Just wondering if there is anything special you should use when cleaning a bike. I have sime automotive car wash concentrate and some Mothers brand wax. Is this alright to use? Also what should I use for the actual cleaning? A sponge or soft cloth or what? Same for the wax on/wax off.......soft cloth or ?????? Have an 06 in the bass boat black ,and I can tell already small scratches are gonna be a PAIN.
The soap you use should be ok. You can use a soft sponge and warm
water, the warm water will help break up any scum. I would spray the
bike off first then wash. I also use a degreaser like Castrol for the
wheels and tires along with a brush used for car mag wheels that
you can poke in the slots on each side of the rim. For tight areas take
a wooden dowel and wrap a cloth around it to get into cracks and so
forth. I also use a coat hanger with a rag around it. Tooth brush in
and around your controls with a spray bottle with the same as your
soap should do the trick. I let it air dry so I don't scratch it with
a towel. For polish I use Honda polish, its great but if you don't
want to use this you can take a high quality liquid wax put it in a
spray bottle and mist the bike, with a soft cloth or old under t-shirt
buff the spray wax. I like the Turtle wax that is in a green bottle
that has zero dust when dries. For the wind screen I use a glass
cleaner and a micro fiber cloth like what you use to clean glasses
or these new LCD tv's.
For in and around the swing arm I use mineral spirits to break up
any chain lub that may be on it and use the same mag brush for
this area. Break up all the grease then use your Castrol degreaser
to follow behind it. I use the same mineral spirits for the frame
underside where the rear sets are along with the brush and tooth
brush. While you have it on a center stand or paddock stand I
then have a good look over of the chain. If it looks caked I will
use mineral spirits and give it a bath then relube.
If I do all the above it will take about 3 hours or so. Every year
I take a polish pad on a drill (auto parts store) wet it then use
the above Turtle wax. Make sure you soak the pad good before
you polish and spin off the excess. This will remove any small
scratches that may be in the paint.
I recently used a degreaser to clean part of my bike. I guess I might have got some overspray on the frame tubes below the seat and it knocked a little of the gloss off the paint. I will EXTRA FINE compound down the "dullness" and hope the luster comes back. Sooooooo, watch those harsh chemicals intended for the chain area where grease and grime love to accumulate.
I also switched to automotive wash soap a couple years back.... I read in a british bike mag that the dishwashing stuff that everyone likes to use might DULL the finish over several years. That can be avoided with auto soap.
And finally..... I wash with a soft brush and a soft real fur chamois mit. I have a couple soft wash towels. But they seem to get a little stiff after a while.
AND if your bike is brand new from the dealer consider any and all of the clear plastic protective films that take a hugh amount of abuse and peal off to reveal a perfect factor finish at the end of trhe season. The stuff can be cut and fitted to almost any area that needs protection.