Winterising

[esullivan]

I brought my bike to get an ACF-50 treatment today. The last couple of years, I've done it myself, badly, so I brought it to a professional this time via allyearbiker.co.uk. Poor quality phone pics below, but you get the idea. The guy did a deep clean and then used a vaporiser to get the ACF into every nook and cranny. He recommended that I just hose it off now and again through the winter or use a mild car shampoo.

The bike came out like new, and then I rode it home in the rain...

What else are BCFers doing to prepare for the winter?

Before:
https://s12.postimg.org/6ryz0zrz1/allmybike_before.jpg

After:
https://s7.postimg.org/qmrjnevwb/allmybike.jpg
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[goto10]

[esullivan]

[goto10]

[Rigga]

Good job, how much did they charge to apply it?
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Current bike: Honda CBR 1100xx

[esullivan]

[Rigga]

[esullivan]

[-Monty-]

That does look really good. Not sure if I could bring myself to part with almost £60 for what is essentially a thorough clean though. Certainly not for a CB500 at least.
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Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[Rigga]

[esullivan]

[thx1138]

[Boris the spider]

9am this morning

New paint brushes , and some old tooth ones , and Gunk to degrease the YBR.
Then.
Washed it with the normal shampoo stuff .
Let it dry out in the sunshine and breeze for a few hours.

Then the ACF50 came out. More brushes and rags.
Bike is now well sorted.
Few hours spent.
But worth it. I have never paid anyone to do that type of thing to any vehicle.
Just the way iam tho.
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[Boris the spider]

60 sheets for an easy Saturday morning doing that ?

I'm yer man.....
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[map]

[Boris the spider]

[Amber Phoenix]

Doused mine last weekend. Did it myself, whilst swapping downpipes. Figured it was a good time to give the engine a good clean whilst I had better access to it.

Interesting, the use of vapourisor and not much acf50. I pretty much emptied a whole tin on the bike so it was dripping. This was fine until the drips dried on the drive paving slabs and gave me a super slippery patch I've since had to scrub down, lest I park up, lose my footing and drop the bike...
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[reed]

Meh, last winter I just hosed it down once or twice a week used engine degreaser them covered it in GT85, was perfectly spotless come the summer.
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Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[Polarbear]

60 squids isn't a lot of money for a deep clean,

I really think people have got to work out what labour rates are nowadays.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Boris the spider]

[reed]

I don't know why, but i just wouldn't trust someone else to clean my bike, if I paid and then noticed a new mark or scratch I would be very overly annoyed.

Plus I quite enjoy cleaning my bike and doing a decent job, and I agree that it allows you to check things at the same time.
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Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[Walloper]

bottle of muck off
a two pound hot wash at a gas station
a can of ac50

30 quid.

I do it my self
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[ScaredyCat]

[esullivan]

Sigh. As usual, I walk away for half a day and everyone's misunderstanding the thread.

1. I clean my own bike. I like cleaning my bike. I do a good job and you notice things like loose nuts or whatever. I clean my bike usually about once a month. It comes out spotless and new-looking, and I bet way better than most of you.
2. I have applied ACF-50 to my bikes for two winters. I don't really know what I'm doing or whether I'm apply too much or two little, or to the wrong places.
3. I paid this guy an amount that made me gulp because of his expertise, experience and equipment to apply ACF-50 correctly. I would have paid him the same amount, but grumbled a bit more, if I were required to clean my own bike beforehand.

Now, this being BCF, point 1 will kick off an argument between the people who claim never to wash their bikes and those challenging me to a duel because I insulted their washing skills. Point 2 will draw out people who claim to be experts on applying ACF-50 because they know a guy who knows a guy, and besides they read how to apply it on BCF. Point 3 will draw the usual about how you should do all of the work on your bike, using leftover parts from WWII tanks or forged yourself from raw iron ore.

But at least I made my own point clearer, I hope.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[esullivan]