ACF50

[busy builder]

I've just washed the bike after riding it through our winter. I have only done about 650 miles but that ACF50 and the winter crud doesn't half take some shifting, but the bike is now looking as good as new. I had my doubts before I washed it but not any more, brilliant stuff.

 

[Sitbonzo]

Incredible stuff

 

[Smug]

Still plenty of salt on the roads down this way. Will be waiting a few more weeks before I wash the ACF50 off my bike.

 

[steadysteve]

What do you use to get the acf off?

 

[fatbaldbob]

SDoc 100

 

[busy builder]

Some green kitchen cleaning spray don't know make but it removes grease.

 

[stanley]

Muc Off (or similar) and a bucket of how water removes all of the accumulated crud quite well.

Mine has suffered a bit of corrosion on the cam covers, but the rest of the bike has survived ok. (2 applications of ACF50, several salty rides, one quick wash).

 

[Delboy777]

Why would you want to remove it ? Leave it on and let the bike get minging. At least it will still be protected.

 

[Colin]

degreaser

go to the pound shop and buy Elbo grease, a kitchen spray that is pretty good, I do use Muc off or the equivalent also. but that get's ACF50 off my bikes ok.

 

[daesimps]

Why would you want to remove it ? Leave it on and let the bike get minging. At least it will still be protected.

I don't get why people remove it either.

I leave it on mine 365 days a year as it's designed to be. If applied correctly it's invisible, dirt doesn't stick to it and it has no adverse effects, it just protects the bike and makes cleaning easier as dirt just washes off.

However, if applied incorrectly it will be sticky and gloopy causing dirt to stick and cleaning to be a pain in the backside. I'm presuming this is the main reason why people want to take it off after winter?

Dae.

 

[er-minio]

I don't get why people remove it either.

But dirt does stick to it.

I normally apply it and leave it be. I washed the bike properly after a long ride in the snow/water/salt this winter and re-applied.
Will wash the bike properly (most of it will come of) now and just re-spray it next winter.

It does wonders to the black plastic though.

 

[daesimps]

But dirt does stick to it.

I normally apply it. I washed the bike properly after a long ride in the snow/water/salt this winter and re-applied.
Will wash the bike properly (most of it will come of) now and just reapply it next winter.

It does wonders to the black plastic though.

Bizarre - I've never found dirt to stick to it and always found the opposite, it's like Teflon and helps keep the bike clean. I apply it with a compressor and a fine mist. Once applied it can't be seen. I've only seen dirt stick to it when friends have applied it straight from the can, usually too thick and leaving a sticky residue,

I used to use All Year Biker before I learned how to apply it properly. They professionally applied it and even had a range of cleaning products designed not to remove it in order to make it last longer.

 

[er-minio]

I cannot spray it.
So, off the can and then wipe it around with some cloth.

So, yes, there might be more product and that's why the engine gets coated with a fine dust of grime after a while.
Not that I care that much.

It just comes off with the ACF when I clean the bike properly in spring.

 

[stanley]

I wouldn't be scrubbing it out of every nook and cranny: there's no point, but after riding through winter, (and before cleaning) my bike looked a complete mess; muck and grit all over it. This surely holds moisture; not to mention how abrasive it all is

It must have been a few pounds lighter, and much more aerodynamic, after a quick clean!

ps. Careful not to accidentally wash grit into the pannier mechanisms. Easily done; this rapidly seizes the mechanism and is a full strip-down of the pannier to sort out

 

[Buckingham]

Applying ACF50

I've alway found ACF50 quite difficult to use from an aerosol can. The only decent way of applying it is with a compressor and spray gun, which is how I apply it now - a little ACF50 goes a long way in the spray gun. It's much too thick to work properly from an aerosol.

 

[7vwh]

I'd agree with Buckingham, I used it from an aerosol, got a lovely covering but after a few weeks worth of commuting the bike was minging. When it came to cleaning the film was a nightmare to remove! I've gone back to a quick cold water rinse when i get home which worked for my Fazer over the years.

 

[daesimps]

For those of you using cans that can't get use of a compressor, there is an alternative. You can buy the ACF in litre or so sized bottles that come with a pump sprayer. Warm the ACF by standing the full sprayer in a jug of very hot water before application. It's not as good as using a compressor but is much better than the cans and a whole lot cheaper too.

 

[Simmo]

This is what I use to apply it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Baby...525?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c2274aead

 

[busy builder]

It's got a helluva trunk !!

 

[Dogbreath]

Why not use these?
We pay thousands for bikes so £65 for up to 12 months protection?
http://allyearbiker.co.uk

No brainer......