Looking after your GS

[gebrauchtwagen83]

sure its been asked a million times but just wondered if anyone could offer advice on keeping it clean, especially with the hose pipe ban in force. of all the bikes ive had, my 1200gs is the hardest to clean. my fat fingers cant get into the recesses on the engine and cylinders and I just cant reach half of the flithy bits underneath and below the battery. ive just got back from an ABR rally and the bike was gopping, ive spent hours on it this morning and its better but still hardly pristine.

any advice on cleaning products that just get rid of it all would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Dan

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Karcher pressure washer and Muc-Off work for me

Can't you still use the pressure washers at your local garage during the ban?

 

[Schtum]

Karcher pressure washer and Muc-Off work for me

I'd beware Muc-Off on the GSes engine casings. I've found Castrol Greentec to be just as good and kinder to the finish.

 

[iangough]

use a watering can instead of a hose pipe. Or drop the hose out of your bathroom window and siphon the water. Dont put any bubble bath in the bath though

i use autoglym motorcycle cleaner and i works a treat.

 

[jwpzx9r]

A hose pipe ban is exactly what it says on the tin! You cannot siphon water from your bath using a...... what for it ...... HOSE PIPE!!!!!!!!! The ban is to stop people doing exactly what you are advising

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I'd beware Muc-Off on the GSes engine casings. I've found Castrol Greentec to be just as good and kinder to the finish.

You say that and I've heard of others that have had issues with Muc-Off on Beemers but I've used it on all my bikes and never had a problem

Maybe others are leaving it on for too long before washing it off?

 

[Pablo1]

You say that and I've heard of others that have had issues with Muc-Off on Beemers but I've used it on all my bikes and never had a problem

Maybe others are leaving it on for too long before washing it off?

if you check the car accessory shops theres some stuff i bought for the car came with microfibre cloths, spray on, wipe with one cloth, polish up with the other, amazing stuff, cost about £20 bangers though but no water needed.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Dan, no offence mate but this is the technical section and bike cleaning is hardly technical

Anyway, not washing it is neither going to kill you or the bike up to next winter. Spray the whole thing with FS365 or WD40 just in case something comes along and wants to eat it alive and just ride it

 

[NLC]

You say that and I've heard of others that have had issues with Muc-Off on Beemers but I've used it on all my bikes and never had a problem

Maybe others are leaving it on for too long before washing it off?

Have used the Muc Off with no problems either. But to be honest it doesn't work that well and I am looking to get some S-Doc which I hear works great. I suspect the people that have had problems have used Muc-Off (or any other cleaner) when the bike is hot or in direct sunlight. It's pretty clear on the tin to not do that.

 

[Engineer]

use a watering can instead of a hose pipe. Or drop the hose out of your bathroom window and siphon the water. Dont put any bubble bath in the bath though

i use autoglym motorcycle cleaner and i works a treat.

Anglian Water won't let you do this - can't use a hosepipe to transfer water form a 'container' - seems like they don't care much about the water, they are just terrified of hosepipes - must be an East anglian thing

 

[hibee]

As in a previous post...........jet wash when really mucky then every two years get serious with Sdoc, Solvol,then my preference is Autoglym resin polish followed by Autoglym Bike shine...................it's wot they often spray on them at the shows..........really glassy finish..............!



David

Ps..........friend sells really "High End" mountain bikes and would never touch Muck off........................!

 

[gebrauchtwagen83]

apologies for posting it in this section. i meant to do it in the 1200gs section. my local garages have said that they're not allowed to use their jet washes. been out all morning. with a mixture of a sponge, wd40, metal polish, water, bike wash and ACF 50. shes back to perfect. alot of hard work though. got to be an easier way

 

[craig614]

Go for a blast to somewhere there's no ban, clean it to within an inch of it's life, ride it home.....simples. Alternative is as folks say douse it in protective stuff and leave well alone.
Or move Scotland, if there's a hose pipe ban up here were all fcuked so to say.....

 

[The Hobbit]

Simple! Buy "Moby"
Self contained mid pressure washer, no hose pipe, just fill the tank from a tap and go and spray whatever you like

Barry

 

[AberdeenAngus]

You are welcome to come up here and use as much of our soft plentiful unmetered water as you like.

 

[Schtum]

You are welcome to come up here and use as much of our soft plentiful unmetered water as you like.

You mean they have meters for water....!?!?!?

 

[Blackal]

Bladder it in ACF50 or other cavity wax, ignore your pals' criticism that "You're bike's mingin'!" - and forget about cleaning it.

Al

 

[degsey]

Bladder it in ACF50 or other cavity wax, ignore your pals' criticism that "You're bike's mingin'!" - and forget about cleaning it.

Al

Great advice

 

[ihandyman247]

Dan, no offence mate but this is the technical section and bike cleaning is hardly technical

Anyway, not washing it is neither going to kill you or the bike up to next winter. Spray the whole thing with FS365 or WD40 just in case something comes along and wants to eat it alive and just ride it

+1

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

Anglian Water won't let you do this - can't use a hosepipe to transfer water form a 'container' - seems like they don't care much about the water, they are just terrified of hosepipes - must be an East anglian thing

You can use a hose pipe from a container in Anglian Water provided it's rainwater, you can still use a hose pipe from a rainwater harvesting system much to Anglian Water's disgust......................I've had this out with Anglian Water after all the attempts they made to stop me having such a system, they even left me without water for a week, they're not interested in saving water because they can't charge you for rainwater and so make less profit for the shareholders!

Sorry for the hijack, I'll get off my soapbox!