General cleaning of bike

[loply]

Whats the best thing to "generally clean" the bike with?

ie removing salt, dirt, etc?

From the bodywork, frame, engine casing, swingarm, etc

Im just using fairy liquid in hot water atm, I guess its fine but not sure really.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Barker-CBR 600]

Autoglym Motorcycle Cleaner or anything similar, designed for motorbikes and useable on 90% of surfaces, which it says on the bottle.

Spray on, wash with COLD (warm water encourages corrosion due to salt from road + warmth) water.

Then polish. (if needed/wanted)
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[mr.z]

WD 40 is what i use to clean, and then more on top to protect it, regreaseing any bit that need it too..

Going over the engine caseing with some degreaser very so often gives amazeing results.

There are specific motorcycle cleaning sprays, like the auto glym, ive used and they are pretty good..

One thing though, be VERY carefull useing pressure washers, in fact just dont, they scratch the paint, they push grease out of bearings and dirt into them.

As far as exhausts downpipes go, i'm still unclear on how your supposed to prevent them decending into a furry mess, i polished mine reguarly and it only made them worse, any suggestions to a problem free cleaning method to downpipes anyone?
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[NickD]

After riding on salted roads, wash the bike down thoroughly with COLD water, as warm water speeds up the action of the chlorine in the salt (which does the damage). Also avoid washing up liquid as most of them contain sodium chloride to soften the water in hard water areas, use a proper bike cleaner such as 'Muc off', or a decent car shampoo, or make sure you check the ingredients on the washing up liquid.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[loply]

Is WD40 alright to clean plastic and fairings?


I would also very much like to know how to clean downpipes. Im guessing wire wool might work, but I dont have any. My downpipes are dirty due to excess oil landing on them and sizzling off.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[instigator]

Clean?

What is this word you speak of.....

[Barker-CBR 600]

Zero i had a XVS (Cruiser) which i rode all through september and october and didnt get a single rust patch off the chrome on the exhausts.

That was just using auto sol metal polish, put it on with one cloth, then buff it shiney with another.

Do this at least once a week and it should look fine.

(or you talkin about something else?)
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[mr.z]