Just wanted to hear some opinions on this. I have never wet washed any of my bikes. I only do dry miles and when I come back from a ride I usually wipe the bike down with baby wipes to remove bugs and a damp microfibre cloth to clean the rest. I dry with a microfibre drying towel. I notice when browsing some bikes on Gumtree and the likes that sometimes the seller adds a photo of the entire bike covered in snow foam / detergent. Personally, I wince whenever I see this. All I can think of is the water that must be pooling around electrical connections and rusting any steel parts. I’m probably being overly precious as modern bikes are designed to be washed like this and any of the aforementioned worries could probably be alleviated by using a vehicle blow dryer afterwards and parking the bike next to a dehumidifier in the garage. Opinions?
Bucket, sponge, Dodo Juice shampoo, a hose down and microfiber cloths to dry afterwards for me. In 20 odd years I've not done anything different, other than changed shampoo. Never had a single issue after washing. The Aprilias I've owned not starting without washing is another topic!
I share your thoughts, gcon. I'm a sponge and chamois kinds guy, wipe down and then Turtle Wax and Mr Sheen. I try to do only 'dry' miles, but there are occasions when we're all caught out. Still, I will not hose it down, but be meticulous in sponging and drying every area. Perhaps we are 'over-pedantic'. As DF says, he's had no probs, and to be fair, there's probably no opportunity for water to pool and rust surfaces. However, that's not for me. Horses for courses, I guess!
The Bruhl bike dryer I've got is absolutely amazing, wouldn't be without one. It does remove all worries about standing water.
I have had to get the hose out a few times I don’t like doing it but needs must after a European trip. I use vulcanaut bike wipes they are mega for the normal cleaning. I do have All Year Biker clean and treat my bike once a year and that’s done with a pressure washer and warm air blower to dry then acf50 all over.
There are definitely occasions when a wipe over with a damp soapy sponge or cloth is not enough, sometimes a hose or even a pressure washer used at distance is needed. In these cases I always take my bike for a quick blast down the road to dry it off after washing, no better way to dry it in my opinion, plus you get another little go on your pride and joy!!
You do realise these bikes can be ridden in the rain ... So washing it isn't an issue, neither is rusting unprotected parts (there are none) and water pooling round connections (they are sealed to withstand water spray) .
Yes I always ride up and down the estate with my hand and foot slightly on the brakes if I have had to use the garden hose.
Same If dry wash off with muc off speed polish if mucky ....hose off spray on the muc off have a brew hose it all off spray on the GT85 near exhaust headers and frame etc and get high on the great smell....
Met a guy once who spent all Sunday morning cleaning his bike then went out for a 20 minute ride. You pussies sound just like that guy! I bought my bikes for fun and exciting riding not spending hours tickling and polishing it!
Some of us 'pussies' might elect to treat and cherish our bikes in a different manner to 'non-pussies' but it doesn't make us any less a lover of the Blade. I accept thefirebloke might have used the word 'pussies' in jest, but it is a putdown nonetheless. We still enjoy the 'fun and exciting riding' - we just choose to spend the non-riding time a little differently. As I said above: it's a 'horses for courses' thing.
I think he thinks we just wash our bikes all day and just go out to dry it off?? My bike normally gets a proper wash after a full day out in the saddle and it's caked in dead flies and the wheels are covered in brake dust!! It's all part of the fun and one of the joys of bike ownership.......who wants to ride round on a bike that looks like a pile of shit just so people don' think they're not a pussy haha !!
Clearly a 'non pussy' haha Don' know about next wash......my next ride will be end of February if the weather stays like this!!!
I only use mine 2 or 3 times a week normally in sunny weather lol I use quick detailer and micro fibre clothes, only wet wash it end of season before polish, wax and in the shed for winter. use hose and be careful where it's pointed they're fine really. I just don't like drying it before putting it away got laminate floor in shed so don't want puddles
Lol snap!! Full strip down, degrease, regrease, corrosion block then ACF50 mid october, dont wash again until February at the earliest. Only really use FS365 in the meantime. Corrosion block is ace keeping the elements out of connections etc Summer's a different story... snow foam, pressure washers, leaf blower, wax and polish weekly!
