Cleaning up my airhead

upsman · 04-26-2012, 07:35 PM

I was curious what are the common cleaners, polishes, and waxes that are used to clean the bikes up.

Thanks Greg

go gonzo · 04-26-2012, 07:39 PM

I've been using straight white vinegar in a spray bottle lately.

caponerd · 04-26-2012, 08:40 PM

I use dish soap and water once a year on my R69S.

Before.

After.

danedg · 04-28-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caponerd

I use dish soap and water once a year on my R69S.

Before.

After.

That simple?

Whaddya use? Dawn?

groop · 04-30-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caponerd

I use dish soap and water once a year on my R69S.

Before.

After.

What do you use to polish the stainless exhaust? Mine has some staining that metal polishes won't touch.

Horsehockey · 05-03-2012, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groop

What do you use to polish the stainless exhaust? Mine has some staining that metal polishes won't touch.

Barkeeper's Friend. Google it.

groop · 05-03-2012, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horsehockey

Barkeeper's Friend. Google it.

Google it? I've been using it for years and it was the third thing I tried on the stainless exhaust. Took the gold color off but did nothing for the darker stains. I went to the local Harley shop and found a package of Blue-Job, but at $1/gm

, I thought I would look elsewhere.

upsman · 04-27-2012, 03:42 AM

wow nice bike and so far very simple solutions. Im just trying to clean the bike up a little. Thanks

WU7X · 04-27-2012, 06:35 AM

When rebuilding my Bings, I was told to soak the parts in a Pine-sol and water solution. I tried it at a ratio of ~4:1 Pinesol. Worked wonders. Now I use Pinesol on all the greasy/dirty external parts of the R100.

upsman · 04-27-2012, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WU7X

When rebuilding my Bings, I was told to soak the parts in a Pine-sol and water solution. I tried it at a ratio of ~4:1 Pinesol. Worked wonders. Now I use Pinesol on all the greasy/dirty external parts of the R100.

i have read that about the carb cleaning, i will try it with the rest . thanks

boxerboy81 · 04-27-2012, 08:13 AM

No pressure washer!

Uncle Pollo · 04-30-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxerboy81

No pressure washer!

x100000000

disston · 04-27-2012, 08:24 AM

I never used a pressure washer on my R90/6 but did use a regular garden hose. Recently when I rebuilt the front and rear wheels there was ample evidence of water having gotten inside. I think the garden hose might be too much too. Don't know how to be more careful. Maybe I should change the wheel seals more often than once every ten years. Do you think?

supershaft · 04-27-2012, 09:34 AM

I have never tried Pine-sol.

Pressure washer? I have used them all my life on motorcycles as have tones of others I know. As long as you mind what you are doing, they work great with no problems.

I think soaking bare metal with WD40 and then washing with Simple Green works real well as long as you don't let the Simple Green dry on anything ever.

upsman · 04-27-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supershaft

I have never tried Pine-sol.

Pressure washer? I have used them all my life on motorcycles as have tones of others I know. As long as you mind what you are doing, they work great with no problems.

I think soaking bare metal with WD40 and then washing with Simple Green works real well as long as you don't let the Simple Green dry on anything ever.

i washed my dirt bikes for years with the pressure washer and never had a problem, i will try the wd40 and simple green trick as well thanks

04-26-2012, 07:35 PM	#1
upsman ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2002 Location: michigan Oddometer: 234	Cleaning up my airhead I was curious what are the common cleaners, polishes, and waxes that are used to clean the bikes up. Thanks Greg

04-27-2012, 03:42 AM	#8
upsman ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2002 Location: michigan Oddometer: 234	cleaning wow nice bike and so far very simple solutions. Im just trying to clean the bike up a little. Thanks

04-27-2012, 06:35 AM	#9
WU7X The Old Fart Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Spoke Can, WA Oddometer: 1,619	When rebuilding my Bings, I was told to soak the parts in a Pine-sol and water solution. I tried it at a ratio of ~4:1 Pinesol. Worked wonders. Now I use Pinesol on all the greasy/dirty external parts of the R100. __________________ "Fiona" - 1982 R100RT - Hacked - EML suspension, Squire ST2 chair "You can tell a woman's mood by her hands. If she has a gun in one, she's probably mad."

04-27-2012, 08:13 AM	#11
boxerboy81 Stay Horizontal Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Oz, Australia Oddometer: 1,602	No pressure washer! __________________ R100RS Gallery, over 800 pictures...

04-27-2012, 08:24 AM	#13
disston ShadeTreeExpert Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Silver Spring, Md Oddometer: 5,028	I never used a pressure washer on my R90/6 but did use a regular garden hose. Recently when I rebuilt the front and rear wheels there was ample evidence of water having gotten inside. I think the garden hose might be too much too. Don't know how to be more careful. Maybe I should change the wheel seals more often than once every ten years. Do you think? __________________ Never memorize something you can look up. ---Albert Einstein

04-26-2012, 07:39 PM	#2
go gonzo The Mustard of Pants Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Los Angeles Oddometer: 192	I've been using straight white vinegar in a spray bottle lately.

04-26-2012, 08:40 PM	#3
caponerd Kickstart Enthusiast Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Halfway between Munich and Redditch. Oddometer: 1,809	I use dish soap and water once a year on my R69S. Before. After.

04-27-2012, 09:34 AM	#14
supershaft because I can Joined: Sep 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay area Oddometer: 6,087	I have never tried Pine-sol. Pressure washer? I have used them all my life on motorcycles as have tones of others I know. As long as you mind what you are doing, they work great with no problems. I think soaking bare metal with WD40 and then washing with Simple Green works real well as long as you don't let the Simple Green dry on anything ever.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode