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Thread: Bike Cleaning Question

  1. #1
    Member johne303's Avatar
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    Bike Cleaning Question

    What products do you use to clean and polish your bike? What can you do to get rid of the micro scratches and restore the paint to its original shine?

    06 Honda Civic EX
    25/36 MPG
    0-60 9.6 seconds
    Quarter Mile 17.3

    08 Ducati 848 (Ferrari red)
    09 Honda cbr600rr (green/black)
    07 Yamaha r6R (blue)
    05 Kawasaki zx6r 636 (lime green)
    99 Honda Shadow ACE 750 (red/black)

  2. #2
    Senior Member Clovis's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    I use Finish Line Grunge Buster. It's like $7 for a 4oz bottle.

    Mix it little bit with water in a cup and use an old tooth brush. If you have a stand just put the bike in nutrual and run the toothbrush over the chain (or put it in first gear and so the same).

    The cleaner and tooth brush will break everything up - poor the used cleaner/water onto the chain and wipe clean with a towel/cloth.

    Take along with a toothbrush and small can of chain lube on long multiday rides.

    "If not us, who? If not now, when?"




  3. #3
    Account Deactivated at users request Yearly Supporter
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    I read a review on Glare products a little while back and decided to try them. Definitely the best polish and light scratch removers I've ever tried.

    You can buy them here: http://www.glare.com/

    You can read the same reviews that convinced me here:

    http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/swirl-remover/
    http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/glare...are-polish.htm

    By the way, I use an orbital polisher. The Spider swirl remover works much better with one of those. I tried it by hand first and didn't get great results. Then I plugged in the orbital polisher and the stuff really works in getting out those swirl marks and light scratches.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Vellos's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Just wash and wax your bike like a car, same products work. Don't get wax on your matte plastics though. I recommend using Motorex Chain Clean to get rid of any tar or oil sticking around, as well as cleaning the chain too.
    George Mock | 2008 ZX6R | GoPro Hero | 3:551 5806

  5. #5
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Stripper Juice Works the best of anything I've ever used. As the bottle says, "Fast, easy, and gets you off clean."
    Have owned: '01 Volusia
    Currently own: '05 Z750S

  6. #6
    Senior Member highpsi03's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    I use honda polish. Smells so good and cleans/waxes.

  7. #7
    Gold Member salsashark's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    pledge
    Do not put off living the life you dream of. Next year may never come. If we are always waiting for something to change...
    Retirement, the kids to leave home, the weather or the economy, that's not living. That's waiting!
    Waiting will only leaves us with unrealized dreams and empty wishes.

  8. #8
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Simple green for dirty bits, normal spray wax on painted parts.
    -Travis-

  9. #9
    Senior Member BC14's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    I use meguiars quick detailer for the plastics if they aren't too dirty(on a terry cloth), and rubbing compound(3M) if I want to take it down to bare(no wax, dirt, etc). Also, clay bars work great for the same thing. I use meguiars cleaner wax. Plexus works quite well on the windshields and helmet shields.
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  10. #10
    Gold Member asp_125's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Cleaning: hose and a brush. Simple Green, various chain cleaners.
    Polishing: Honda Brite or Pledge and Plexus
    When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
    Current stable:09 Thruxton \ 09 FZ6S2
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  11. #11
    Business in the front, party in the back! CYCLE_MONKEY's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Mequires, and some Bug&Tar remover.
    --------------------------------------------------
    "...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

    -Theodore Roosevelt 1907
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    Blu/Wht '01 Gixxer 1K, '91 KX500
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  12. #12
    I'm pumped... Let's let the healing begin! Lifetime Supporter ~Barn~'s Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    I use Vellos.

    When he replies to his PMs.
    ~Brandon~
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    I rarely think of motorcycles without a little yearning. They are about moving, and humans, I think, yearn to move – it’s in our cells, in our desires. We quiet our babies with cyclic movement, and we quiet ourselves by going.
    Melissa Holbrook Pierson

  13. #13
    Gold Member madvlad's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Pledge lol... I just use what they use at work to wash cars. She comes out shiny, smelling like cherry and ready to glow.
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  14. #14
    Gold Member Yearly Supporter Sully's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Motorex for the chain
    Honda Polish or Plexus for the rest
    Glitter Factory Racing
    MRA #415

    Sol Performance - Pirelli Tires

  15. #15
    Senior Member vort3xr6's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Quote Originally Posted by highpsi03 View Post
    I use honda polish. Smells so good and cleans/waxes.
    THIS X100000000000000.

    Honda actually tested it in their wind tunnels and saw an increase in aerodynamics. No overspray, protects and polishes, smells like Jesus' taint. I put that shit on everything.

  16. #16
    Huge Member Site Admin Mother Goose's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Honda Polish for me as well. Even though it's called something else now, it's still Honda Polish.
    Chadwick
    MRA #825

    "You live more for five minutes going fast on a bike like that, than other people do in all of their life." - Marco Simoncelli

  17. #17
    Business in the front, party in the back! CYCLE_MONKEY's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Quote Originally Posted by vort3xr6 View Post
    THIS X100000000000000.

    Honda actually tested it in their wind tunnels and saw an increase in aerodynamics.
    They claim that? SRSLY?
    --------------------------------------------------
    "...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

    -Theodore Roosevelt 1907
    --------------------------------------------------
    Blu/Wht '01 Gixxer 1K, '91 KX500
    --------------------------------------------------
    Tokin' SortaTalian
    (Pronounced: Kind-A-Dago)

  18. #18
    I'm pumped... Let's let the healing begin! Lifetime Supporter ~Barn~'s Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Quote Originally Posted by CYCLE_MONKEY View Post
    They claim that? SRSLY?
    What? You don't think polishing a surface to a more smooth finish, wouldn't actually improve aerodynamics to some degree, even at its most negligible? It's Honda for pete's sake.
    ~Brandon~
    Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory - "Gemma"
    MV Agusta F3 800 - "Amy Lou"
    Rattan Fat Bear Plus - "Lynda"
    (720) 935-6438
    I rarely think of motorcycles without a little yearning. They are about moving, and humans, I think, yearn to move – it’s in our cells, in our desires. We quiet our babies with cyclic movement, and we quiet ourselves by going.
    Melissa Holbrook Pierson

  19. #19
    Senior Member Wrider's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Quote Originally Posted by ~Barn~ View Post
    What? You don't think polishing a surface to a more smooth finish, wouldn't actually improve aerodynamics to some degree, even at its most negligible? It's Honda for pete's sake.
    Personally, I'd go for a very fine but consistently rough surface. Golf ball effect. Apparently this is what NASCAR and F1 are both doing because they're so limited by spec everything that they have to find an advantage anywhere they can.
    Have owned: '01 Volusia
    Currently own: '05 Z750S

  20. #20
    I'm pumped... Let's let the healing begin! Lifetime Supporter ~Barn~'s Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    ~Brandon~
    Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory - "Gemma"
    MV Agusta F3 800 - "Amy Lou"
    Rattan Fat Bear Plus - "Lynda"
    (720) 935-6438
    I rarely think of motorcycles without a little yearning. They are about moving, and humans, I think, yearn to move – it’s in our cells, in our desires. We quiet our babies with cyclic movement, and we quiet ourselves by going.
    Melissa Holbrook Pierson

  21. #21
    Gold Member bulldog's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Yup
    Bulldog's Motto: F*ck around and I'm going to bite you!!!

  22. #22
    Member johne303's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Do you apply the honda polish with a microcloth or do you use an orbital?

    06 Honda Civic EX
    25/36 MPG
    0-60 9.6 seconds
    Quarter Mile 17.3

    08 Ducati 848 (Ferrari red)
    09 Honda cbr600rr (green/black)
    07 Yamaha r6R (blue)
    05 Kawasaki zx6r 636 (lime green)
    99 Honda Shadow ACE 750 (red/black)

  23. #23
    Gold Member bulldog's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Quote Originally Posted by johne303 View Post
    Do you apply the honda polish with a microcloth or do you use an orbital?
    I just use a microcloth. Washes it and waxes it at once
    Bulldog's Motto: F*ck around and I'm going to bite you!!!

  24. #24
    Huge Member Site Admin Mother Goose's Avatar
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    Re: Bike Cleaning Question

    Spray it on, wipe it with one side of the micro, flip micro over and polish.
    Chadwick
    MRA #825

    "You live more for five minutes going fast on a bike like that, than other people do in all of their life." - Marco Simoncelli

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