How do YOU detail your bike?

[the chi]

I was reading GM's Bug Slide thread and it made me wonder, how does everyone clean their bikes? I know some of us are over the top OCD about clean bikes, then there are folks like me, who feel like dirt builds character, i.e. I wash my bike maaaaaybe once a year. I keep it maintained, take care of the chain, etc, I just dont feel like washing it, just to get it dirty again.

So, tell me how you do it! Soap and water? A specific detailed project using different types of products and why, etc. I may actually get out and wash mine...

[Dave]

Clean? I'm too busy riding it. New bugs knock old bugs off

[marko138]

I wash with a hose, a wash mitt, and Armor All car wash soap. Then I wax with Turtle Wax Ice.

Always. My rig is never dirty. Same goes for my car, my home, my yard, my cymbals, my drums, my guitars. I keep my shit clean.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by the chi

I was reading GM's Bug Slide thread and it made me wonder, how does everyone clean their bikes? I know some of us are over the top OCD about clean bikes, then there are folks like me, who feel like dirt builds character, i.e. I wash my bike maaaaaybe once a year. I keep it maintained, take care of the chain, etc, I just dont feel like washing it, just to get it dirty again.

So, tell me how you do it! Soap and water? A specific detailed project using different types of products and why, etc. I may actually get out and wash mine...

Originally Posted by Dave

Clean? I'm too busy riding it. New bugs knock old bugs off

Glad I'm not the only one...

[the chi]

Okay, so out of 4 of us, one washes a bike. Thanks Marko. Ironically, my bike is the only thing I allow to be dirty. I deep clean the house once a week, I try to keep that damn black jeep of mine clean, I even hose off the pollen and the bird poop at work, yet I have never been one to wash my bikes. I am really looking for ideas on the best way to do it, it's about time I clean mine up this year, not to mention I've got that Honda laying around that needs a cleaning. It's not mine so I guess I can wash it good.

[tached1000rr]

During the riding season when I'm pretty much riding weekly, I wash mine every weekend. Water, carwash soap Meguiars, and Meguiars wax as needed

[anthonyk]

Soap and water once every few months (maybe), though the screen and lights get cleaned with Plexus pretty regularly.

Washing the bike and car are mostly just opportunities to let my 3-yr-old slosh soap suds around, and shoot something besides me with the hose.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by marko138

Always. My rig is never dirty. Same goes for my car, my home, my yard.... I keep my shit clean.

This.

Fuck you guys and your "I'd rather ride it than wash it" bullshit. It isn't that hard.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by azoomm

This.

Fuck you guys and your "I'd rather ride it than wash it" bullshit. It isn't that hard.

So tell us how you do it. Thats what the thread is about, not knocking folks for their choice on how they let their bikes look...

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by the chi

So tell us how you do it. Thats what the thread is about, not knocking folks for their choice on how they let their bikes look...

Sorry, that was more at Trip and his constant jabs "your GS is too clean"

Wash when dirty - like DIRTY, break out the hose, Turtle Wax Ice product line - their wash and wax. The spray wax is brilliant as it doesn't leave any white residue and actually makes any of the matte gray/black finish spectacular. All the while leaving that wax layer so I an just easily wipe off bugs/dirt/stuff later after a ride.

Quick detail - www.nowet.com is the best I know. I posted it in the bug thread as it's the best product I've ever used for that. Even to spray on and let disolve bugs... quick and easy.

I'm also a BIG fan of http://www.motorexusa.com/products.asp Their chain clean products are da bomb!!