Hi All,
Its the time of year in the UK where Salt is in abundance on the roads..
Generally speaking my last 12 bikes have all been ridden throughout the winter time (I never "hibernate" my bikes)..
Its not unusual for me to get comments about how good my biuke look considering I ride all year round and they do get pretty dirty (Salty).
The reason for this post?
I get tired of "Expert" Bikers commenting that "I shouldnt wash my bike with hot water as it activates the salt".. Total Bull!
I used to wash in cold water and then found when dry lots of remaining salt that hadnt been removed.. With a hot wash I have never had this happen.
I did once put a tablespoon of salt in a glass of cold water to watch how fast it dissolves.. Did the same in Hot water and ther is a big difference in the results (Common sense really).
I have always used a car shampoo (Turtle wax) and hot water and then a large micro fibre towel to dry.
Its quite amusing to me that I am complimented on how good my bike looks and then ridiculed because I use hot water..
They cant have it both ways! :grin:
I'm sure you are right.
My bikes are also used throughout the year although I confess that I pick my days, I don't look to get intentionally cold and wet.
This week's run on the GSX saw it followed up the next day with a blast from a pressure washer followed by a bucket of warm water with some car shampoo in (I can't afford the branded stuff like you :smile2: ) It was then pulled into the garage so I could get on my knees to do a detail clean on the back wheel - WD 40 seems to be the best degreaser in my basket at the moment for shifting the oily muck sprayed out by the chain, just need to be careful not to get it on the chain and sproket...
I don't have the patience with cleaning that some people have, but I think she does not look too bad at a glance for 19 years old.
I too am a WD40 fan for cleaning off the rear wheel.
I use a very thick gear oil Castrol W140
It's like syrup.
When I get home I will attach a link to it. It works out extremely economical.
It really resists fling off very well at all but hooligan speeds.
I spray the WD onto a rag and then wipe over the wheels.
I also wipe over the silencers and frame.
In winter I allow the swing and and rear frame to get oily as it acts as protection.
I went out on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 5 weeks.
Our bikes are such good therapy.
Mines definitely a keeper.
(I confess to patting the tank sometimes).
S.
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Friday, 23 December 2022, 10:20 PM
I too am a WD40 fan for cleaning off the rear wheel.
I use a very thick gear oil Castrol W140
It's like syrup.
When I get home I will attach a link to it. It works out extremely economical.
It really resists fling off very well at all but hooligan speeds.
I spray the WD onto a rag and then wipe over the wheels.
I also wipe over the silencers and frame.
In winter I allow the swing and and rear frame to get oily as it acts as protection.
I went out on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 5 weeks.
Our bikes are such good therapy.
Mines definitely a keeper.
(I confess to patting the tank sometimes).
S.
Patting or Petting Simon? :rofl2:
Good Old Notty... :grin:
The Gear oil I use on my chain is in the link below:
https://www.classicoils.co.uk/d140
S.
Degreaser on the rear wheel and swing arm, pressure wash rear wheel (at a sensible distance) bucket of hot soapy water and a brush. Rinse with clean water. Cover brakes and mist entire bike with WD40. Clean rags and air gun wipe down entire bike. Wax tank and guards. She's a beauty, shining like a jewel. As only black bikes can :worshippy:
I've had my MGC for 50 years and have always use WD40 on her especially when she was garaged while I went away to sea for up to 8 months at a time.
She gets lots of TLC but remarkably in great shape.
My bikes do not see any winter riding!
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Friday, 23 December 2022, 04:54 PM
Hi All,
Its the time of year in the UK where Salt is in abundance on the roads..
Generally speaking my last 12 bikes have all been ridden throughout the winter time (I never "hibernate" my bikes)..
Its not unusual for me to get comments about how good my biuke look considering I ride all year round and they do get pretty dirty (Salty).
The reason for this post?
I get tired of "Expert" Bikers commenting that "I shouldnt wash my bike with hot water as it activates the salt".. Total Bull!
I used to wash in cold water and then found when dry lots of remaining salt that hadnt been removed.. With a hot wash I have never had this happen.
I did once put a tablespoon of salt in a glass of cold water to watch how fast it dissolves.. Did the same in Hot water and ther is a big difference in the results (Common sense really).
I have always used a car shampoo (Turtle wax) and hot water and then a large micro fibre towel to dry.
Its quite amusing to me that I am complimented on how good my bike looks and then ridiculed because I use hot water..
They cant have it both ways! :grin:
Bullshit? I don't think so Speedy, I think they haven't explained themselves suitably.
As an "expert biker" as you put it, I can advise that the proper way to wash your machine off is to wash it over first with a hose with cold water (or snow foam it) to remove loose dirt and neutralise any road salt/grime and then give it a hot wash with a quality shampoo, then dry off the machine totally. This is a standard way of doing it rather than just for winter salt laden roads. The key after however you may wash your machine down is to dry it and then apply a polish or other protective materials as necessary, as it's the lack of drying and applying any protective coating afterwards that leave watermarks or suchlike - especially on aluminium components.
The issue in any case as is well documented over the years with 14's in particular is the poor quality of the lacquer on components, such that (irrelevant of the weather type or road conditions) stone chips damage the lacquer allowing corrosion to get underneath. Leaving any corrosive material on the machine will accelerate "damage" if not washed off and dried as soon as possible (and treated to repair the damage as well).
As for dissolving salt in water, table salt and the rock salt they use on roads have different properties in the way they stick and dissolve.
So I'm not saying don't use hot water to wash your bike but it's only part of the process for properly cleaning your machine and maintaining its condition (and I too ride all year round).
Agree, get it clean however you do it. The protectant after is the important part. My shelves sag with the weight of all my little helpers, sprays, waxes, autosol, WD, Lanox,Inox, Boss Gloss, Fully Slick. IMO spray waxes and micro cloths are biggest improvement over old days in keeping them schmick. Having said that, shiniest car ive ever seen was only ever polished with WD40.
I stand 100 % by what I say..
Hot wash is fine..
I have never considered you an "expert Biker"
I go from my own experience..
I dont want nor invite opinions on my methods..
I am just putting forwards my own findings...
S..
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Tuesday, 27 December 2022, 01:19 AM
I stand 100 % by what I say..
Hot wash is fine..
I have never considered you an "expert Biker"
I go from my own experience..
I dont want nor invite opinions on my methods..
I am just putting forwards my own findings...
S..
How you choose to wash your machine is entirely up to you Speedy. However spouting how you've done these "tests" and calling "expert bikers" approach to how they wash their machines "Total bull" does not mean you are right either anymore than their approach is. Secondly if you do put up posts then I'm sorry, others are going to comment and challenge, that's part and parcel of what forums are about, so by putting up a thread you invite comment.
So by all means expound your "findings" however I'll also stand by mine 100% which are backed up by the numerous examples and processes which are well documented on the web and elsewhere for the correct method of cleaning body and bright work and maintaining same.
Whatever works for you basically.
Hot water does 'activate' salt more as it dissolves it better. However if you wash the bike properly as you obviously do that means you get it all off better than cold water would. a quick badly done rinse in hot water will spread the salt better than the same done with cold water.
Always makes me laugh when people say don't get the salt warm, exactly what do they think happens to the salt on the engine when it's running?