What do I do when my bandit needs a bath? The carwash?!

[TK421]

I don't want to rehash the never-ending debate on WD-40's supposedly deleterious effect on chains.  I will only reiterate that I have used it on on many O-ring chains and have not had a single problem.  If you're the nervous type then use kerosene or spend $$$ on a purpose-made chain cleaner.

The more important point I was making is that WD-40 should not be considered a chain lubricant.

[Red01]

"smooth operator"sez:
Also a bottle of window cleaner works good on bugs. When I get in from a ride,I'm ussally bugged up,so I spray down my bike helmet and jacket  with glass cleaner and get them while their fresh.

Household window cleaner, such as Windex or the like, is NOT recommended by any helmet makers I know of for use on their helmets or faceshields. The ammonia in these cleaners can have ill effects on helmets and the life, scratch resistance, flexibilty and clarity of faceshields. Considering that windscreens on faired bikes is usually made out of the same stuff as faceshileds, I would avoid using it.

Also, never use paper products to clean plastic optics. Use a soft clean cloth.

What works good on bugs is to put a wet rag on the effected piece for a while and let it soak the critters' carcasses. They'll come off pretty easy then. I use Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish to clean all these kinds of parts - and the rest of the bike for that matter. My bike might see a soap and water bath maybe once or twice a year.

Since most faceshields are easy to remove, you can always bring them to the nearest sink and wash them with liquid soap and water.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I think Its easy to say that no one wants to use water on there B12 unnecessarily but one day they were repaving the road on a section of  the highway and when I got home I had the nastiest black grit goop on the inside of my fenders, frame, and exhaust. I had to haul out the 3000 PSI pressure washer  to get that crap  off especially where it cooked onto the exhaust  pipe.  
    Other then that I use what  I read about 20 years ago in Cycle magazine about stuff to use when detailing a motorcycle for resale. Pledge Furniture Spry Wax.  Hard to believe but it works great for removing dust, dirt, and providing a great luster on everything from the chrome, upholstery and paint. Although the seat does get a tad slippery I love the lemon scent which is an added bonus (no kidding).

[Sven]

I use what  I read about 20 years ago in Cycle magazine...Pledge Furniture Spry Wax.

If I use that, will I be more spry?  If so, do they carry it in HUGE lots at Costco of Sam's?   I may need to use a LOT of it.  

I've been using more often than not S100 in the 5-litre (spelled for my friends up in the United Provences of Canadia) tank.  I did just get a can of Hondabrite, which the salesrep said was good on really dirty stuff.  After riding in the rain the past few days, I had a lot of really dirty stuff, but I used it just on the wheels and muffler.  It did pretty good.  I think the S100 is a little harsh on the wax, so I compensate by waxing.  (Every three years...I'm not into that!)  And I can mail order S100 cheaper than buying from the local H-D dealer, shipping included!, and not even have to go get it.

[CWO4GUNNER]

The pledge furniture wax thing is just for quick touchups before jumping on or jumping off but wanting to look great fast. I just carry a little can in my saddle and hit it quickly with a rag before walking into the club, fast luster, just like on wood and has never hurt any parts.

[Desolation Angel]

D@mn!     I wet my bike, wipe it down with a sponge, rinse it off, then towel dry it.

I evidently really suck at bike cleaning!

I do wax it twice a year, though.

[stormi]

D@mn!     I wet my bike, wipe it down with a sponge, rinse it off, then towel dry it.

I evidently really suck at bike cleaning!

I do wax it twice a year, though.

Naw,.. you just have other priorities.  I don't spend a lot of time cleaning the bike either.

[Desolation Angel]

D@mn!     I wet my bike, wipe it down with a sponge, rinse it off, then towel dry it.

I evidently really suck at bike cleaning!

I do wax it twice a year, though.

Naw,.. you just have other priorities.  I don't spend a lot of time cleaning the bike either.

I don't ride in the rain + I drive around puddles or wet spots, then when I get back in the garage I throw a sheet over the bike.  One of my washings lasts a really, really long time.    

The most I usually have to do inbetween infrequent washings is to feather dust prior to a ride.  I wonder if my Harley bros feather dust their bikes?  

[scooter trash]

Rode mine through one of those automatic car washes once. Never do that again. Soap burned my eyes, the wax had a bad after taste, and those spinning brushes almost knocked me off of the bike !!!!!!  

[stormi]

Rode mine through one of those automatic car washes once. Never do that again. Soap burned my eyes, the wax had a bad after taste, and those spinning brushes almost knocked me off of the bike !!!!!!  

You shoulda put your visor down, and put the bike on it's kickstand for extra ballast.!    

You know, thinking about it, I've seen a bunch of cruiser guys wash their bikes at the local "Wand wash".  Of course, all cruisers look the same to me, so maybe it's the same guy over and over.

[Desolation Angel]

Rode mine through one of those automatic car washes once. Never do that again. Soap burned my eyes, the wax had a bad after taste, and those spinning brushes almost knocked me off of the bike !!!!!!  

Yep, you're supposed to keep the visor down, but otherwise you go through completely nude.  

Really.

Everybody does it.  

[Banditclimax]

Don't put wd-40 on you're chain.

I know the owner's manual says kerosene, but I've used WD-40 on every chain I've ever had (seriously, who has kerosene lying around the house any more?!)  Just understand that it is for cleaning the chain, not for lubrication.  Once you've cleaned it, you need to lube it with something.  There's a huge list of products and opinions on that issue too, but the simplest thing is to buy a spray can of motorcycle chain lube.

An original Suzuki manual might be hard to find, but there's lots of good other ones around, like the one by Haynes.

Spray chain lube products are a BIG no no!  All they do is hold onto every little piece of everything you ride over.  It gums-up the links, and eventually destroys those important rubber O-rings.  I have a full can of Kerosine handy, and it works great for cleaning and conditioning the O-rings.  Here in California, you can get a can cheap at any hardware store.  My can even states under "uses" "cleans and protects chain driven products".  Check with almost any member here, and most will tell you to use some type of motor oil or equal.  Ride Happy!

05 B1200S

[stormi]

Spray chain lube products are a BIG no no!  <snip> Check with almost any member here, and most will tell you to use some type of motor oil or equal.  Ride Happy!

Uhm,... I don't think that you're going to find that MOST of us use motor oil or equal.  Some do for sure.

I can see how a wax is bad, but wax and lubes are different from each other.

We use gear oil on the dirtbike chains, only because the lube and waxes hold too much grime on the chain for the stuff we ride in.  

On the street bikes, we use the Honda lube.  Waxes are bad for holding a lot of crap, that's what I used to start with on the B4,... yuck.

I have had no problems with the lube that way.  It also has virtually no fling (the Honda lube anyway), which I really like.  Motor Oil, and gear oil both seem to fling perpetually, and since leather doesn't wash well, and mesh isn't supposed to be washed with soap, I prefer to keep the chain goop ON the chain.

Check out this link for more about the different lubes: http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=309

In this link they've mentioned the Honda lube with the Red lid, here anyway, there's only one kind of chain lube, so Honda chain lube is all the same now as far as I can tell.  I actually confused the guy at the Dealer when I asked about the "Honda red" chain lube.  He told me there was only one type of Honda chain lube in the book, and gave me a can.

Really, the most important thing about lubes ( oil or otherwise) is that the chain be clean when it's applied, and that it ALWAYS be used, especially after riding in wet weather.