a clean bike isnt important to me as a bike that gets regular oil, filter, gearbox, drive shaft, fluid changes and regular valve clearances,
really i have much better things to be doing that would benefit the bike more than being clean,

when i do clean the bike its just washing up liquid and hot water,
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[i.p.phrealy]

what is this "washing a bike" of what you speak?
isn't that the job of the rain?
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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!

[sensi5446]

I use muc off as its about £8 a bottle and last ages, wet the bike, spary muc all over sponge off then rinse with hose, towel dry and polish with autoglym. Takes about 10 mins

[gavcarter]

I dont mean getting out the marigolds, booking a week off work and going over it with a 2 haired fine brush.

I mean summit in a bucket - quick wipe to get rid of dust, grit, filth.
Get grease splatters of swing arm and wheels
everything quick lube, grease so doesn't rust...

[recman]

I cover the bike in Muc Off and the chain with Muc Off chain cleaner, scrub the chain then jet wash the lot.
I dry it all but the chain with microfibre cloths and use some old rags on the chain then blow all the hidden water out with a garden blower.
Lastly, I lube the chain with Putoline DX11.
Takes less than 30 mins.

I haven't bothered with ACF50 or the like yet but I might give it a go before the end of the year.

[Sid_The_Sloth]

Muc off bike cleaner = 2x5L bottles for £25. Typically I just spray it over the bike with a pressurised bottle and then hose it down. Once a week or so. Nice n quick and shifts the majority of crap. Anything more stubborn then the soapy water and sponge comes out.
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2013 Honda Shadow VT750C2B Black Spirit, 1994 CBR600 f2

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I never use water, or detergent. Always just diesel and rags and or kitchen/bog roll. And I do this very frequently. Done regularly takes about 10-15 mins for the bike to look spotless and loved. For plastics / tank, mirrors and lights - furniture polish and duster.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Slacker24seve...]

[Dave70]

[Andy_Pagin]

I've started using paraffin on the chain. It's much cheaper than any spray on chain cleaner and works better.
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the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[gavcarter]

I like the sound of paraffin for the chain - especially as I've just ordered a big tub of it for the engine rebuild

So in short muc-off is still good and worth what they charge for it

Cheers lads

[Dave70]

[defblade]

SDoc100 is much, much, much better than the Muc-off, but also more expensive.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[MattJ]

[sensi5446]

[Andy_Pagin]

[gavcarter]

[Major Doss]

Paraffin is the future. I accidentally dropped my chain into a tub of the stuff for 5 minutes with a toothbrush, wow.
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Antisocial phucker.

[stonesie]

Busters are still selling muc-off on eBay for £25, for 10 liters... I bought that over a year ago and still have about 2 liters left so might order more soon.

First I sort the chain/rear wheel out, either Sdoc chain cleaner or paraffin on a rag then I hose the bike off, spray with muc-off, wet a sponge and then spray that with muc-off and sponge the bike, rinse, dry, lube the chain, Job jobbed.

Every now and then I get carried away and get the Autoglym super resin polish out then finish with some turtle wax.

In October it will be stripped of all it's plastics and cleaned then sprayed with ACF-50, I've bought a cheap paint gun for the job because just spraying it from the can is a pain in the arse.... Why did I buy the black instead of the matte grey one