Cleaning

[Sonor]

To clean or not to clean is not the question. There comes a time in every Sport Tourer's life when the bike must come back to its original gloss and glow and that time has come for my RT. The question now is one of, what to use? I have heard Black-Black and heard, never use Black-Black. (I say this as an example, seems as though there are multiple sides to every story)

 

So in short, what have you used that worked for cleaning and shining your ride?

[hopz]

Honda Spray is just about the best all-around cleaner polish I have found. Inexpensive and works on every surface from windshields to paint work to wheels, etc.

 

For serious work on the engine... I like Simple Green concentrate diluted about 2:1.

 

If the engine has a lot of really nasty oil- like dirt... I still like Gunk spray on. (Mostly I like the way it smells, but then I am old-school in this department.)

[BMWRich58]

Back to Black will wash off easily with the first rain...What has happened to me was, once used, it did something to the plastic where I will always have to apply otherwise their are "dull" streaks in the plastic.

[RTinNC]

I had been a big fan of Honda Spray Polish until they changed the formula ... BUT the folks who made the ORIGINAL formula are not making the very same stuff (the OLD Honda formula) and packaging it as Original Bike Spirits. I Still have a couple cans of the old Honda stuff but have also stocked up on the new Bike Spirits. You can easily tell the "old" Honda stuff from the "new" as the old cans were 14 oz. and the new formula is in 12 oz. cans. Either way the stuff ROCKS. I have tried just about everything and nothing works as well on ALL surfaces. To get heavy brake dust off I use either Griot's Wheel Cleaner or S-100 Wheel Gel. For the black plastic parts I use Black Chrome which is no longer made but Armorall Extreme Tire Gel works pretty well too. I also put a coat of purr Carnuba Wax on everything in the spring before riding season. Oh ... and Griot's has lot's of different size Q-tips and foam Q-tips to get all the nooks and crannies! Yes ... I am THAT anal!

 

Most all products can be found on AMAZON with free shipping.

 

http://www.amazon.com/S100-Carnauba-Motorcycle-Paste-Wax/dp/B000SONNZW

 

http://www.originalbikespirits.com/products.aspx?pid=667

 

http://www.amazon.com/S100-WHEEL-CLEANER-15500G-Bottle/dp/B0012TRPGU

 

http://www.amazon.com/Griots-Garage-11106-Wheel-Cleaner/dp/B002NG7R2S

 

http://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-Extreme-Shine-77960/dp/B000FOJSHW

 

 

 

[aggieengineer]

That's some good information. I'm down to four cans of the Honda spray. I stocked up on it a few years ago when Cycle World reported that the formula wasn't compliant with new EPA regulations. To me, that meant it must be pretty good! Unfortunately, I kept giving cans to my flying buddies. It'll remove the bugs from the leading edge of a wing and make it look new in a couple of minutes.

 

I'll get a couple of cases of the Original Bike Spirits before it gets banned by big brother.

[Dave_C]

I use Maguires dash cleaner on the black plastic. Car wash soap & water or degreaser on the motor mild carwash soap & water or detail spray on the paired bits.

[RTinNC]

That's some good information. I'm down to four cans of the Honda spray. I stocked up on it a few years ago when Cycle World reported that the formula wasn't compliant with new EPA regulations. To me, that meant it must be pretty good! Unfortunately, I kept giving cans to my flying buddies. It'll remove the bugs from the leading edge of a wing and make it look new in a couple of minutes.

 

I'll get a couple of cases of the Original Bike Spirits before it gets banned by big brother.

 

WOW... I never thought about that! I have 3 large cans and 6 small ones but will stock up even more with the fear of extinction!