Cleaning after a winter ride?

[WindyChuffer]

This is how to wash a GS:

 

[sagalout]

How many times a year do you ride it and do you take it out in the wet

I commute on it 3 days all year round, 30 miles per day, plus weekend runs when I get the chance and a couple of decent tours per year.

Just don't have the time or inclination to clean it, especially in winter. Whenever I do I realise how good it looks clean though hah.

 

[UK Jon]

Wow

WTF is the '2 bucket method'

Try this:

http://youtu.be/ZVAxphcgKnY

Regards

 

[Zx9man]

Am a bit OCD when comes to bike and car cleaning. Including drying time and sealing paint and plastics with a sealant, then a coat of wax or two can take a day. Always use the two bucket method and quality products - is expensive to start with, but your bike or car will thank you long term.
1. Thorough pre wash with pressure washer.
2. Layer with ph neutral snowfoam using pressure washer and snowfoam lance. Leave for about 10 minutes for snowfoam to drag off the crud. Whilst waiting you can agitate the nooks and crannies using a quality brush.
3. Rinse with pressure washer.
4. Repeat and snowfoam again.
5. Rinse
6. Wash using quality mit and two bucket method to avoid dragging particles of dirt/grit across paint/bodywork as will scratch otherwise.
7. Rinse with pressure washer.
8. Dry off with quality towel.
9. Use air blaster - or can use pet dryers as a cheaper alternative - to blast residue water away out from the fins/nooks/crannies etc.
10. Seal paintwork and plastics using appropriate sealants. Use sealant on rims as much easier to clean thereafter.
11. Apply one or two coats of quality wax.

Instead of using snowfoam, in winter I have used Sdoc100 - was really great product but not ph neutral, so although got bike clean also removed previous layers of sealant and wax.


There is more but get the basics right and you should be fine.

When first shown how to do it, thought it was mostly b*****s - but it really is all about the preparation.

Regards

Totally agree with you just two other things I use auto gym motorcycle cleaner soft brush then snow and as the gsa is more metal and tank I use acf50 on a micro fiber cloth all over but we are all dif in our approach to cleaning

 

[Packer]

I don't think there is enough time in my life for the two bucket method. There certainly isn't enough commitment Wash twice a year whether it needs it or not.

 

[kurienp]

I don't think there is enough time in my life for the two bucket method. There certainly isn't enough commitment Wash twice a year whether it needs it or not.

One bucket the first time and another the next - qualifies for the two bucket method!

 

[Engineer]

I wash it every weekend, hosepipe, Castrol Greentec, sponge, hosepipe, chamois, polish screen and tank, then drown it with about half a bottle of Scottoiler FS365 by spaying it and painting it onto the awkward parts, I try to ensure not one bit is missed at this time of the year.

 

[Wrinkly]

All ready to set off to pick a mate up as we we're off camping for a couple of days in the lakes.Rain is coming down at a steady fall, waterproofs are on and I'm walking out of the door then the phone rings.
It was said mate asking if we could set of tomorrow as he'd just cleaned his bike and the forecast was better for the next few days.

Needless to say I set off without him.

Steve

 

[Popell]

All ready to set off to pick a mate up as we we're off camping for a couple of days in the lakes.Rain is coming down at a steady fall, waterproofs are on and I'm walking out of the door then the phone rings.
It was said mate asking if we could set of tomorrow as he'd just cleaned his bike and the forecast was better for the next few days.

Needless to say I set off without him.

Steve

....and I hope you didn't tell him where you are staying

 

[Engineer]

Camping it in Lakes at this time of the year, what's wrong with you?

 

[Skid06]

Camping it in Lakes at this time of the year, what's wrong with you?

the national trust site at langdale opposite the old dungeon gill used to be a sell out at christmas and new year

 

[Wrinkly]

Camping it in Lakes at this time of the year, what's wrong with you?

Don't remember saying it was this time of year

 

[madmartin]

Camping it in Lakes at this time of the year, what's wrong with you?

Jesus ...never again. Me n some pals camped at the old man in coniston on a very very cold boxing day back in 81'.
We were riding Rd's & GT whatevers and i were on me kh250. We all shared one tent cos it were so cold. No one got undressed and me n a pal zipped ourselves together in one sleepin bag. Will never forget the ice rockhard freezing ground and a sleepless shiverin night. Horrible.
The mars bars n pop were the highlight of a near hypothermic camp. Awful..

 

[madmartin]

Jesus ...never again. Me n some pals camped at the old man in coniston on a very very cold boxing day back in 81'.
We were riding Rd's & GT whatevers and i were on me kh250. We all shared one tent cos it were so cold. No one got undressed and me n a pal zipped ourselves together in one sleepin bag. Will never forget the ice rockhard freezing ground and a sleepless shiverin night. Horrible.
The mars bars n pop were the highlight of a near hypothermic camp. Awful..

Dont want any silly comments about "Rockhard" ok...

 

[L'Escargot]

TOLD COLD !!!!

I was told always to wash off salt with cold water as it reacts to warm/Hot water in a negative way !
Always hose mine with cold water initially to neutralise the salt effects then wash properly with whatever you normally use.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I've said it before, I'll say it again.

Checkout www.bilthamber.com/ Their Dynax uc makes acf 50 look like a feeble attempt at an anti-corrosion solution.

.........................

I've just finished washing the shit off prior to a proper deep clean and then tomorrow I'll be giving the bike the Dynax uc treatment.

I used Surfex HD diluted 50/50 and bleeding hell, it's worked like a proper old skool degreaser, I'm well impressed and to be honest I reckon 10 or 20% (as per the instructions!) would have been fine. I've sworn by Greentec in the past but this stuff is way better (and cheaper). Very pleased so far

Andres

 

[Giles]

For the first time ... ever .... this Christmas was a triumph. Rosy had the good sense to tell me to write a list for a change, and kids, parents etc all chipped in. No more socks or Brut from my mum ...

So I asked for cleaning stuff and have gone down the road off snow foams, Maguire shampoos, de greasers and .... Oh yes .... a blow dryer

Haven't used any of them yet.

Last time I took the KTM out it was dry, and they had salted the roads a few days earlier. The bike didn't get dirty or wet at all and I put it away unwashed. Took it out today to fettle with something and immediately noticed that the bash plate (functional but probably quite a low grade aluminium) had little corrosion dots of salt all over it. Blimey - I'd only been out for an hour and as said, it was a bone dry day.
So I've had a real inspection of all the other component parts around the bike (rotor bolts, hydraulic banjees and washers, spoke nipples etc etc ... ) and I'm pleased to report that the KTM build quality is clearly in a different league to BMW - Not a mark anywhere. (Nutty, that bit was just for you .... )

Next day off, weather permitting, I'll have a play with Dynax stuff and the snow foam .... (and the blow dryer )

 

[Nutty]

For the first time ... ever .... this Christmas was a triumph. Rosy had the good sense to tell me to write a list for a change, and kids, parents etc all chipped in. No more socks or Brut from my mum ...

So I asked for cleaning stuff and have gone down the road off snow foams, Maguire shampoos, de greasers and .... Oh yes .... a blow dryer

Haven't used any of them yet.

Last time I took the KTM out it was dry, and they had salted the roads a few days earlier. The bike didn't get dirty or wet at all and I put it away unwashed. Took it out today to fettle with something and immediately noticed that the bash plate (functional but probably quite a low grade aluminium) had little corrosion dots of salt all over it. Blimey - I'd only been out for an hour and as said, it was a bone dry day.
So I've had a real inspection of all the other component parts around the bike (rotor bolts, hydraulic banjees and washers, spoke nipples etc etc ... ) and I'm pleased to report that the KTM build quality is clearly in a different league to BMW - Not a mark anywhere. (Nutty, that bit was just for you .... )

Next day off, weather permitting, I'll have a play with Dynax stuff and the snow foam .... (and the blow dryer )

Not a mark anywhere, apart from the dots of corrosion!

 

[Giles]

..... on the after market bash plate ....

 

[DING-DONG]

For one minute i thought you had brought a TRIUMPH .