Recommended Cleaning Products?

[Nefilim]

It took me almost a year to find all the cleaning products best used on my cruiser from the white wall tires, oodles of chrome, blacked out fins, aluminum forks and instruments, leather bags, among other parts that each require a certain product to clean it all. So here goes:

1. What soap do you use?
2. What type of wax do you use? Synthetic or carnauba?
3. What polish do you use, how often do you use it, and where do you use it?
4. How do I protect the matte finishes such as the rims?
5. What is the handlebar made of? Aluminum? Is there any way to protect it from rust?
6. Is there anything I can use to keep the plastic parts from fading?
7. What type of cloths do you use and where? Is terrycloth ever recommended over a microfiber?
8. What cleaning tools have you found to be most useful?

 

[Smittyboy]

I don't use soap. I use the cheap atv cleaner stuff from gander mtn and it works really well. Technically I have to answer yes to the second question... I use the turtle wax "ICE" product which is a synthetic carnuba... (from the commercial) It really makes the flake in the paint POP! That finish on the rims is BULLETPROOF!!! I've never really thought about the handlebars rusting... That should be something that resists rust strongly. The ICE stuff works wonders on the plastic bits as well. I really can't find something that it doesn't work well on. I use a blue towel made by monster. It's made to clean delicate PLASMA tv screens, and really puts a nice sheen on things. One wash and it's from the bike to the tv (which isn't a plasma ). The most useful would be a mechanized polisher or buffer for those god forsaken header pipes!!! Those are aB$#@% to shine without something like a powerball or some knockoff like I got. Everything I either got at walmart or gander mtn for relatively cheap. If I had to endorce one product it would be the ICE stuff. I really like it because I can't find a way to screw it up... Spray on, wipe off, THAT SIMPLE! Hope this helps

 

[PAJeep]

I am a big fan of Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish for most clean up and then a mild soap and water from time to time when things are really dirty. I use microfiber and terrycloth both, whatever I have handy and clean at the time. I have been doing this on 4 different bikes not and have always liked the results.

 

[Humperdinkel]

Dude i always , always use water :thumbup:.....Most important really

 

[OZXJR]

Dude i always , always use water :thumbup:.....Most important really

Well you have got a bloody lot of it up your way Humps

 

[bluenova]

My bike is a work horse and gets dirty too quickly to be using all those poncy sprays and stuff with a toothbrush. I use S100 to clean it as it's quick and easy, other than that just WD40, lithium lube and corrosion inhibitor to keep it in good condition. I will admit the rims and headers do get polished a couple times during the summer.

When it has to be done, it goes like this...
1. Subdue bike with cold shower (1:30)
2. Spray liberally with S100 (3:00)
3. Scrub the gunky places (5:00)
4. Leave to soke in whilst checking chain tension, clutch/throttle free play, lights etc (10:00)
5. Rinse off with cold shower (3:00)
6. Dry off the metal parts with an old towel (5:00)
7. Take it for spin to dry the rest and warm chain (15:00)
8. Lube chain, pivot points and apply corrosion inhibitor (10:00)

All in all it takes just under an hour. If it's not filthy and I have time to spend with the bike then it gets ridden.

 

[LERecords]

My bike is a work horse and gets dirty too quickly to be using all those poncy sprays and stuff with a toothbrush. I use S100 to clean it as it's quick and easy, other than that just WD40, lithium lube and corrosion inhibitor to keep it in good condition. I will admit the rims and headers do get polished a couple times during the summer.

When it has to be done, it goes like this...
1. Subdue bike with cold shower (1:30)
2. Spray liberally with S100 (3:00)
3. Scrub the gunky places (5:00)
4. Leave to soke in whilst checking chain tension, clutch/throttle free play, lights etc (10:00)
5. Rinse off with cold shower (3:00)
6. Dry off the metal parts with an old towel (5:00)
7. Take it for spin to dry the rest and warm chain (15:00)
8. Lube chain, pivot points and apply corrosion inhibitor (10:00)

All in all it takes just under an hour. If it's not filthy and I have time to spend with the bike then it gets ridden.

soo... 15 mins of waiting to rinse of the s100??? i usually only take 4-5mins and rinse it off.. then spray down with soap and scrub the bike..

can you really let this stuff sit for 15 mins???

oh and warming the chain before lubing it?? i see why one would want to warm the chain, but i dunno about ridding it around before i lube it.. but to each their own..

 

[LERecords]

1. What soap do you use?

S100, and mr.clean soap (used in the mr.clean car wash gun)

2. What type of wax do you use? Synthetic or carnauba?

Liquid turtle wax - 3-4 times a season, keeps the paint nice

3. What polish do you use, how often do you use it, and where do you use it?

Polish?? i use plexus "polish" for the windscreen

4. How do I protect the matte finishes such as the rims?

I have the older silver rims, but i use those mr clean wall erasers to clean the rims, makes them look really nice..

5. What is the handlebar made of? Aluminum? Is there any way to protect it from rust?

Aluminum wont rust.. if your talking about where the key is and all the ding marks from the key onto the tripple tree, im all ears

6. Is there anything I can use to keep the plastic parts from fading?

Im sure they make some sort of "wax" or "polish" for plastics.. have to do some reaserch for that though..

7. What type of cloths do you use and where? Is terrycloth ever recommended over a microfiber?

Ripped up fruit of the loom t-shirt for waxing.. other than that i just use the "no spot rinse" setting on the mr. clean wash gun.. never a water spot :thumbup:

8. What cleaning tools have you found to be most useful?

The center stand and elbow grease :thumbup:

 

[Hollywood416]

1. What soap do you use? Nothing special usually whatever I have for the cars.
2. What type of wax do you use? Synthetic or carnauba? Sythetic I really like the new Meguiars NXT it shines up real nice and lasts a loong loong time.
3. What polish do you use, how often do you use it, and where do you use it? Only thing left to polish on mine is the headers and for that I use Boyd's Wheel polish or the Black and Silver can w/ wadding inside.(forgot the name of it)
4. How do I protect the matte finishes such as the rims? Not sure about protection but if I want to shine them up I just wipe those surfaces with WD40 on a rag.
5. What is the handlebar made of? Aluminum? Is there any way to protect it from rust? Alum so it shouldn't rust ever
6. Is there anything I can use to keep the plastic parts from fading? Honda Plastic Cleaner/Polish works pretty well.
7. What type of cloths do you use and where? Is terrycloth ever recommended over a microfiber? I just use a regular car sponge to wash it and a waxing sponge to apply the wax. For everything else I Love those Microfiber cloths.


Ohh and for greasy areas I like Simple Green(not mean Green) it's not very harsh can be diluted and have never had a problem even getting it on paint. When my chain get's nasty I wet a rag with it and wipe it down before re-lubing.

 

[reiobard]

I use the spray "Honda polish" waterless cleaner and it works amazingly! once or twice a year i will hit it with some real car wax and possibly buff it after, but the honda stuff has wax in it so it keeps the shine in tact week after week...

 

[LERecords]

actually.. any suggestions on how to clean the chain.. I dont have the abbility to take the chain off the bike.. was looking at one of the scum buster chain brushes from cycle gear, but didnt know if anyone had a better idea...

 

[abacall]

I just use WD40 to clean the chain. Works amazingly well and is super easy. Spray, wipe, lube.

 

[FizzySix]

Chain: kerosene and a brush (nylon) as per the manual, works wonderfully. Lube with your choice of lubes, I use the DuPont teflon stuff like many others.

Bike: I don't have the patience for all the lotions and potions, so I use an automotive soap concentrate with wax already in it from the local auto parts place. A hose, bucket, and sponge, and she's clean and shiny in no time: rinse with hose, fill bucket with water and add soap and give her a sponge-bath, rise with hose. Easy, shiny, and protected, even in the hard-to-reach areas.

Once a season or so I'll actually break out the Mother's wax and the buffer. I have a belly-pan so I just let the headers turn whatever color they like.

To dry it, I use an electric leaf blower and literally blow-dry it, which forces the water out of all the nooks and crannies, and leaves a spot-free shine.

All that being said, I got a power-washer over the weekend, and I'm still thinking about a good way to use that on the bike without forcing water into places it ought not be.

 

[LERecords]

but what about kerosen on the swing arm, tires, other parts... doesnt do anythign to it right???

and i dont think i would powerwash the bike.. your liable to take paint off or worse.. garden hose it

 

[FizzySix]

but what about kerosen on the swing arm, tires, other parts... doesnt do anythign to it right???

and i dont think i would powerwash the bike.. your liable to take paint off or worse.. garden hose it

No ill effects from kerosene yet. I hold a plastic oil drain pan under the section of chain I'm scrubbing with a couple cups of kerosene in it, constantly dipping the brush into the pan, so it doesn't make too bad of a mess. The regular washing process gets rid any spills.

I'm also concerned a power washer might force water into bad places. Unlike a car, the bike has no metal armor, with exposed electronics up front, o-rings in the chain, various seals, exposed and easily bent radiator fins, etc.
At the same time, it's also engineered to be ridden in the rain, so it must be able to take some water. I think if I stand far enough back, with a wide spray pattern, I can do it safely. I'm trying to be efficient and see if I can wash the bike, truck, and wife's minivan quickly and simultaneously this summer.

 

[LERecords]

yea, but why risk it.. and if your standing far back, your probably just wasting water ...

i agree it was ment to be ridden in the rain, but rain isnt give you 50 psi out of a small nozzle.. why risk it right

 

[wolfc70]

I use the spray "Honda polish" waterless cleaner and it works amazingly! once or twice a year i will hit it with some real car wax and possibly buff it after, but the honda stuff has wax in it so it keeps the shine in tact week after week...

I will second the "Honda Polish", works great for quick cleanings. I use Bean Clean to clean bugs, tar and the chain. In fall I do a full clean with a wax, usually Turtle Wax Ice, I prefer the paste, it lasts a long, long time. I use Invisible Glass to clean my helmet shield and the wind screen.

 

[Sawblade]

I've actually washed my bike once. Every other time, I use Adam's Detail spray.

 

[Goop]

I've been using Protect All and it's great especially if you don't feel like soap/water washing.

http://www.protectall.com/pawaxlg.htm

 

[Damnitsjeff]

Honda Polish need I say more.......................................:steve: