2Hose or not 2Hose?

[MyFirstBike]

Alright, so here is a poll on how many people actually use a hose to clean their bike, If they even clean their bike!..ha...I definitely don't use the hose, i'm to worried of the electronics. I just get some soap and water and scrub away. I tend to use a used toothbrush and scrub away all engine grime and also clean all the bolts on the bike. I guess you can say i'm clean crazy when it comes to my bike.

 

[champion221elite]

A hose is ok, as long as you don't spray water directly into any openings or electrical components. Try to avoid the high pressure car wash hoses since they spray high pressure water places it shouldn't be.


My normal post ride cleanup consists of wiping the bike down with some wet paper towels, and then drying with a soft towel.

 

[Sawblade]

I would use a hose if i had one.

 

[mglowe]

I chose no hose but I have in the past used a hose. It all depends on how much dust, bugs or road muck. If you wipe your bike down with detailer spay and micro fiber cloth after each ride session, a hose will be needed infrequently.

 

[Red Wazp]

I keep the big hose for my wife .....

Oh, your talking about cleaning the bike?

Never mind.

 

[MyFirstBike]

HAHAH.... did i just hear you say that your wife has a big hose?...lol...all fun and games right....

 

[chunkygoat]

I usually do a lot of little cleaning sessions after i'm done, so she won't get too dirty. But occasionally when I drive her through a river, or up my friend's driveway (much like a muddy hill climb) - a lot of crap gets built up so...

YES, i use my garden hose, when she's FILTHY (not just a little dirty).

 

[Andz]

My bike is washed once a week at the car wash with the high pressure washer, no problems.

 

[Nefilim]

My bike is washed once a week at the car wash with the high pressure washer, no problems.

The problem with high pressure washers is that they will push grains of sand and whatnot into your paint, so when it comes time to scrub you'll end up pushing the grain around inside your clearcoat which gives it those ugly swirls in the paint.

A hose is ok, as long as you don't spray water directly into any openings or electrical components. Try to avoid the high pressure car wash hoses since they spray high pressure water places it shouldn't be.

What openings are you talking about? I usually rinse and soap my HUD to get dust off the display. Is this risky? I always assumed that the components were sealed.

 

[FZyLarry]

Use the garden hose whenever the dirt & bug accumulation gets out of hand. I use a gentle spray and don't aim it at sensitive parts.

 

[Andz]

The problem with high pressure washers is that they will push grains of sand and whatnot into your paint, so when it comes time to scrub you'll end up pushing the grain around inside your clearcoat which gives it those ugly swirls in the paint.

It's 5 years old and spotless. I'm not worried.

 

[Hellgate]

I keep the big hose for my wife .....

Oh, your talking about cleaning the bike?

Never mind.

Oh boy....

 

[fz6nick]

S 100 all they way:rockon:

Spray on, hose off, no rag needed

http://www.s100.com/

 

[The Toecutter]

i wash mine with my garden hose and I dry it off with my leaf blower.how lazy is that?

 

[Botch]

i wash mine with my garden hose and I dry it off with my leaf blower.how lazy is that?

I've been eyeing those high-pressure-air motorcycle dryers, but if a leaf blower has enough velocity I'll go with a multitasker; thanks for the tip!

The further down on my bike I go the less likely I am to reaching all the nooks & crannies with a sponge. If I've been riding through rain or mud I'll hose the whole thing off, if it's just spotted from a passing shower while parked I'll use a sponge & chamois.

The owners manual warns against spraying into the mufflers, and directly at the axles where you could flush the packed grease. I'm also careful around the dash gauges.

 

[D-Mac]

i wash mine with my garden hose and I dry it off with my leaf blower.how lazy is that?

30 responses so far and I'm the only one to choose 'why was your bike when you can ride it'

I use spray cleaner most of the time. It probably takes as long as washing the bike, but I usually wash it after a long ride and don't way to put it away wet.

 

[Nefilim]

i wash mine with my garden hose and I dry it off with my leaf blower.how lazy is that?

Leaf blower is indispensable. I always wash, then blow-dry, then quickly wipe any damp parts with a large microfiber towel and then use a smaller towel to clean up any streaks. It's actually really quick and hard to get it any dryer than that.

 

[Fred]

I rinse with the hose, but I generally try to rinse from top down, simulating rainfall. The bike can definitely handle rain.

As for the leaf blower, make sure it's an electric. A gas leaf blower often blows the exhaust out along with all the air, so unless you want to coat your bike with two-stroke oil...

Actually, that might be a good rust prevention method.

 

[OZXJR]

We can't use a hose here ,water restrictions ,big fine if you get caught so I rinse off the bike with a watering can.

 

[MyFirstBike]

It Puts the Lotion In The Basket Or It Gets The HOSE Again...HAHAHAHA....PUT THE FU**EN LOTION IN THE BASKET....