Bike wash

[linuxrob]

Did a 160 mile round trip on Thursday on the Z500. Down to Strawberry Fields cafe to meet up with the VJMC Yorkshire members then on to Fimber cafe nr Seaways cafe and home via Malton, Helmsley and Stokesley.

 

Got court in a very heavy thunderstorm just after Malton. Roads flooded with very dirty farmyard water and spray from oncoming traffic.

pants had dried a bit by the time i got home but the bike looked a wreck.

more Detail

Had to wait till next day to wash it. Even though it was still raining I could not wait any longer. Tank and side panels off for a separate wash. Bunged the petrol and vacuum pipes up and covered the air intake and exhaust outlet with plastic bags.

 

Used to use Muc-Off until around 5 years ago when I discovered that the pre-wash used on the car is, in my option, far better and cheaper.

 

This is Bilt Hambers auto foam. It is designed for use in snow foam lances and also from a pump sprayer. I use a 4 litre pump sprayer on the car which I have modded with an old tyre valve so can pump it up with my compressor and tyre adaptor to 40 psi (the relief valve on the sprayer blows off at around 50 psi). The concentration used is their recommended 4% so 40 ml of product to one litre of water. A 5 lt container of concentrate Auto foam will therefore give you 250 litres of cleaner, and all for just under £17.00. Compare that to even the concentrate of Muc-off at around £45.00 for 5lt giving 20 lt of cleaner.

 

 

The application is the same method, just spray on leave for a few mins depending on temp and rinse off. I the centre setting on my hose trigger is used but the jet option is OK but does tend to soak me too. Have used it with the pressure washer on low setting and on a big fan nozzle taking care not to go too near the bike.

 

As with the car, one application and rinse will get rid of around 85 - 90% of the dirt. The car takes approx 2lts of cleaner to cover it all (Ford Fiesta), the bike even less.

 

It was dull and drizzling when I did the bike so went round about 4 times giving plenty of time to break down the grime. You could see the dirt moving with each spray. Gave the pipes and wheels a good agitation and the engine fins a careful brush with a soft detailing brush to work the cleaner in to the nooks and crannies.

 

After the rinse off, bucket wash with a quality car shampoo (Bilt Hamber Auto wash) It was dried with the airline and my drying towel.

 

 

A good result I think. The engine cases have dulled a little but that is due to the muck not the cleaner they will get their "blackness" back with a coat of silicon polish.

 

Anyone else want to share their methods of cleaning???

 

Rob B

 

 

[MikeHorton]

1 hour ago, linuxrob said:

Did a 160 mile round trip on Thursday on the Z500. Down to Strawberry Fields cafe to meet up with the VJMC Yorkshire members then on to Fimber cafe nr Seaways cafe and home via Malton, Helmsley and Stokesley.

 

Got court in a very heavy thunderstorm just after Malton. Roads flooded with very dirty farmyard water and spray from oncoming traffic.

pants had dried a bit by the time i got home but the bike looked a wreck.

more Detail

Had to wait till next day to wash it. Even though it was still raining I could not wait any longer. Tank and side panels off for a separate wash. Bunged the petrol and vacuum pipes up and covered the air intake and exhaust outlet with plastic bags.

 

Used to use Muc-Off until around 5 years ago when I discovered that the pre-wash used on the car is, in my option, far better and cheaper.

 

This is Bilt Hambers auto foam. It is designed for use in snow foam lances and also from a pump sprayer. I use a 4 litre pump sprayer on the car which I have modded with an old tyre valve so can pump it up with my compressor and tyre adaptor to 40 psi (the relief valve on the sprayer blows off at around 50 psi). The concentration used is their recommended 4% so 40 ml of product to one litre of water. A 5 lt container of concentrate Auto foam will therefore give you 250 litres of cleaner, and all for just under £17.00. Compare that to even the concentrate of Muc-off at around £45.00 for 5lt giving 20 lt of cleaner.

 

 

The application is the same method, just spray on leave for a few mins depending on temp and rinse off. I the centre setting on my hose trigger is used but the jet option is OK but does tend to soak me too. Have used it with the pressure washer on low setting and on a big fan nozzle taking care not to go too near the bike.

 

As with the car, one application and rinse will get rid of around 85 - 90% of the dirt. The car takes approx 2lts of cleaner to cover it all (Ford Fiesta), the bike even less.

 

It was dull and drizzling when I did the bike so went round about 4 times giving plenty of time to break down the grime. You could see the dirt moving with each spray. Gave the pipes and wheels a good agitation and the engine fins a careful brush with a soft detailing brush to work the cleaner in to the nooks and crannies.

 

After the rinse off, bucket wash with a quality car shampoo (Bilt Hamber Auto wash) It was dried with the airline and my drying towel.

 

 

A good result I think. The engine cases have dulled a little but that is due to the muck not the cleaner they will get their "blackness" back with a coat of silicon polish.

 

Anyone else want to share their methods of cleaning???

 

Rob B

 

 

Have you tried rhino shine for getting the blackness back I've found it about the best and a big 5l container has lasted me 3 years and I've still got well over half left.

[linuxrob]

Not tried that Mike, Ultra black???? Is it???. I use a quick detailer as a drying aid and top up in between waxes on the paintwork and frame. For all rubber, plastics and that includes my calipers and engine I use CarPro PERL diluted 1:3, a good silicon polish, dries well, not oily, and bring back the satin black well. will post a pic or 2 when i start polishing the engine etc in a few days, got some work to do in the house before i can get in the shed and play again.

 

Used a few "bumper shine" type things over the years but PERL is my go to. You can use it neat on faded plastic and it lasts well.

 

here is the clean of the Bandit motor i did in 2017 with PERL.

[Steve_M]

That bike’s cleaner after your ride than mine is after I’ve washed it…

[MikeHorton]

3 minutes ago, linuxrob said:

Not tried that Mike, Ultra black???? Is it???. I use a quick detailer as a drying aid and top up in between waxes on the paintwork and frame. For all rubber, plastics and that includes my calipers and engine I use CarPro PERL diluted 1:3, a good silicon polish, dries well, not oily, and bring back the satin black well. will post a pic or 2 when i start polishing the engine etc in a few days, got some work to do in the house before i can get in the shed and play again.

 

Used a few "bumper shine" type things over the years but PERL is my go to. You can use it neat on faded plastic and it lasts well.

 

here is the clean of the Bandit motor i did in 2017 with PERL.

That looks great I'll have to take a look at that great to give some new products a go! I usually go over with the rhino shine after I've dried the bile with one of those pet driers.

[Stu]

Has anyone tried waterless wash? 

 

I have seen people raving about it but I'm not convinced

 

[linuxrob]

Would never use a waterless wash unless there was only a thin layer of dust on my bike. Maybe for people in the places where water is either had to get or expensive?

 

Will have to get one of those pet dryers. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

21 minutes ago, Stu said:

Has anyone tried waterless wash? 

 

I have seen people raving about it but I'm not convinced

 

I tried it and it's useless. I only use it for small areas if I need to touch up paintwork and it isn't too mucky to begin with.

 

For cleaning dirty vehicles it's no good at all. It's probably aimed at the people who clean their car weekly when it's clean to begin with.

[linuxrob]

Got the CarPro PERL out and did a bit of polishing of the engine, came up well.

 

[bonio]

When you're done with yours...