Oh No, Dirty Wheels again, Keep'm Clean

[dickint]

Folks, The brake dust and road grime are constantly turning my wheels gray/black and cleaning them can be a real dirty task. I've been looking for an easy way to make this task a little easier. I've been trying different wheel cleaners and applicators but found the cheapest and simplest way is just to spray on Simple-Green and a soft but firm brush to swish it around and just hose it off. I then apply a quick coat of McGuire detailer wax and wipe clean. I find the thin wax coat prevents the brake dust and dirt from sticking and makes it easier to clean the next time. I'd rather ride than spend hours and hours cleaning and detailing. If you folks have any ideas for fast cleaning and detailing, please share them with us Rocket Riders... Thanks
kit:

[HDGoose]

S100...has been my best cleaner. And the easiest to use. Follow the directions and it will work well for you also! Fail to follow the directions and you will pit aluminum. SimpleGreen will pit aluminum quickly. Use lots of water when rinsing. Same with S100.

[RocketCowboy]

Try K-Chem 500 Non-Phosphate Degeaser.

S 1000 and all those "special" motorcycle cleaners are about 1000% overpriced and are nothing special, just packaged for those who think a motorcycle needs to be cleaned with something special. There are many industrial products out there chemicaly designed for cleaning aluminum.

Don't use cleaners / degreaser with high alkalinity or butyls on aluminum.

It sprays on and hoses off brake dust, tar, oil, road film like majic and it will not attack non-ferous metals or paint. I get it in 1 gal concentrated and dilute 50/50. I use it on my BMW M3 wheels also because my brake pads are very aggressive and leave tons of dust. It cuts chain lube/wax off the aluminum swingarm on my Yamaha WR450F too. All the stuff like simple green, citrus cleaners and such are all the same, just soap with a catchy name. Go to a local industrial or resteraunt supply house, they all sell aluminum safe degeasers.

[Aussiebikerdave]

Hey Dickint, I can speak with authority here as the owner of a large fleet of rental bikes. You see, in addition to the lofty title of Company Director, I am also the chief motorcycle washer, so yes, you could say that I am a professional motorcycle washer (detailer would sound better!).

Now, you can choose to do two things here, waste money or save money. I generally choose the latter! (as we do!)

So, when you've used up that shelfload of expensive name brand motorcycle cleaning potions, just sneak into the kitchen with your cleaning bucket and "borrow" a few squirts of wifey's favourite high powered dishwasher fluid, (mine buys Blast) top the bucket with nice warm water, a go to it with a soft bristle nylon brush and the one of the cast out kitchen bench wipe sponges.

You might say hey, this is not high tech enough for me but mate, who gives a rats if it works!

There is only one thing that hot water and dishwashing liquid wont clean off and that's is tar splatter and heavy grease/oil from around rear wheel, chain and sprockets.

For the tar spots, I use a product available from hardware stores called "Desolvit". This is a lemon scented sticky label residue remover which just melts tar spots off your rims before your eyes.

For heavy grease and oil deposits, I just use up a $2 can of engine degreaser, wait a couple of minutes then hose off. Follow that up with you famous bucket'o'hot water and soap and you've got a clean machine!!! Mate this is no rocket science.

To finish of, I just do a wipe down with a chammie (chamois cloth to be grammatically correct). This may leave water marks particularly if your chammie is not properly wrung out. If you want to end up with a show'n'shine finish, raid the kitchen again and "borrow" her Mr Sheene spray cleaner. You know, the one she uses to polish the mahogany table top in the dinning room. Do you have "Mr Sheene" in the States? Silly me, it was probably invented there!

So there you have it, the professionals guide to motorcycle care.

PS Dont let anybody tell you that kitchen cleaners will melt chrome and strip paint 'cos mate, it's all bullypoops.

Davo

[ This message was edited by: Aussiebikerdave on 2005-08-17 19:21 ]

[dickint]

Thanks DAVO for the great info on overpriced poppy-cock cleaners packaged just for motorcycles. So many of us idiots get ripped off for this *****. You are absolutely right on the household cleaners. I will try some of these products and see how they work. I hear that Ivory dish liquid is really good for a general bike wash. I can hear my wife now "Where is the dish liquid?" I'll reply, "Just a minute, I'm cleaning my Rocket" She'll say "Please use the KY for that".
:hihi:

[RocketCowboy]

Davo,

I have a powerwasher and a water filter that uses resin to remove the solids in the water that causes water spots. I do as you and quick wash with liquid soap warm water and then rinse with filtered water through the power washer and walk away, zero spots after it air dries. I would think someone who cleans several bikes frequently, it would be a great savings of time. If you are interested, check out CR Spotless on the web. My pressure washer uses about 2.5 gal per min and I can rinse a bike in 1 minute, this makes filter last about 300 washes, or about 25 cents a rinse. I use it on my truck, car, wifes SUV and 3 motorcycles. Sometimes I use the pressure washer to clean w/o filter then rinse with clean filtered water. Many car enthusiasts are using it now with no complaints.

The best success I have had with the wheels is to use DuPont Teflon wheel cleaner and a soft brush which are both available at Advance Auto Parts here in New England. The teflon product leaves a surface which prevents a lot of ***** from sticking, does a nice job and doesn't harm the aluminum or paint on the wheels. It also will not harm any of the paint on the rest of the bike if you are a tad sloppy with the spray bottle.

[TriRocket3]

Just get her indoors to do it.
Les.

[RocketEd]

Just a small note of caution here, there is a difference between dishwashER detergent and dishwashING detergent. The stuff that goes in dishwashers can be pretty potent, will likely remove wax and may affect finishes. A milder soap is probably safer and will work well enough. One car resto freak I talked to swears by whatever shampoo is the cheapest, says it's mild and suds up real well. I don't know if the claims of extra body are true....

Any tips on removing little pieces of asphalt from all over the bike? Wyoming's DOT was sending people through a 4" deep unrolled chunk of road repair and now I have asphalt all over the bike. I was glad to be on my Rocket with shaft drive instead of worrying about that c r a p getting in my Vic's belt.

[cookies]

RocketEd
"Any tips on removing little pieces of asphalt from all over the bike?"

Petrol or diesel works fine. Dip the end of a soft rag. Make sure you are careful not to scratch any stones, grit etc. around surrounding area.