Cleaning F650GS

marco polo · 10-13-2002, 06:39 PM

I've been a rider for a grand total of 1 week, and a new bike owner for the same length of time. I've got a new BMW F650GS and have got about 400 kms on it (about 250 miles). It's now in need of a cleaning and I find the manual is not very specific. A couple of simple questions from a novice:

1) can I simply use a pail of water with car soap and a wash mitt?
2) do I just start at the top and work down?
3) do I rinse with a very light spray from the hose (I know you can't use high pressure)?
4) what areas do I avoid getting soap/water on?
5) do I use other products to clean certain parts of the bike, for example I bought a spray called Plexus which a bike store recommended for plastics (fake gas tank and fenders, I assume)? Do I wash them with soap and water, then use the Plexus?
6) I also bought a can of chain cleaner and a can of chain wax. I don't think the chain needs to be cleaned yet (am I right?), but do I spray chain wax on the chain before, or after I clean the bike, or is this unrelated to when I wash the bike?

I'd appreciate any answers to these questions, or any tips that I wouldn't have thought to ask about. Thanks.

Gerg · 10-13-2002, 07:01 PM

Pretty easy... bucket of car soap is as good as any. A selection of brushes and sponges will do the trick. Ask yourself, what gets wet in the rain? (hint: EVERYTHING) Just don't use high pressure. Top down, just like the car. Do NOT wipe a bunch of grit off then wash the windshield off

Use your hand to wash the windshield. If you feel grit, rince both your hand and the windshield.

As for the chain... Knock the big stuff but don't hit it with heavy water presure. Lube it well and with a clean dry rag wipe it to get the excess off. Run it around the block and wipe the stuff that slings all over hell off. You're done! Now go get it dirty again

gerg

fish · 10-13-2002, 07:36 PM

If god had meant for motorcycles to be clean, he wouldn't have created dirt.

zigyphoto · 10-13-2002, 08:26 PM

since you want your (new) bike to stay new-looking, remember that the soap will eventually take wax off the paint. might want to rewax it.

z

Bird · 10-13-2002, 08:54 PM

Hondabrite.

OK, it's only one word but the stuff is so good it should be three. Spray it, hose it, an occassional wipe on the really dirty stuff.

My tech is basically the same, top down, keep grit away from the wind screen, knock the chunks off the chain. Chain maintenance and aesthetic cleansing are two different games to be played at different times.

10-13-2002, 06:39 PM	#1
marco polo ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada Oddometer: 562	Cleaning F650GS I've been a rider for a grand total of 1 week, and a new bike owner for the same length of time. I've got a new BMW F650GS and have got about 400 kms on it (about 250 miles). It's now in need of a cleaning and I find the manual is not very specific. A couple of simple questions from a novice: 1) can I simply use a pail of water with car soap and a wash mitt? 2) do I just start at the top and work down? 3) do I rinse with a very light spray from the hose (I know you can't use high pressure)? 4) what areas do I avoid getting soap/water on? 5) do I use other products to clean certain parts of the bike, for example I bought a spray called Plexus which a bike store recommended for plastics (fake gas tank and fenders, I assume)? Do I wash them with soap and water, then use the Plexus? 6) I also bought a can of chain cleaner and a can of chain wax. I don't think the chain needs to be cleaned yet (am I right?), but do I spray chain wax on the chain before, or after I clean the bike, or is this unrelated to when I wash the bike? I'd appreciate any answers to these questions, or any tips that I wouldn't have thought to ask about. Thanks.

10-13-2002, 07:01 PM	#2
Gerg Cupcake Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Left Coast Oddometer: 7,905	Pretty easy... bucket of car soap is as good as any. A selection of brushes and sponges will do the trick. Ask yourself, what gets wet in the rain? (hint: EVERYTHING) Just don't use high pressure. Top down, just like the car. Do NOT wipe a bunch of grit off then wash the windshield off Use your hand to wash the windshield. If you feel grit, rince both your hand and the windshield. As for the chain... Knock the big stuff but don't hit it with heavy water presure. Lube it well and with a clean dry rag wipe it to get the excess off. Run it around the block and wipe the stuff that slings all over hell off. You're done! Now go get it dirty again gerg __________________ Greg OFFICIAL WARPED BEER MEISTER BOOF 160, AMA, RA, MOA, HOG Live life like you stole it! Your $5 off SMUGMUG Coupon is hESgLtqESqM1Q

10-13-2002, 08:54 PM	#5
Bird Who is Cockeye? Joined: Apr 2002 Location: Logan, UT Oddometer: 2,556	3 words... Hondabrite. OK, it's only one word but the stuff is so good it should be three. Spray it, hose it, an occassional wipe on the really dirty stuff. My tech is basically the same, top down, keep grit away from the wind screen, knock the chunks off the chain. Chain maintenance and aesthetic cleansing are two different games to be played at different times. __________________ Racing in life's own Class 11

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10-13-2002, 07:36 PM	#3
fish Banned Joined: Jul 2001 Location: Gold Country Oddometer: 47,709	If god had meant for motorcycles to be clean, he wouldn't have created dirt.

10-13-2002, 08:26 PM	#4
zigyphoto Pay attention Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Boulder CO Oddometer: 808	since you want your (new) bike to stay new-looking, remember that the soap will eventually take wax off the paint. might want to rewax it. z