Ok - i use my blade everyday to commute (only 12 miles each way) But because of the weather and stuff lately My poor Black Blade is filthy So i was just thinking i would as ask for any tips etc that anyone might have I usually i clean the bike with Muck Off and then polish and use the Muck Off water repellant spray to make her all gleaming
If you're short on time, I find SDOC 100 is fantastic for a quick clean. It strips away wax and the like though. I'd suggest a decent clean when you have the time, claybar the paint etc. Then apply a decent wax or sealant and ACF50 to the metal bits. Next time, a quick wash down with a good brand of car wash will bring it up lovely.
If you use a clay bar be careful, make sure its soft enough before you use it, Meguiars Last Touch is a good quik detailer if you cant be assed with polish & wax.
Absolutely - always use a lube when using a clay bar as well. As t&biskits says, Last Touch is a good quick detailer and a good lube for the clay bar also.
Vulcanet Bike wipes. Sound like nonsense, but they're utter genius & cuts cleaning time in more than half! I bowed to peer pressure & now I'm a convert! Vulcanet Motorcycle Cleaning Wipes GB
Hey Vino, one more us us, one less of them. Don't all throw up your hands in horror but I use a snow foam gun on the end of my power washer. Don't panic, it's even lower pressure than mains water. All the high pressure goes into foaming the mix. It's a pre wash that pulls off all loose grime by gravity only so there's very little chance of catching any grit on the paint. Rinse of after 10 minutes an most of the work's done. In between washes it's Meguiars fast detailer. In fairness though my bike very very rarely sees a damp road. Clay bars are bars of abrasive compound that combined with a suitable lube is shit hot at flatting stuck on road crap off your paintwork, but whatever you do follow the instructions to the letter else it's just a sanding block.
Wash with meguires, then polish using stage 2 carnuba, then nxt wax. Fills in scratches good style, and makes the bike look as good, if not better, than new. I also use mequires tyre gel on the plastics....comes up a treat. Polish the wheels with nxt wax too.... Stops any shit sticking to them.
Clay bar eh .Sounds like something the old bags would use to clean the front steps in Coronation Street. Not for me Bye!
Believe it or not, there is a world full of cleaning products out there, & like myself, nerds that spend hours pre washing, claying, glazing, polishing, sealing & waxing our modes of transport, & if you get sucked into it , you can spend £100`s & £100`s on stuff. I have the piss taken out of me regularly at work regarding my o.c.d car washing routines with my lambswool mitt!!
I hear you T'. Every time I see an ad for the latest best thing in detailing I need to clear a place on the shelf in the garage.
I can`t fill my shelves with any more stuff, why can`t i be normal & drive a car covered in shit with swirl marks and an interior with dust in it and gravel on the floor mats and finger prints on the glass? kpone i`m hearing those voices again.
Can't help you mate, I hear them too. What's that, voices.......I must kill mummy and daddy...but I can't What do you mean, I must!.........
Clay Bar? Detailer? Where do you lot seriously find the time to do all of this? I have to schedule my rides 2 to 3 to 4 weeks in advance sometimes!
It's an illness, Vino. Just let it go, mate. It's the real reason T' and I are on here at midnight. That's when we come in from the garage. When I got salt spray on the bike the other week, I was out hosing it off at 11pm. All my neighbours shaking their heads at the window.