Sup, Soberdude!
You may need to do some Dealer surfing. Hopefully you have some other Triumph dealers around ready to bend over backward to get your business.
Regular grade gas is probably OK. But correct grade gas ROCKS. Go by your manual's suggested octane rating.
Use your manual for the break-in specs.
As far as aftermarket exhaust go you should be legal but there is a time coming where we will need to abide by emission standards, leaving our cat-box(catalytic converter) alone. Currently California and maybe a couple cities across the USA would require you leave the cat-box in place. Not sure whether the silencer can still be changed but believe it can. Ask a few Motorcycle dealers and see what they say or even the DVM(no not Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine, rather Dept of Motor Vehicles)
Ask your dealer if he will honor Triumphs warranty if you install aftermarket silencers. Most will cuz they want your biz and it's as common place as breathing air.
The key to washing anything painted is to use things mild enough to leave the wax and polish intact. Most automotive wash products do this, but read the label anyway. Always use a non abrasive cotton cloth or mit and always keep it drenched so you limit scratching paint, plastic, and chrome. Do not rub the cloth on the bike real hard either, for same reason. You can't re-rinse the cloth often enough. Of course wash in a shady spot to limit water spots. Don't worry on this one. Rinse off soap well and all will be great.
I believe when the Brits use "Proprietary" the intent is to use a "name brand" product, not some unknown house brand, unless of course you know it works.
Aluminum cleaner is used to get the grime off of the wheels which really can get gunked up. Simple green is an example of a non caustic, non abrasive cleaner as well as Amway's L.O.C. and Brite Max. Read the labels, biodegradable is non caustic. Do not use stove cleaner(Easy Off) it IS caustic and will stain the aluminum and paint. Use common sense. All the rest of the aluminum gets treated as if it's paint because it's probably clear coated.
Whatever you use to polish clearcoat paint(our Rockets are clearcoated) will work excellent for chrome, and aluminum once you have thoroughly cleaned the aluminum. Yes polish everything except rubber, vinyl and textured plastic(wax gets in the crevasses and is a bear to remove) Rub gently......
A special product just for the exhaust?.....inconcievable!! I've used regular car wax for chrome exhausts and protectors on all my Honda's for years, as well as automotive chrome exhaust tips. Save your money!
I wouldn't worry about the brake cleaner. The dust comes off with washing and rinsing anyway, but if you insist, ask the guys at NAPA or Auto zone if they have non-oily brake cleaner. My guess is most are. Make sure its chlorine free as this will stain painted parts.
Here is some information on what I use:
As far as polishing goes, I use Glare-Polish. The review and testimony's are impressive. This product is now Honda's official polishing product which says something. Contains a proprietary(USA's interpretation of secret) compound called "GlassPlexin" which claims to literally bond with the paint. I had to buy it. ....i can't help myself...... Works on just about all surfaces including plexiglass. I'm very very pleased with it.
Latest Wax called Glare-Polish
I'm always on the lookout for the new and innovative. So when I read the review of this biodegradable product I had to order some. It's supposed to just melt away road grime while not harming the bike's finishes and appears to be the best stuff these guys ever used. I squirted it all over the wheels, shaft drive and the like. It truly does melt the grime away. I'm very very pleased with this too.
Aluminum cleaner and more
