Flithy weather, filthy bike...

[the woodster]

I’ve heard it all now ! “ The GS is easy to clean “ wash takes half an hour from start to finish - no it doesn’t
I ride all year round and if I were to go our for a winter ride and you could make it look mint again in only half an hour I would give you the bike. Spraying on wonder foam doesn’t get the muck out of the fins on the engine like magic. Even the process of blow drying bike takes at least 20 minutes if you want the whole bike dry including spoked wheels and calipers. The cleaner at local BMW dealer says it takes a full hour to properly clean just one spoked wheel with matt black rims. To detail the engine takes half a day to do to make it fit for the showroom.

Unless you do what some suggest and spray bike with a ACF 50 and then just rinse after every ride it means that to fully clean bike after every dirty ride will take hours and not 30 minutes. Such nonsense

I agree. Taking 30 mins to clean your very expensive bike is just asking for ................. corrosion.

 

[mw3230]

I think it's a question of priorities, I certainly know what I prefer to do and it's not spend every waking moment worrying about my bike for the benefit of the next owner. Of course I look after it, but I ride it without worrying too much about cleaning it - ACF 50 helps along with a hose down after a ride

A rider I know won't go for a short ride in dirty weather because he thinks it isn't worth the time it takes to clean the bike afterwards. This is surely wrong. what's the point of buying a bike and then treating it like a little princess.

I think some of you get more pleasure from polishing than riding - perhaps you'd be better off with a HD

 

[team duvet]

I think it's a question of priorities, I certainly know what I prefer to do and it's not spend every waking moment worrying about my bike for the benefit of the next owner. Of course I look after it, but I ride it without worrying too much about cleaning it - ACF 50 helps along with a hose down after a ride

A rider I know won't go for a short ride in dirty weather because he thinks it isn't worth the time it takes to clean the bike afterwards. This is surely wrong. what's the point of buying a bike and then treating it like a little princess.

I think some of you get more pleasure from polishing than riding - perhaps you'd be better of with a HD

Well said that man "Ride don't Hide"

 

[Jacal]

I think it's a question of priorities, I certainly know what I prefer to do and it's not spend every waking moment worrying about my bike for the benefit of the next owner. Of course I look after it, but I ride it without worrying too much about cleaning it - ACF 50 helps along with a hose down after a ride

A rider I know won't go for a short ride in dirty weather because he thinks it isn't worth the time it takes to clean the bike afterwards. This is surely wrong. what's the point of buying a bike and then treating it like a little princess.

I think some of you get more pleasure from polishing than riding - perhaps you'd be better off with a HD

I 'don't' worry about my bike, I also ride it all year round BUT I also like my bike clean and have always considered it "part and parcel" of owning a bike for the last 50 years, just as much as a pre-ride inspection. If anyone thinks that ACF50 and a quick blast with a power washer after a ride will surfice then that's there prerogative.

 

[GlynnJ]

Multiple bikes is the answer...

Please can you give me the details on those hand guards? They don't look like BarkBusters. Do they have LED lights built in? Ta

EDIT: I'm referring to the ones on the Bandit

 

[Nutty]

I’ve heard it all now ! “ The GS is easy to clean “ wash takes half an hour from start to finish - no it doesn’t
I ride all year round and if I were to go our for a winter ride and you could make it look mint again in only half an hour I would give you the bike. Spraying on wonder foam doesn’t get the muck out of the fins on the engine like magic. Even the process of blow drying bike takes at least 20 minutes if you want the whole bike dry including spoked wheels and calipers. The cleaner at local BMW dealer says it takes a full hour to properly clean just one spoked wheel with matt black rims. To detail the engine takes half a day to do to make it fit for the showroom.

Unless you do what some suggest and spray bike with a ACF 50 and then just rinse after every ride it means that to fully clean bike after every dirty ride will take hours and not 30 minutes. Such nonsense

Come on over, and I'll prove it to you if you like. The only difference is that my bike has been ceramic coated, so maybe that makes a difference.

Either way, with my bad back, there's no way I could spend hours cleaning the bike after every ride.

 

[Blackal]

I have been riding my bike in this lousy weather over Christmas. Needed to get out of the house for some ‘fresh air’.

However, the bike is absolutely filthy, I’ve never known a bike attract the dirt like this one. Especially the right-hand side, the exhaust (and me) is covered in shite.

I have a mud sling front & rear, what else can I do? I’ve just spent half a day cleaning the damn thing, it has to be the hardest bike in the world to clean, so many nooks & crannies’.

What do you guys do? Leave in the garage over winter or just don’t bother cleaning it? What about those of you with OCD, what’s the best way to clean it?

Is there a solution to all the crap that seems to appear from the back wheel? And I have searched the forum, opinion is divided

I like my bikes looking good, not sure if I have the time though!

Your thoughts & opinion are welcome (I think).

Get rid of the rear wheel guard.

From my experience it merely deflects all the shite forward onto the exhaust side of the bike (and your leg).

Al

 

[the woodster]

Come on over, and I'll prove it to you if you like. The only difference is that my bike has been ceramic coated, so maybe that makes a difference.

Either way, with my bad back, there's no way I could spend hours cleaning the bike after every ride.

Nutty, is that the HybridX coating? I had that done to my new TE before Xmas. Does this mean I can now just hose it down and not bother will all that palaver?

 

[younger06]

My GS just gets a bollocking with the garage jet wash when it's minging, no corrosion problems on mine

Gotta find a new lazy method for the trumpet as the ally engine casings really do not like the jet wash chemicals and go all black and streaky

"Gunk" do a 20ltr of traffic film remover, it's green in colour. Diluted down 1:20 it seems to be very kind to any of the surfaces on my GS and it does a great job.

Sent from a U11

 

[AP11 LAD]

I’ve had the ceramic coating done. Yes the Nano Hybrid X. Not noticed any difference at all. Claims that most dirt doesn’t stick to bike and what does stick comes off easily just don’t stand up in real world. Waste of money

 

[Warlord]

Please can you give me the details on those hand guards? They don't look like BarkBusters. Do they have LED lights built in? Ta

EDIT: I'm referring to the ones on the Bandit

Yep, they are the Acerbis Vision Handguards.

They have 4 small LED lights on each handguard and are very effective

 

[Warlord]

Come on over, and I'll prove it to you if you like. The only difference is that my bike has been ceramic coated, so maybe that makes a difference.

Either way, with my bad back, there's no way I could spend hours cleaning the bike after every ride.

Ok then... Post Code please, can you cater for 600?

 

[GlynnJ]

Yep, they are the Acerbis Vision Handguards.

They have 4 small LED lights on each handguard and are very effective

Thanks. I have Bark Busters with LEDs on my Tiger 800. Not as bright as those

 

[Warlord]

I’ve had the ceramic coating done. Yes the Nano Hybrid X. Not noticed any difference at all. Claims that most dirt doesn’t stick to bike and what does stick comes off easily just don’t stand up in real world. Waste of money

...

 

[matchbox]

If I clean it I don’t want to ride it for fear of getting it dirty! If I don’t clean it I worry about it sitting in the garage corroding! But much to my surprise I find when I do clean it it comes up remarkably sparkly and no sign of corrosion except bolt heads and rear wheel spindle. Cleaning for me is merely a spray with Muck Off(or WD40 equivalent I am using at moment)and then hose down using a soft long bristle brush. Deluxe wash adds drying off with microfibre cloth. Takes around 30-45mins and is all I have the stamina for!
Actually quite like the look of a machine that mirrors the ride(s)you have had!!!!

 

[Victor c]

Don’t really want to start another tyre thread. But do different makes of tyres have an effect on how much crap is flung around the back of the bike?

I have Anekee 3s on mine and never had a bike that throws so much road muck and water about. I have a Mudsling fitted, which protects the shock well and tried it with and without the rear spray guard and a combination of with and without a Wunderlich hugger, with no noticeable improvement in protection. I have also fitted the additional BMW side panels that cover the triangle space the shock sits in. They make no noticeable difference.

I never had such an issue on my 2010 Twin Cam, which basically just has a rear end reveresed in orientation.
I don’t really mind the bike getting dirty, but the back and inside of my left leg gets the full force of everything on the road.

Just makes me wonder if it is the tyres, as I have never used the A3s before.

 

[Nutty]

Nutty, is that the HybridX coating? I had that done to my new TE before Xmas. Does this mean I can now just hose it down and not bother will all that palaver?

Yep, that’s the one.

I’ve had the ceramic coating done. Yes the Nano Hybrid X. Not noticed any difference at all. Claims that most dirt doesn’t stick to bike and what does stick comes off easily just don’t stand up in real world. Waste of money

Who applied it?

 

[Aleksandar the Great]

I find the GS very easy to clean. Just snow foam some ph neutral foam on with a jet wash. Leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off (with the jet wash). Bucket and sponge with some Zymol or Auto Glym car shampoo. Jet wash off. Blow dry. Micro fibre any excess water off.

I can do the bike from start to finish in half an hour (plus soaking time). In the summer, I rarely use the bucket and sponge, as the foam gets everything off. Some folk wince at the thought of using a jet wash, but as long as you’re sensible with it, and stay away from vulnerable areas, it’ll be fine.

Would it be possible to tell me what foam you use?
Many thanks

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[AP11 LAD]

Yep fair question which I saw coming. I applied it and applied it correctly. I was going to get involved with this company and start a service in my area. I talked to owner and thoroughly checked out the product with him. It’s easy to apply if one follows the correct procedure. It does put a coating wherever it is applied and if applied correctly the coating should be very thin and no areas missed and no runs. On testing though I’ve found that it does not repel dirt as claimed and does not noticeably aid cleaning the bike. Personal opinion only is that the marketing is far away the best feature of this company

 

[Nutty]

Would it be possible to tell me what foam you use?
Many thanks

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

This stuff

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AJMMXMM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1