Suggestions?- Updated

[pirate]

The grasshoppers are getting really bad up here now, and they really make a mess on vehicles and bikes. I went for a ride late yesterday afternoon, and apparently it was "National Grasshopper Camping on the Highway Day." I don't remember ever seeing them that bad on the road before, but it was a slightly painful ride as they kept jumping up and splattering my arms and legs.
Anyways, I got home from my ride and the Nomad was a total mess with 'hopper guts. I pulled to a stop in the driveway and the stink of them baking on the bike was not a pleasant smell. I waited a couple hours for the bike to cool down before washing it. I use a product called Bug-gone that works wonders for removing bugs from the windshield, etc. However, the heat shields on my pipes are a total mess. The bug guts literally baked on them, and the Bug-gone won't remove them. It's the worst near the rear brake pedal and all the way down from there on the heat shield. Any products or techniques work well for removing "baked-on" grasshopper guts? Easy-Off works well for cleaning ovens, but I don't know if that's safe for chrome. Gotta keep that shiny chrome!!!
Thanks in advance!

PC

8-15-09: I took the suggestion of using Easy-Off, and it worked great! I sprayed it on the heat shield and let it sit for a few minutes. Using a wet rag, it wiped off effortlessly. Thanks a lot for the suggestions. Of course, I had to be sneaky using the Easy-Off. If my wife would have seen me with it, I probably would have ended up cleaning the oven! Always have to plan ahead...

[cactusjack]

I have this mental image of your bike with brown goo dripping off of it.

Sorry, I have no suggestions for you. Maybe round up a crew of seagulls like the Mormons did.

[phenrichs]

First I can't resist, CJ I love your new sig pics, you smartass. :)

Prairie I have some, I think it is maguire's, chrome polish works pretty good. One thing I found that works great is this Lysol all purpose cleaner. It comes in a squirt bottle and is an orange liquid. I use it to clean and it leaves a little bit of a hazy film that can be wiped off with a clean dry cloth after you have cleaned all the bugs off. I found that it works on all the surfaces.

[borto1990]

I and friends use easy off. never had to on the nomad yet though. spray it on when it's hot even. I've never let it sit. I spray and wipe. I sucked up a plastic bag going down the road on my last bike and it cooked onto the pipes. nothing would touch it.. easy off took it right down.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by OP

First I can't resist, CJ I love your new sig pics, you smartass. :)

Thanks for noticing, OP. I don't want to inconvenience anyone and force them to scroll against their will. ::)

Prairie, I have heard of people spraying nonstick cooking spray (Pam or equivalent) on their windshields, lowers, etc. to make it easier to remove bugs. I can't vouch for this personally, but I have heard of it. I would guess the grasshoppers are a seasonal thing, so maybe you could give it a try. I don't know what effect the spray might have on chrome, so maybe test in an inconspicuous area first.

Of course, then you have to figure out a good way to remove the bug/cooking spray mixture from the bike.

[dogdoc]

That would take a ton of pam where this guy lives and all the hoppers.

[blowndodge]

Hey doc, I heard you dated a woman nicknamed "Ton of Pam"!

[pirate]

Thanks everyone, I will give those suggestions a try. The hoppers will be here for about another month. We get them every year, but they're never usually on the roads that much. I've gotten an occasional one on the bike before, but never coated on the motor like that.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by prairie cruiser

Thanks everyone, I will give those suggestions a try. The hoppers will be here for about another month. We get them every year, but they're never usually on the roads that much. I've gotten an occasional one on the bike before, but never coated on the motor like that.

Invest in a pressure washer or steam cleaner.

[landman]

don't know about the best way to clean but here in wyoming we also have a grasshopper problem this year the likes of which i have never seen.i hate to even ride now as they make one hell of a mess

[coot]

Hydrogen Peroxide works for me.

Here in Florida, love bugs are a problem in the summer months.
I spray all forward facing surfaces and by the time I have my other cleaning supplies ready the hydrogen peroxide has softened the bug guts and it washes off easily.

Walmart sells a small spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide for about $1.25. thats enough for about one cleaning so I buy a large bottle to refill the spray bottle.

Hydrogen peroxide does not harm paint or chrome.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by coot

Hydrogen Peroxide works for me.

Here in Florida, love bugs are a problem in the summer months.
I spray all forward facing surfaces and by the time I have my other cleaning supplies ready the hydrogen peroxide has softened the bug guts and it washes off easily.

Walmart sells a small spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide for about $1.25. thats enough for about one cleaning so I buy a large bottle to refill the spray bottle.

Hydrogen peroxide does not harm paint or chrome.

I've never heard of that. I will have to give it a try.

I had to call V&H for some issues I had with an old bike. While on the phone I asked about cleaning off baked on plastic and they recommended easy off as well.

[ringadingh]

Im not sure if this would work but try warm water and let them soften a bit, perhaps a wet towel on the heavy areas might help.

[skeeter]

I'll have to try the hydrogen peroxide. I'm sure I have some. Use it to soak bandages off of wounds. Eats the blood right up.

[nomadliz]

Do not leave the hydrogen peroxide on your windshield very long! Guess how I know? My 04 ended up with a kind of tinted windshield.