I love filth...

[craigs23]

...as at last, I have a proper reason for cleaning my bike.

The last two weeks have taken its toll on my winter hack. It got dirty. I didn't clean it last weekend (shock horror for some), as the temperature was still way below zero - even too cold for me, or rather washing a bike with water. The frost on the bike never actually melted last Saturday - made all the worse when I went to have a pair of new Diablo Stradas fitted and not getting a chance to atleast rinse the bike down.

So today, I thought I'd catch up a little on my chores. The bike was a little mucky as a I dragged it out for a going over. Even the previous night's rain had failed to make much difference to the bike's less than clean appearence. Bit of work to be done - the bike's not as easy to clean, or resiliant to the winter months than my R6 was last year. Tut tut tut, Honda have lost their edge in the build quality department.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01424.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01423.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01426.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01427.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01421.jpg

Hmmm. Rinsing the bike with cold water failed to shift most of it.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01429.jpg

So, out came the Muck Off Motorcycle Cleaner for a nice dowsing.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01433.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01431.jpg

I left it to soak in as I went and filled two buckets. One with hot water and Meguairs Gold Class Shampoo, the other (with a grit guard) with cold water. I then rinsed the bike once again, before washing the bodywork with a Megauirs Lamb's Wool Mit, rinsing the mit thoroughly after each panel as I worked my way around the bike. I tend to work top to bottom on this, I don't like the idea of draggin much up from the dirtier lower panels of the bike, and the water running down from the top loosens the dirt further down a little more.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01435.jpg

I then put the mit to one side and opted for a regular sponge to work the frame, engine covers, wheels, exhausts, swingarm, etc, agitating soiled road grime with a brush/Muck Off where necessary.

The bike then got another rinse, a couple of watering can's amount to get rid of as much of the sudds and washed off grime as possible.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01437.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01438.jpg

I then carefully dried the bodywork with a Meguairs Water Magnet, and the rest of the bike with regular microfibre cloths.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01439.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01442.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01441.jpg

Then, propping the bike up on a paddock stand, I cleaned, adjusted and lubed the chain. Finished off with a little more WD40ing where necessary and a general clean up of the nooks and crannies.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC01448.jpg

I don't bother re-treating or waxing the bodywork on a regular basis. I tend to believe it doesn't need it. I only get the Zymol out during those bodywork off, full spring cleans, so, job done for another week.

It's far from a proper clean, I'd do one of those once the salt's finally cleared and I can strip the bike down for a proper spring spruce. In the meantime, it keeps things tidy and presentable, as well as giving me the chance to look over the bike carefully, for maintenance as well as cleanliness, on a regular basis. I just hope the ACF50 is working wonders in the engine department, as I haven't had a chance to get in there for a clean since before Christmas.

[Fnatic]

Looks hot

That's a really good clean considering it was only water

[craigs23]

(...and Muck Off, WD40 and Meguairs Gold Class)

[Fnatic]

Well not muchings

[AngelGrinder]

Does the muc-off not remove the ACF-50?

I've covered mine in ACF-50 so am just using regular shampoo, the MT obviously isn't hidden by fairings, and it's not showing any rust yet
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[MattHirst]

You missed a bit!

Only kidding, now if i cleaned my bike (well when i had a bike in 1 piece) and it turned out like that...i would be over the moon

Fancy coming to clean my car for some beer tokens?
____________________
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Until owning i bike i was O.C.D free, now regardless of the weather or time, it's out with the cleaning stuff,wd then cover on.
S'cool tho, as i get on a clean bike the next day.
even ended up watching other saddos on youtube cleaning motorbikes.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Noxious89123]

Spent 4 hours cleanin my bike today

Degreased the chain and rear wheel. Took ages to get all that caked on shite off thee rear wheel. Even the amazing SDoc100 power gel was struggling to shift it so resorted to spraying a shit load of GT85 on an old dishcloth and wiping most of the greae off. Cleaned off the remenants with the SDoc100 stuf. (Which is ace btw). Slowly worked from the bak of the bike, forwards until i'd got all the shite off. Dried it all off with a chamois. Need to get another, the one i used is my dads and it's knackered.

Cleaned the tank cover then whipped it off. Moisture gets uner it, so it's good to have it off every now and again an let the underside dry. I like to give the tank a good clean and then a layer of Auto Glym show shine to help protect the finish on the paint before the tank cover goes back on.

Relubed the chain with a bottle of red scottoil (The blue stuff flings off way too easily.) Spent ages tryin to get my dual injector flowin properly. Only one nozzle was flowing oil. After setting the little res to "prime" there was a little bit of lear fluid (how the fck did water get in there?) and some small air bubbles and then it was working fine again. Bit of scottoil on an old rag and wipe it over all the side plates on both sides of the chain, stops them rusting up.

Scrape aload of mud and salty crap off the undeside of the exhaust, and then gave them a good soaking with FS365. Locked up, covered up, jobs a good 'un.

I enjoy cleanin my bike, it's relaxing and gives me something to do Can't wait for summer to come round!
____________________
'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[D O G]

I expected it to be clean (in my book) when you said it was dirty, but actually, it was damn dirty!

How long did that take you then?

[craigs23]

See, all this winter fun you're missing out on Damofo.

Took about an hour and a half to get up to that finished result. It will require a proper clean in a month or two though, which I expect would take an extra 4 hours or so (mostly spent trying to remove the Krypton Factor fairings).

I do miss the easy clean nature of my R6 last year though. It was better put together, had an all enclosed undertray, a few essential items were clear anodised rather than laquered, the bolts weren't made from cheese (currently replacing the OE items on the CBR with stainless replicas) and the engine bay was less exposed (not to mention easier to get to).

Hmmm. I wonder if I should consider that 02 silver R1 I've liked since they came out...

[Stelmer]

Interesting.

Makes me wanna go out and clean mine now....

[bigjim]

I'll like to say Cheers Craigs23 for your cleaning posts

Im £70 poorer but I gave the R6 a quick clean as its been sat there whilst I had my arm in a cast, took me 30mins but the stuff you recommended is amazing ! The bike looks new again

Will be doing a full clean and polish in a few weeks and ill get some photos up, but im a convert to the Meguiars products.

Keep up the good cleaning work and if you have any more tips please do share

Jim
____________________
'97 - Thundercat - Sold
'08 - R6 - The Pocket Rocket - Sold
'09 - Street Triple R - The Monster

[AngelGrinder]

Just looking at the grit guards....

Do I need a special bucket, should I get a bucket and guard combo from ebay -

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Meguiars-Grit-Guard-and-Bucket_W0QQitemZ130280359485QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item130280359485&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318


Or are they a universal fit for most buckets?

Cheers Not seen these before.



Also, has anyone ever tried using clay on their bike? If so...is it worth it?
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[bigjim]

The way I look at it is as the grit goes to the bottom, the grit guard just stops you from going all the way to the bottom of the bucket.

Hence, dont put you mitt or what ever your using all the way to the bottom. Sorted no need for anything other than a 99p bucket

Jim
____________________
'97 - Thundercat - Sold
'08 - R6 - The Pocket Rocket - Sold
'09 - Street Triple R - The Monster

[craigs23]

I also use it to strain out my mitt a bit.

Nice work Jim Remeber to strip the fairings off every once in a while for a proper spruce.

[PeterNSR]

Top job craig
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Current: Honda NSR 125

My bike

[ben_wheely]

Looks ace,

... but does you neighbours not worry about you when you take pictures of your bike in the middle of washing it ?
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Rides: '05 Yammy WR290-F

[craigs23]

I think they're used to my cleaning ways by now. I've got some S Doc 100 on order, I wonder if it'll make much difference when I next get round to giving the bike a wash.

[Pie-Roe]

bit of a stupid question really craig, but why do you do it?

I'm always happy to spray my bike with cillit bang, go make a brew, have a fag and then pressure wash off.

It gets a decent enough result in my eyes.


Pyro
____________________
Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[craigs23]

Not sure how it came about - the cleaning thing that is - maybe quite a few reasons. I've always been a tidy, organised sort. Mix that with the first bikes I had when I started riding - a 1982 125 and a 1978 400, both of which required a little tidying, mechanically and cosmetically and I guess I saw the pride of ownership that resulted in such work.

My first NC30 was clean but not anywhere near the level I am now. People used to comment on it quite a bit, but then after it got written off, I bought an RVF as its replacement, had a bit of spare time on my hands between graduation and my first proper job, and I kinda got carried away cleaning the thing up. A lot of that was down to seeing what other people had done, project wise and modifications and I obviously got hooked.

The Blade continued on what became a bit of an obsession, and then I went crazy with the level of detail on my next NC30. With the CBR, I know it'll never be as tidy as when I first picked it up as it's used everyday, but I guess I just enjoy trying to keep it that way.

[bigjim]

A little tip a was told by a mate who does valeting, when your washing your bike/car off always use slow running water and try not to spray it.

This promotes water beading as opposed to the fine mist of water which is harder to dry off

Simple and most people prob already do it but I thought I

Jim
____________________
'97 - Thundercat - Sold
'08 - R6 - The Pocket Rocket - Sold
'09 - Street Triple R - The Monster

[craigs23]

Hmmm...told me something I didn't know. I thought all pro detailers tended to use jet washes.

Oh well, I doubt my watering can can give anything else other than a slow run of water.

RE: The SDoc100 - quality stuff. About as strong as paraffin, in a thick almost shampoo-like liquid. Cleaned up the bike nicely, probably not much better than the Muc Off, but didn't require half as much effort.

I think it's best used with jet washing though. You spray it onto the bike, directly onto the dirt and then rinse it off after a few minutes. Then wash the bike as usual. It's pretty expensive stuff though, so not sure whether I'd fully recommend it. I'm just going to use my batch for areas prone to heavy soiling (oo-err), like the underseat exhausts, rear wheel, front downpipes, etc.

[Noxious89123]

It is bloody expensive. About £12 for a litre. It foams up really well though if you put it on a sponge. I use it for getting all the cack off the rear wheel.
____________________
'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[craigs23]

True - I don't think I'll be using it in large doses - I've just bought 5 litres of Muck Off for general stuff. It is pretty good at shifting the grime though - riding the bike today (first time since its clean as the snow had cleared somewhat), my underseat exhaust can looked as if I'd polished the thing (I haven't - yet), the SDoc 100 is also claimed to leave a layer of anti-corrosion wonderment - not sure whether that's actually true or not though.

I've booked some time off work over March - I think I'll be spending at least one of those days stripping the bike down for a proper clean. It won't be long after that it gets its next service, the big 12k, so fingers crossed it stands up until that time.

[Fnatic]

If any body wants to get into proper detailing, then find the Detailing World forums.