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Do you know what I dislike most about motorcycles?

Cleaning them.

I spent 2 hours today cleaning mine. I didn't do it at the end of last season. It got so cold, so fast that I wasn't ready. 2 friggin hours. #*^@!!! I will probably spend a little more time on the details in the coming days. @#$%!!!

I really, really don't like it, but once I start, I figure I might as well do a good job. I detest being hunched over. I abhor scrubbing bugs and tar. I despise waxing. I execrate polishing. I abominate cleaning in between the engine fins. I hate finding the rust on my center stand. I loathe doing the wheels. I am averse to wiggling my hands in back of the winshield to do the guage cluster. I can't stand the muffler. I'd rather pull anal hair with vice-grips.

My back is sore. I am grumpy. It's going to rain for the next few days.

I needed to get that off my chest.
My apologies.

iowabeakster wrote:Do you know what I dislike most..................anal hair.
.............I needed to get that off my chest.

... OMG ...

GypsyRR wrote:[
... OMG ...

I just knew that was coming from you Gypsy!

Try some of this stuff, especially on the wheels and muffler. Spray. Wipe. You're done.

http://www.protectall.com/pawaxlg.htm

Seriously, I haven't cleaned my motorcycle in a year, and I don't have plans to do it any time soon... Well, OK, I did clean the rim when I replaced the tire. So, now I have one really clean rim and one dirty one. Course, I probably will have to clean off my headlights... I think all the dead bugs are cutting down my night visibility... Get a grip.

Or this stuff.

As pointless, whiny rants go, that was a good one. My last bike washing episode involved applying a soft cloth to my JrGS 3 hours into a 4 hour rain event. It worked well in getting rid of all the mud and the pine pollen. And it gave the neighbors something to talk about.

mac

iowabeakster wrote: I'd rather pull anal hair with vice-grips.

My back is sore. I am grumpy.

I'll bet

just an FYI, there was a thread a while back on the ADV forum that recommended needle nose pliers instead.

old habits die hard?

can't teach an old dog new tricks?

and you missed a spot.

hope this helps

John

Solved that problem years ago, I don,t. Best running rat bike I ever had and I had a few. Ride it man, later!

iowabeakster

Obviously cleaning your mount is definitely painful.....I think I have the solution for you.

Wait until a copious rainfall........completely disrobe so as not to have the unpleasantness of having the wet garments stick to your skin and proceed to the task of washing the bike with the rain water. It also papers that you might be quite furry and the rain will wet the fur and make it straight and manageable.....go ahead and invest in a good set of sheep shears and have the missus or the significant other (sorry, but I want to be politically correct) shear the fur as you come into the house.

Try not to make a mess of the house with the water and insure the better half is in extremely good spirits and fully rested........we wouldn't want to have a slip of the shears as if that were to happen and you would need to go to the ER, it is bound to make the front page of the local newspaper as you relate, while enduring the jarring pain and embarrasment, how it all came to happen.

Please....don't thank me.....I'm just trying to help.......

I am conscientious with the internal maintenance, not so much with the cleaning. But It has been 1.5 years since the last real cleaning. It is normally something I do for "winterization". It got skipped last fall. So the bug guts were like superglue, layers and layers of superglue.

I do a bang-up job cleaning once a year...after that it only gets a quick rinsing.

It sure looks nice now!

iowabeakster wrote:Do you know what I dislike most about motorcycles?

Cleaning them.

<snip>

Gah!

Don't remind me!

My dead bug collection is getting a little thick!

I don't wanna!

actually a helpful bit

laying a soaking wet towel on the affected areas for a while---depending on the state of drying, maybe a half hour--rehydrates their little broken carcasses and they slide right off

I am not into cleaning either but admit that I clean the Roadster more than any other bike I have had just because it looks so good! . But that doesn't mean it gets cleaned too often. But it only takes me about 15 minutes. I use a product called 'Mean Green' degreaser my wife keeps under the sink (though I have my own bottle now!) and spray the engine and tranny parts good. Let it soak while you use a car wash detergent to sponge off the painted parts and chrome, with the additional use of Simple Green (the Green theme, get it!) for the black plastic parts and hard to get to areas. Use a stiff dishwashing brush for the stubborn bug and grime on the engine and between the fins before rinsing the whole thing off!

The degreaser works well on the wheels also but spray and soak then some hand cleaning for the nooks and crannies is required.

The whole process literally takes me 15 minutes.

The tank is waxed once or twice a year with a 3-step scratch removal and polishing system from Mequiars that finishes with old fashioned Carnuaba wax.

I cleaned it a few weeks ago but after riding in the rain for much of the day yesterday, it looks like I have never touched it. Probably do it again before the Bash but only because it does not take long. If it took even an hour, I would wash it once a year whether it needed it or not!

Ves wrote:Seriously, I haven't cleaned my motorcycle in a year, and I don't have plans to do it any time soon... Well, OK, I did clean the rim when I replaced the tire. So, now I have one really clean rim and one dirty one.

Same here. Tire changes are the time my wheels get a good cleaning.

Ves wrote:Course, I probably will have to clean off my headlights... I think all the dead bugs are cutting down my night visibility... Get a grip.

Normally the bugs come off in a good hard rain. The jacket gets cleaned at the same time.