Washing my bike - Tips?

[Radiati0n]

After getting my 03 XB9R from my friend, it has a little bit of grit and grime in some places; rims, engine, etc. I was wanting to take it out and hose it down this afternoon and am curious if there is anything i need to watch out for or be careful with when washing like that. Also if anyone has some tips for when you wash your bike down. Thanks!

 

[CrazyTexan]

I soak the **** out of mine when u wash it. then use any type of wax and polish it just like a regular car. turtle wax ice or pig spit works great on the plastics.

Do not shine your tires.

 

[thuren67]

I use simple green and regular hose no pressure washer.
Then novus on the plastics and Adams detail spray on all paint.
Adams also sells a waterless wash for in between washes.

 

[Radiati0n]

Sounds good. Should I worry about any water getting under the seat or in near the battery/wiring behind the rear fairing ?

 

[thuren67]

I keep it away from the gauge cluster and that's it.
I usually wash mine every oil change and wipe down after any long or dirty rides

 

[sparky300]

Personally, I don't wash mine. Lots of clean cotton rags, degreaser for the oily parts, wheel cleaner & plastic cleaner. Too many places for water to get into and next thing you know, you've got problems even a gremlin bell won't keep away.

 

[Radiati0n]

The front of the engine just seems a bit grimy and the inside rims..probably just give it a quick rinse and be done with it.

 

[Lesley]

Personally, I don't wash mine. Lots of clean cotton rags, degreaser for the oily parts, wheel cleaner & plastic cleaner. Too many places for water to get into and next thing you know, you've got problems even a gremlin bell won't keep away.

Apply this method [up]

 

[TACPBuell]

Same, I never wash it with water. I have actually been using windex right now and it has been working amazing lol. Ive got a ton of gloss though and hardly any flat paint so I think it works better. Just a little nervous about using water on the main bike.. I will spray it with a little water bottle on the rims just because theres a lot of grime and residue there.

 

[Radiati0n]

Took some superclean degreaser and simple green to get all the gunk out of the spoke crevaces on the front and rear rims. Then just washed it away with a hose. Seemed to work like a charm and then polished up the surrounding metal with some Flitz. My bike looks so clean!

 

[wally]

I hose it down - normal hose or high pressure washer, I was with normal car shampoo, polish with normal car polish, do the plastics with a silicon spray, wash my gauges, ride in the rain and storms and it still goes perfectly.

 

[07Bolt]

i use to wash mine over here & there. i would wash it leak from this and that. i tell my friends hey wash me do this take-off wheelie. if i didnt wash it, it would it would get away from me. next time i'll wash it, just to be sure.

 

[PNWXB12Scg]

Pay a freshmen girl in college to wash it... preferably in a bikini.

 

[Bossanova]

^ what he said. [cool]

After washing my bikes I use an electric motorcycle air dryer. Wife got it for me a few years ago and not sure how I lived without it.

 

[Litos]

i picked up my bike @ 5 weeks ago and it looked like it just came off the assembly line.

2 weeks ago, i took it in to change the oil and rode it in the rain.

the guys at the dealership washed it for me - i have no idea what they did, but it was very clean.

still don't know how i'm personally gonna wash it lol.

 

[Kid1620]

I take mine to a car wash and soak the **** out of its use the foam brush and everything comes out just fine with no electrical problems either. Same as ridin in the rain right just in the rain it gets dirty not clean. Go to town and soak it down.

 

[BuddhaBuell]

I use an electric motorcycle air dryer

leaf blower does the same job