1150 GS - Hug/No Hug/Splashplate/Other ?

[Bananaman]

Have boned up on all hugger posts as the winter commute looms.
I am slightly perplexed :whatthefe Pyramid, Touratech, Skidmarks is there one that works or are they really all not worth bothering with? I realise washing is a really good solution, but would just like to be able to keep that fine salty winter crap at bay a little.

How about a splashplate, or are there any new products that might be worth contemplating?

 

[Dick Dastardly]

Cold water until ya think it's all off....then more cold water until it really is off


Sorry

 

[Tarka]

Fit a hugger to a GS and you`ll deserve all the abuse and derision delivered.

Clean the bike whenever it`s dirty....using plenty of cold water .

Yes...even if that does mean every day for a while.

It`s not just the rear shock area that will suffer from the ravages of salt and winter crud...so keep the bike clean.

 

[DavidHale]

Fit a hugger to a GS and you`ll deserve all the abuse and derision delivered.

Clean the bike whenever it`s dirty....using plenty of cold water .

Yes...even if that does mean every day for a while.

It`s not just the rear shock area that will suffer from the ravages of salt and winter crud...so keep the bike clean.

I cleaned my bike in April, and I'll do it again next April whether it needs it or not.

Used to have a Pyramid hugger, but it was crap and kept rubbing against the swing arm no matter how I adjusted it. So I took it off.

 

[jimbo]

Clean the bike whenever it`s dirty....using plenty of cold water .

I find the whole cold water thing unconvincing. Hot water will work far better than cold at dissolving/removing salt and other nasties. I think the argument goes, the chemical reaction of corrosion will then be faster due to the extra heat. Sounds like tosh to me, the damp surface will be cold in minutes in the winter. So for maybe 10 minutes faster corrosion, verses less shite on the bike for the next 12+ hours.

 

[Tarka]

I find the whole cold water thing unconvincing. Hot water will work far better than cold at dissolving/removing salt and other nasties. I think the argument goes, the chemical reaction of corrosion will then be faster due to the extra heat. Sounds like tosh to me, the damp surface will be cold in minutes in the winter. So for maybe 10 minutes faster corrosion, verses less shite on the bike for the next 12+ hours.

Obviously use warm water and a cleaning agent of choice to wash the bike.

But warm water dissolves the salt and allows it to spread easily.

Cold water displaces the salt efficiently,so in cases such as when I get home from a late shift at half ten at night,a good five minutes or so with a cold water hose will get rid of the salt and make the bike safe to leave until the next day when it can be washed properly.

Wheel rims in particular can pit overnight if left damp and with salt on them.

 

[Colban]

Bananaman,a hugger doesn't really stop all the crud from getting to those important places.
I fitted a Pyramid item not so long ago and am thinking of returning to my previous solution.Cut an 8 x 4 strip from a piece of thickish rubber (i used an old rubber car mat) and attach it to the existing too short rubber shied between shock and rear tyre (i used number plate nuts/bolts).
No more shite on nice shiny Ohlins.

 

[Shurv]

I use a pyramid hugger and it seems to keep some crud off the back of the bike.It's personal chioce really.

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

Obviously use warm water and a cleaning agent of choice to wash the bike.

The OCD you have with motorcycle cleaning and polishing is well known, but without taking the piss, what do you really reccomend using? Steptoe has his technical threads on how to, but with so many different brands of cleaning products on the market which cleaning products do you rate?!

 

[Tarka]

The OCD you have with motorcycle cleaning and polishing is well known, but without taking the piss, what do you really reccomend using? Steptoe has his technical threads on how to, but with so many different brands of cleaning products on the market which cleaning products do you rate?!

I start by hosing the bike down.

Then spray the cacky areas with Auto Glym Moto Clean and get stuck in with a variety of dish brushes and a straight wallpapering brush which is perfect for getting between the fins on the cylinders and the sides of the sump.

Then a bucket wash (two or three buckets actually) with hot water and silicone free car shampoo (without wax in it)...the ultimate I`ve found is made by Turtlewax (although there`s no wax in it) and it`s a green liquid that looks for all the world like a heavy dish washing liquid with a rather evil smell to it...though it`s getting hard to find lately.


Then a good hosing down with cold water until the water off the bike runs clear .

I`ll spare you from a description of the individual spoke cleaning and polishing plus removal of calipers and bashplate during a full eight hours of Tarka-isation.

In the depths of winter I spray silicone spray over any exposed metalwork as it keeps the salt at bay and makes it easier to clean the bike.

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

I start by hosing the bike down.

Then spray the cacky areas with Auto Glym Moto Clean and get stuck in with a variety of dish brushes and a straight wallpapering brush which is perfect for getting between the fins on the cylinders and the sides of the sump.

Then a bucket wash (two or three buckets actually) with hot water and silicone free car shampoo (without wax in it)...the ultimate I`ve found is made by Turtlewax (although there`s no wax in it) and it`s a green liquid that looks for all the world like a heavy dish washing liquid with a rather evil smell to it...though it`s getting hard to find lately.


Then a good hosing down with cold water until the water off the bike runs clear .

I`ll spare you from a description of the individual spoke cleaning and polishing during a full Tarka-isation.

Tarka endsorsed cleaning products and method, just what I need now I'm clocking minimum 500 miles per week. Tried and tested by the master!

Cheers

 

[Tarka]

Tarka endsorsed cleaning products and method, just what I need now I'm clocking minimum 500 miles per week. Tried and tested by the master!

Cheers

Don`t forget my subsequent edit......spray any exposed metalwork with silicone spray to protect from the worst ravages of the salt and make it easier to clean the bike...

Oh....don`t spend a fortune on bike specific polishes for normal use....great results are achieved with good old Mr Sheen Original or Aldi Beeswax Furniture Polish and a microfibre duster.... 'Magic Duster'...from Wilkinsons.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

.Pyramid hugger


Rubbed on the inner strengthening area. Poor fit, bike no cleaner when fitted. :

I think you get my subtle message.