How do you keep you pride and joy looking good?

[Santa-2512]

Don't use Fairy Liquid, or other household soaps,

They contain chemicals designed to break down

Grease/ wax residues, so they will strip any wax's or polishes you have on the bike,

Far better use a proper shampoo, designed for car bike purposes

 

[yofi]

Plenty of "APCs" are Alkali based, which is supposedly what's so bad about Muc Off.

I think we can summarise the whole discussion as:

"Use the BMW stuff if you want to be sure it won't damage the finish; or be able to complain to BMW if it does".

Alternatively "Use almost any cleaning product you like, as there will be someone on the internet who raves about it and someone else who thinks it's utter shit".

Any decent apc will be 7 or close to, muc off is a strong alkaline. This isn't about pet likes, it's basic chemistry and understanding what products you are using. If you don't give a shit about what crap you use on your bikes, that's fine also.

 

[Victor c]

Autoglym shampoo and snow foam are both PH neutral. Never had a corrosion issue with any of the bikes I’ve had from new.

 

[yofi]

Autoglym shampoo and snow foam are both PH neutral. Never had a corrosion issue with any of the bikes I’ve had from new.

Fan of their rapid detailer.

 

[yofi]

Autoglym shampoo and snow foam are both PH neutral. Never had a corrosion issue with any of the bikes I’ve had from new.

Fan of their rapid detailer.

 

[Doc]

Is the Silcolene wash off any good ?

 

[Hartley]

Is the Silcolene wash off any good ?

I’ve used it and thought it was pretty good , though does have high alkaline level in that test.

 

[Doc]

I’ve used it and thought it was pretty good , though does have high alkaline level in that test.

Maybe I need to try a new product.

 

[Flipfly]

Autobritedirect.co.uk

All pro grade detailing product, most of which is designed to be diluted down, so lasts for ages.

There’s a great Facebook group for Autobrite stuff with pro and amateur detailers.

Some of their stand out products are the bike cleaner, it’s now my go to pre wash, their shampoo range is amazing and lasts forever, and the magiseal. magiseal does state that it’s not suitable for motorcycles but I have never had any issues and it and it makes cleaning the bike easy peasy.

Autoglym is ok, but it’s bloody expensive compared to Autobrite.

Bilt Hammer also has a range of fantastic products for cleaning your pride and joy.

 

[yofi]

Muc-off have just extended their range of products, and which should have a lower alkaline content.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/824558

 

[Engineer]

I find FS365 works best, really well actually, if applied to a wet bike and then allowed to dry. I quick wipe of any streaking with a microfibre cloth brings chassis paintwork ups a treat. Not so good on bodywork.

The current instructions are slightly ambiguous about that saying it's best applied after a wet run or after washing. I think they used to be clearer.

That's interesting, however I never like to put the bike away wet. I think their suggestion after a wet run is so that it 'neutralises' the salt that has just been picked up???

If I use Muc-off then I only ever add it to a rinsed wet bike, I never put it in 'dry' or let it dry.

 

[cookie]

If I use Muc-off then I only ever add it to a rinsed wet bike, I never put it in 'dry' or let it dry.

I did the first time, didn't work very well, then i read the instructions

 

[GSian]

Muc-off have just extended their range of products, and which should have a lower alkaline content.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/824558

I've tried some of that, it works. Managed to get some yesterday morning.

 

[tw99]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this.

It does seem that one product in particular seems to come in for criticism which is quite difficult to ignore but it could be partly because its the market leader and therefore has the most users?
Ive done a bit of digging around and found a very interesting (if rather long) comparison test of many of the cleaners on the market.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesoci...tenance-and-servicing/best-motorcycle-cleaner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NsFLPDgFqA

Part of his test measures the PH level of the cleaners and Muc Off does appear to be one of the most Alkaline. Im no chemist so what impact this has exactly i dont know but this was enough for the tester to drop it and other highly alkaline products from his recommended cleaner list.

Thanks for the link, it's really useful to have some actual data from tests rather than hearsay.

It's interesting from this data that the 3 day immersion test for Muc Off and SDoc100 seem to stain aluminium in exactly the same way (although Muc Off can also stain steel and anodising). From what one reads here and elsewhere the samples left in the Muc Off should have dissolved completely

Anyway, based on that test I'm going to order myself some of the XCP stuff he recommended since it seems to work well, not damage anything, and is fairly cheap !

 

[tw99]

Any decent apc will be 7 or close to, muc off is a strong alkaline. This isn't about pet likes, it's basic chemistry and understanding what products you are using. If you don't give a shit about what crap you use on your bikes, that's fine also.

Sure, but you originally just said people should use "an APC", so thanks for qualifying that what you really meant was "a decent APC with Ph 7".

 

[Skid06]

GT85 at Aldi this morning £2.49. fill ya boots

 

[yofi]

Sure, but you originally just said people should use "an APC", so thanks for qualifying that what you really meant was "a decent APC with Ph 7".

ok, cool, and fair enough.

 

[fred22]

I cannot believe how difficult this bike is to clean.
It's by far the best motorcycle I have owned, but it is such a complicated thing to clean. I previously owned a triumph explorer so I can make the comparison and the BMW is many times more involved for cleaning.
Recently spent 4 hours cleaning it and I reckon it needs another wash and another 3 hours on the bits that got missed.

 

[Nin]

There’s a school of thought that I subscribe to which is coat the thing in ACF50 or similar and let the dirt build, mebbe clean once a year.

That means come sale time there’s a nice shiny thing underneath the crust.

 

[Barnoe]

I cannot believe how difficult this bike is to clean.
It's by far the best motorcycle I have owned, but it is such a complicated thing to clean. I previously owned a triumph explorer so I can make the comparison and the BMW is many times more involved for cleaning.
Recently spent 4 hours cleaning it and I reckon it needs another wash and another 3 hours on the bits that got missed. ��

too many nooks and crannies.
my bike takes longer to clean than my car for this reason.

a GS can never JUST be cleaned, you have to detail it like a boss, crap gets everywhere.
even when you do, you will get rusty bits anyway lol