washing the bike

kmaysob · 10-13-2013, 08:38 PM

i used to handwash my old bike. i HATE hand drying it to keep from having water spots. i decided to try the spot free carwash a few months ago and i have never looked back.its a mile from my house, so i ride real easy to keep the temps down.

keep the wand away from things like bearings and switches, blast all the bugs off the windshield a mirrors and switch to spot free rinse. then all i have to do is ride it. no more towels, no more water spots!

anyone else hit the carwash?

**Top Cat** · 10-13-2013, 08:43 PM

Don't like car wash but don't dry bike with towels either.
Leaf blower works great for spot free drying

**HwyRider** · 10-13-2013, 08:52 PM

Leaf blower for me too.

**BigRed** · 10-13-2013, 08:59 PM

Leaf blower...what a brilliant idea.

jmesser · 10-13-2013, 09:15 PM

Leaf blower is the only way to go. Finish up with some spray on wax and go for a ride to get it dirty to wash again next week. Let the good times roll

**cnc** · 10-13-2013, 10:46 PM

Hand wash and it takes 10 min max to dry the bike spot free with a chamois, no big deal.

**markclark57** · 10-13-2013, 11:14 PM

I'm usually good with the next time it rains.

I only wash my ride for special events. The rest of the time I just ride it.

**schoeney** · 10-14-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat

Don't like car wash but don't dry bike with towels either.
Leaf blower works great for spot free drying

+1

Gets the water out of those hard to reach areas.

Glockdoc · 10-14-2013, 01:42 AM

The only time I wash my bike is if I ride in the rain which is seldom.I use a quick detailer product and clean microfiber towels for wipe down after a ride.I never use a car wash.No matter how careful you are water will get in places it shouldn't.If my bike gets real dusty or covered with tree pollen in the Spring I spray it with a very fine mist with my water hose and use the leaf blower to dry it.

ctrider · 10-14-2013, 07:19 AM

I washed my shadow once a month or so. I also use a chamois. Meguiar's PlastX for bug removal on the windshield and autosol for the chrome. Autosol is the best I've come across for the chrome. Meguiar's Liquid Cleaner Wax after washing it and then there detailer to keep it all shinny. Plan on doing the same for my nomad.

1mackdog · 10-14-2013, 08:13 AM

I've never washed my bike just use microfiber towels after and during my rides. I've put a few coats of liquid glass on it and thats it. People are always stopping to tell me how clean and shiny my bike is. I guess I'm just a little anal about how clean it is. This works great for me..

SlowShadow · 10-14-2013, 08:17 AM

I'm glad to see this.
Great info
I was hand washing my bike Saturday, removed saddlebags, etc... and was asking myself, "wonder how long before the "new" wears off and I let this just stay dirty like the PO did?
It's a lot of work washing it like a car but I didn't know any other way until now.
Although it probably seems stupidly simple for most of you it is good info for newbs like me.

blowndodge · 10-14-2013, 09:28 AM

My Vic never gets dirty enough to need washing. But in the past I've used my battery powered leaf blower with good success to dry all types of vehicles.

**cnc** · 10-14-2013, 09:45 AM

Out this way were we have a real fall a battery powered leaf blower would be considered a hair dryer Brad.

smbke · 10-14-2013, 09:57 AM

I wash with water and Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax (being careful as to where the water goes), blow off with a high pressure nozzle and my compressor, and finish with a quick coat of Meguiar's Tech Wax 2.0 Takes about an hour but it's worth it! Between washes, microfiber cloths and Pledge.

10-13-2013, 08:38 PM	#1
kmaysob Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 290	washing the bike i used to handwash my old bike. i HATE hand drying it to keep from having water spots. i decided to try the spot free carwash a few months ago and i have never looked back.its a mile from my house, so i ride real easy to keep the temps down. keep the wand away from things like bearings and switches, blast all the bugs off the windshield a mirrors and switch to spot free rinse. then all i have to do is ride it. no more towels, no more water spots! anyone else hit the carwash? __________________ -RYAN- 2008 Nomad 1600 Blue and silver Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-13-2013, 08:43 PM	#2
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Don't like car wash but don't dry bike with towels either. Leaf blower works great for spot free drying __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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10-13-2013, 08:52 PM	#3
HwyRider Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 4,629	Leaf blower for me too. __________________ VBA # 02424 VROC # 35971 2010 Nomad 1700 Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Titanium
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10-13-2013, 08:59 PM	#4
BigRed Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 765	Leaf blower...what a brilliant idea. __________________ VBA #02996 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad
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10-13-2013, 09:15 PM	#5
jmesser Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kentucky Posts: 64	Leaf blower is the only way to go. Finish up with some spray on wax and go for a ride to get it dirty to wash again next week. Let the good times roll Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-13-2013, 10:46 PM	#6
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	Hand wash and it takes 10 min max to dry the bike spot free with a chamois, no big deal. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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10-13-2013, 11:14 PM	#7
markclark57 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,108	I'm usually good with the next time it rains. I only wash my ride for special events. The rest of the time I just ride it. __________________ 2006 Vulcan 1600 Classic "George III" (Patricia's) 2006 Vulcan 1600 Nomad "Grace" (Mark's) Mark Clark VBA #1619 TaibhseDaid@Gmail.Com "Irish" @ Maricopa County Chapter of B.A.C.A. Phoenix, AZ Last edited by markclark57; 10-13-2013 at 11:16 PM.
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10-14-2013, 01:42 AM	#9
Glockdoc Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 14	The only time I wash my bike is if I ride in the rain which is seldom.I use a quick detailer product and clean microfiber towels for wipe down after a ride.I never use a car wash.No matter how careful you are water will get in places it shouldn't.If my bike gets real dusty or covered with tree pollen in the Spring I spray it with a very fine mist with my water hose and use the leaf blower to dry it.
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10-14-2013, 07:19 AM	#10
ctrider Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 735	I washed my shadow once a month or so. I also use a chamois. Meguiar's PlastX for bug removal on the windshield and autosol for the chrome. Autosol is the best I've come across for the chrome. Meguiar's Liquid Cleaner Wax after washing it and then there detailer to keep it all shinny. Plan on doing the same for my nomad.
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10-14-2013, 08:13 AM	#11
1mackdog Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CHATTANOOGA,TN. Posts: 78	I've never washed my bike just use microfiber towels after and during my rides. I've put a few coats of liquid glass on it and thats it. People are always stopping to tell me how clean and shiny my bike is. I guess I'm just a little anal about how clean it is. This works great for me..
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10-14-2013, 08:17 AM	#12
SlowShadow Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 53	I'm glad to see this. Great info I was hand washing my bike Saturday, removed saddlebags, etc... and was asking myself, "wonder how long before the "new" wears off and I let this just stay dirty like the PO did? It's a lot of work washing it like a car but I didn't know any other way until now. Although it probably seems stupidly simple for most of you it is good info for newbs like me. __________________ Christian Motorcyclist Association Chapter #204 Rolling Thunder TN2 2004 Nomad 1500fi VBA #02455
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10-14-2013, 09:28 AM	#13
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	My Vic never gets dirty enough to need washing. But in the past I've used my battery powered leaf blower with good success to dry all types of vehicles. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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10-14-2013, 09:45 AM	#14
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	Out this way were we have a real fall a battery powered leaf blower would be considered a hair dryer Brad. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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10-14-2013, 09:57 AM	#15
smbke Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 809	I wash with water and Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax (being careful as to where the water goes), blow off with a high pressure nozzle and my compressor, and finish with a quick coat of Meguiar's Tech Wax 2.0 Takes about an hour but it's worth it! Between washes, microfiber cloths and Pledge. __________________ Las Vegas, Nv VBA #02107 2003 Vulcan Nomad 1500 1980 Yamaha Seca 750 (past) 1969 Kawasaki 350 (past) 1967 Pannonia T8 250 (past) 1971 Honda 100 Twin (past)
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