Damn this fuc*ing weather!

[killa]

My Ninja has officially changed colour, a little rain and the road have become a bikers worst nightmare.
I washed and polished her up last weekend, sunday, on monday i rode to work and the rear was filthy. Now the whole bike is covered in a thin layer of salt, dirt, grime, just nasty.

It really doesn't look like it could get back to looking how it used to, the aluminium parts are taking a bashing and im working almost everyday.

Sorry for the rant guys, but it really gets me down. Im quite good at cleaning but this is rediculous.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[McGee]

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1907/worldssmallestviolin3ebek5.jpg

https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8408/460a634f3fe5ec773e10546nk0.gif
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[The Tot]

Aye, it bloody sucks - even worse for me because i live on the coast, commute along the coast, and work on the coast! Hein Gericke Bike cleaner can only do SO much before you realise that it requires something rigorous.

I guess we can say that "we ride RAT bikes cos we Ride it All the Time", except we have much more pride in how our bikes look.

You tried using SDoc100 on the ally parts? I want to give that a go but not heard any feedback from that.

I guess with stuff like footpeg heel plates - you can get them A4 transparent vinly sheets and laminate it on to preserve the finish. Oxidation shouldn't really occur. I was tempted to get "second skin" for the bike but realising how much it cost, i'd take a chance with the cleaning.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[killa]

As my only transport i take a lot of pride in how it looks, it's gonna take a lot of time to get it back to a respectable stage i think.
I've got most of the decent products right now, i can't actually by any new stuff because i still have no money back from the bank. Ergh
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Aikman666]

Man up
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My Design Blog

[Ichy]

I do a lot of alloy polishing on my own bikes and one bit of advice I was given, by a Swedish guy FWIW, was to wipe pure ethanol over the polished part. It creates a small amount of oxidisation which protects the part from the elements without any major affect to the finish.

[ramble on]
Biggest problem was getting the damn stuff, you can't buy it in the UK since you only need to do a bit of work and you can drink it. Closest you can get is Methylated Spirits, basically Ethanol with stuff added to make it slightly toxic, won't necessarily kill you but its likely to make you blind, and it tastes nasty, bad enough to stop me trying it again, maybe. You know what its like, 3 am no cough mixture, nail polish or toilet duck left, anything goes.
[ramble off]

Used it on a fair bit of stuff now and it does work. The part loses a small amount of the mirror finish, hardly noticeable for most people, but all it takes to clean is a bit of soap and water.

[craigs23]

What's the boggle?

[instigator]

Get some FS365. Works wonders on most parts of the bike. Except polished wheels. Polished wheels are the most pointless fucking thing to have on a bike when you use it all year round.

[phil2alp]

[craigs23]

Pretty pricely though, I've found WD40 offers most of the protection my bike needs.

[phil2alp]

[repiV]

Is there any truth to the claim that modern sportsbikes are more prone to corrosion etc. from bad weather than say, street bikes like the Fazer/Bandit?
Might it not be worth your while to get a crap weather bike instead?

[sagalout]

[st3v3]

Cillit Bang?

Can't see why Sportsbkes would be made different to tourers in terms of protection, it can rain on sunny afternoon's afterall.

[apple tango]

I sprayed my bike with ACF-50 probably about 2 months ago.

I went to the parents today to clean my bike. It was covered in shit, but only took a gentle wipe to come clean. The swing arms were the worst, but i was impressed how easy they were to do and how clean they looked underneath.

But yep, like usual, it fucking started raining on the way home to my flat.
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CBR125 -> Bandit GSF600 '99 -> SV650 02

[kawakid]

Have a hack for going to work in.

No way my Z will ever go out in the rain or winter months and when its used its washed daily.

Whereas the ER5 , is used daily in all weathers.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[crphillips]

Go to Andrew Pages and buy a gallon of Duck Oil......it's a clear, light oil that de-waters and protects. After washing your bike spray all bare metal, engine parts, foot peg hinge.....etc. The water will bead up and run off leaving a thin film of oil on your bike. Looks lovely, smells lovely and keeps all the shit off. Used it for years and there's nothing better!
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CBR600RR8 Hannspree Colours, beautiful!

[LeeR]

Understand where you're coming from Killa, my bike is exactly the same, however as others have said coating it with something once it is clean is the best way to keep it looking good and protected. I use GT85 on all the metal bits, just as I think it does a slightly better job than WD40 and it's British! I use regular Turtle Wax polish on the fairings and tank, which keeps the worst of it at bay. However, each evening, I rinse the bike off esp. the brakes and reapply the GT85 where necessary. I don't go to the trouble of getting a hose out or whatever, I use a greenhouse plant spraying the kind you pump up. I think Halfords do a 20L Hoselock version for about £20.
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