Triumphrat

criswell · 06-27-2009, 10:55 AM

Alright so I was searching old threads and stumbled upon this the other night...

Quote:

On 2006-07-28 09:43, dazco wrote:
i posted about this a while ago, but i'll go again here. i recently found what i think is by far the best metod i've ever used. I took a spray bottle of AUTOMOTIVE type simple green and sprayed the heck out of the entire bike minus the onvious places likeup under the tank or anywhere electrical stuff can get wet. I sprayed it VERY liberally and you could see the dirt an grease running off. Then i hose it off, and i'm telling you the bike was so friggin clean it was awesome. Looked like it was just assembled BEFORE they applied cosmoline. It loosens all the dirt and grease in the nooks and crannies and the water fluses every little bit right away.

Then i removed any water spots with detailer, both regular car type and Maxima SC-1. (i think it's called SC-1) The maxima is equally amazing, especially for black like the engine and frame, and unlike other silicone cleaners i've tried it goes on evenly. It leaves a silicone coating that's too slick for dirt and grease to easiliy stick to, and i swear the bike looked sterile for weeks ! it's been 3 or 4 weeks now and the bike is just now starting to look like it needs a cleaning, and thats only if you're anal about CLEAN like me. I couldn't recommend the simple green/water and Maxima routine more highly. It's just perfection. The pic in my signature was right after i did this. Hard to see just how incredibly clean it was in a pic, but you can tell it's clean as a whiste.

On a side note, the maxima works great on most everything, but on things like gloss paint such as tank and fenders and chrome it takes some elbow grease to remove the excess that streaks. If you want to put the elbow grease into it tho it's worth it because of the way it reples dirt from sticking. Other wise use car detailer or such on those things. But on the black non-gloss things like engine, frame, plastic and such, the maxima is awesome.

I have been looking for an easy way to clean the bike and a recommended cleaner and this seemed to be the answer. I saw the post was 3 years old and so I searched more and came across alot of people warning against Simple Green due to it being bad on the metal.

So question #1 - Does this method still get used?

#2 - Simple Green - yes or no? If so, what type because they have so many varieties?

The original? http://www.simplegreen.com/products_...se_cleaner.php

The extreme motorsports cleaner? http://www.simplegreen.com/products_extreme_motor.php

The bike cleaner? http://www.simplegreen.com/products_bike.php

The Pro Series Max? http://www.simplegreen.com/products_ps_max.php

It would have been easy if they just had one called "Automotive" but they have a ton to choose from.

#3 If not the Simple Green method, can anyone recommend their own method of cleaning?

Thanks in advance!

BonnFire63 · 06-27-2009, 01:37 PM

I use the Simple Green disposable wipes to give my bike the once over in between washes (not on the chrome of course). You can really get into the cooling fins with them.

Overkill0084 · 06-27-2009, 01:47 PM

I just use the same method I use on my cars, Automotive car wash and water. Just use more care around electrical bits. As for needing to cut through grease, I haven't needed to do that on anything but the inside of the sprocket cover. I just pulled it out and cleaned it with brake cleaner and a rag. For drying I use clean, soft towels and an air compressor to blow out the nooks and crannies. I use Mcguiar's Quik Wax to finish up.
If you have a way that you like to wash and wax your car, it will likely be fine on the bike as long as you use due care around sensitive ares.

greyplague · 06-27-2009, 08:38 PM

This sounds crazy, but it works:

http://www.pledge.com/multi-surface-cleaner/

Believe it or not- it does.

Thieu.

Carbonbased · 06-27-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyplague

This sounds crazy, but it works:

http://www.pledge.com/multi-surface-cleaner/

Believe it or not- it does.

Thieu.

Which parts of the bike is the pledge stuff best on, and which might not be a good idea to use it on?
Painted?
Engine parts?
Chrome?

Thanks for the tip!

pjamesb80 · 06-27-2009, 11:17 PM

I've been using Captain Richards Cherry Wash. Works great. Spray it on (dry bike) and hose it off. Dry it with a cloth and wallah, a clean bike.

Here's a link:

http://www.captainrichardsbest.com/welcome.htm

JimVonBaden · 06-27-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbonbased

Which parts of the bike is the pledge stuff best on, and which might not be a good idea to use it on?
Painted?
Engine parts?
Chrome?

Thanks for the tip!

I have used it on everything but chrome. It is very good for paint and plastic.

Jim

koifarm · 06-27-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjamesb80

I've been using Captain Richards Cherry Wash. Works great. Spray it on (dry bike) and hose it off. Dry it with a cloth and wallah, a clean bike.

Here's a link:

http://www.captainrichardsbest.com/welcome.htm

Great for bikes, use it on my Bonneville and love the way it cleans and protects the bike.

ocguyocguy · 06-28-2009, 12:25 AM

My ONLY experience with simple green was years ago it took off or discolored the clear coat and paint on engine parts on a Yamaha SR500 i had back then...I have not used Simple Green since...I believe Simple Green has just such a warning on their directions...

PLEDGE is great, I use it only on my dirt bikes now but I'll try it on the Triumph now...and WD40 on the engine really gets rid of moisture...you can watch the water roll off when you spray it but I would only use that on the engine if the bike is soaked...
thanks for reminding me about Pledge.

greyplague · 06-28-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbonbased

Which parts of the bike is the pledge stuff best on, and which might not be a good idea to use it on?
Painted?
Engine parts?
Chrome?

Thanks for the tip!

OK to keep chrome shiny and protected. After a roadsalt drenched winter you'll need heavier stuff - Brasso, Belgom Alu or something similar.
Thieu.