My wife thinks I'm obsessed with cleaning my Goldwing. She said I spend more time rubbing it than her. I can't really deny it. So anyway I was wondering what your cleanning regiments are and any tips you can provide. Here are mine.

Everyday before ride usualy wipe down with a damp microfiber cloth

Weekly I use Turtle Wax Ice just wipe it on and wait 5 Min. and wipe. IT leaves no white residue so you can use it all over.

When I really gety serious Mothers Chrome Polish and Mothers Cleaner Wax.

Wheels I just hose off brake dust. I been looking for a spray type cleaner that is safe fo bike tires.

On the road I've been using Bike Sprits Spray.It removes bugs on windshield and can be used allover bike.

So is this excessive or what:D

IMHO, you are not being excessive. I don't clean my Wing before each ride, but I do clean it up when I return home. I use Lucas Slick Mist. Spray it on, buff it off with a micro-fiber towel. No residue. The stuff is amazing. Can be used in direct sunlight too. Advance Auto carries it. For chrome parts I like Simichrome polish. Snag it off eBay for best prices. Does not scratch at all.
Rob

I've been using Lucas Slick Mist for a couple of yrs.. It's a spray mist that wipes on & wipes off with no residue. really brings out the candy color on my 05 black cherry. I use it on the wholr bike ( paint, chrome , windshield)

Small triangular California Duster, during gas stops after rides. About 2 or 3 min's.
Spray can of "Original" cleaner/polish(OK for everything including buggy windshield and wheels.) Serious chrome cleaning is done with Windex and micro cloth. Wrong wax can scratch chrome on plastic!

Lucas slick mist user here too, love the the stuff, looks like you just waxed your bike. Plexus and a micro fiber towel for the windsreen, that's my quick clean up regime.;)

Sounds like slick mist is good stuf. Will give it a try. One more thing about my addiction I try about every new product I can find:)

Sounds like I'm on the wrong forum. Total cleaning = a quick wipe down after a ride with Lemon Pledge and microfiber cloth. Windshield, paint, chrome and everything else except the seat. Actually had to use some water, once, when I got some mud on the front from front tire splash.

If actual cleaning is required, maybe I better go back to my Yamaha!

Nothing wrong with a clean bike, I don't think the Mrs. would want to go for a ride on a dirty bike.

Mz. Vickie calls it " spending time with the one I love ".

[QUOTE=dryriver;22384] Total cleaning = a quick wipe down after a ride with Lemon Pledge and microfiber cloth. Windshield, paint, chrome and everything else except the seat. QUOTE]

That would make two of us. 90% of the time the lemon pledge and a terry cloth are the cleaning. I learned it from a guy at a boat show. They use lemon pledge on new and used to give them that wet look shine. Sure is quick and easy:D

Might as well rub down the bike, it won't walk out on you. I can't keep mine clean, it's a dirt magnet.

I wash mine after every ride, I use a tooth brush to get into the slots on the rear rim and I use a spray bottle with liquid soap and water and a scrub brush to do under the bike, motor frame kick stand etc. I wax it about once a month and I use Mothes Mag polish on the rims, front & back, and on the passenger floor board trim. Use a Q-tip to get the hard to reach spots around the trunk hinges, Use Armor all on the dash, seat, and all rubber except tires. Got to keep them clean, they ride better.

I wash mine after every ride, I use a tooth brush to get into the slots on the rear rim and I use a spray bottle with liquid soap and water and a scrub brush to do under the bike, motor frame kick stand etc. I wax it about once a month and I use Mothes Mag polish on the rims, front & back, and on the passenger floor board trim. Use a Q-tip to get the hard to reach spots around the trunk hinges, Use Armor all on the dash, seat, and all rubber except tires. Got to keep them clean, they ride better.


Doesn't the Armorall make the seat slick?

I clean mine for health reasons. I find it theraputic, just me,my dog Max and a can of Mr Sheen (similar to Pledge) with a polishing cloth and listning to the radio. It brings the dog and me closer together, when i need some steam he breaths on the spot i'm cleaning. :D

I wash weekly and use occasional Honda pray shine stuff. I do the rijms about once in 6 months. Its clean but not show ready.

Sounds like you have it down to a science. If it works for you that's all that matters. Ride safe..... and clean...

Like Joe I used a toothebrush (out of service t/b, not mine that I brush with:rolleyes:) on my 1200 when I was entering show & shines., lots of armorall, pledge, warm soapy water, wash mitt and air blower to dry and lots of elbow grease. Used to take me about two days to get ready for a show, but it must have paid off, 'cause there was a lot of trophies to dust too.

Another plug for the lemon pledge !

I tried the Lucas Sick Mist recomended above and I agree it works pretty well. Thanks

When you have as much time on your hands as I do, it is Gcguera clean and shine, Turtle wax chrome pollish and Mothers aluminum and mag polish. Armorall on all vynal and matt black plastic. When my foot heals it will be Macguires quick detailer and window cleaner.

Does anyone use S100 cleaner? I used it on my Shadow back in the late 80's and it worked as advertised (great!), however I am curious if it is safe to use on my 08 wing??? Please forgive my over protective self. I have NEVER owned a new car or motorcycle and I want to take REAL good care of this one. Thank you all for your wisdom and help!

Ralph,
Yes, I've used S100 and I am almost out of it now. Works great on the 1800. That said, it's a little pricey and when I run out, I probably won't buy it again. Not that it does not work. It's just that a bucket, some water, car wash and sponge work just as well and they cost less per wash.
Rob

Amrep Spray Cleaner and Polish for the bike & Plexus and a micro fiber towel for the windshield works pretty well for me.

OK,you guys can start laughing now,from my old dirtbike days, I use dishwashing detergent in warm water,the hose and a toilet brush.gets in all the nooks and crannys and the plastic brush won't scratch anything,Have a great day,Lazz (rubber side down)

lazz,
Don't know if you realize this but dishwashing detergent like Dawn removes any wax on your ride. I only use this when I want to remove all the wax/polish and start fresh. If you wax your bike, I highly recommend you get some car wash that will not strip the wax off. I use Blue Corral or whatever car wash is on sale at Walmart.
Rob

A little S100 to wash it, Plexus to poilsh it and a little baby power on the wife and I'm ready to rock and roll.......

I use Captain richards Best, works well but is a little spendy. Bombs away is amazing on non clearcoated aluminum wheels.

http://www.captainrichardsbest.com/welcome.htm

[QUOTE=dryriver;22384] Total cleaning = a quick wipe down after a ride with Lemon Pledge and microfiber cloth. Windshield, paint, chrome and everything else except the seat. QUOTE]

That would make two of us. 90% of the time the lemon pledge and a terry cloth are the cleaning. I learned it from a guy at a boat show. They use lemon pledge on new and used to give them that wet look shine. Sure is quick and easy:D

yea, quick, easy, and cheap! then when you got some time, do a good detail with a quality wax! but lemon pledge? oh yea!!! and maybe some honda spray from my honda dealer. keep on winginit rick

I detail bikes from time to time. The only real cleaning any of my 4 bikes gets is in the fall. I do keep the bugs cleaned off and the wheels looking good. If you let the brake stay on too long it's a pita to get off. If I have a long ride (several days) I clean and polish.

I like to ride not clean. Just too much to do. Besides if I have time to clean the bike I have enough time to ride.

dd

+1 on the pledge.

Read an article by a chemist last year breaking down the chemicals in a lot of the popular + expensive cleaners. Pledge has the same stuff and same % of cleaner.

Not trying to change anyone's choices. Maybe your stuff IS better.
but I tried the orange pledge and it works great. It foams and sticks where you spray it. I let is soak a couple of minutes on the bug guts and it comes off easier.

I have used on paint and chrome. Chrome looks like new.
I have also tried it on windshield too and again, works good on bugs but I finish with window cleaner makes it sheen better.

Someone asked for this so thought I would post it. Can't say that I know this guy but convinced me enough to try it as well as alot of others at the sabrehood who used a variety of products. Several posted that they tried it and didn't see any posts where they could argue that their old, expensive cleaner was any better. All I read was that we all switched.

Your bike, you decide.


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A friend sent this to me and with several folks wondered about using Pledge to shine up their scooter.This is a good read and answers some questions...........

I am a scientist just not a rocket scientist. I deal with organic, inorganic chemistry and do research in chemical engineering.I also ride just about every day weather permitting,I like Jack Daniels, wet T shirt contests, biker bars and pee in the back yard too frequently according to the wife (have a tall fence).

No I DONT have a pocket protector or wear dark horn rimmed glasses. I'm so ugly that when dating, before I got married, the tide would not even take me out. My breath is so bad that when I exhale, my teeth duck! and my wife tells me that my package resembles a grub worm in a turtle neck. Hey atleast it still works!
I also teach and found that humor helps to retain attention.

Now that we have that straight..I hope this helps.

Lets start out with the actual ingredients found in a spray can of Pledge.

Please note that the base formula will be different being dispensed from a spray can or pressurized aerosol vessel due to the fact that a "propellant" is needed to transfer the product from the container to a surface, in this case lets say a fender or a windshield. A trigger plastic spray container would not require this propellant additive.

For the purpose of this discussion, I will list the information relative to Pledge in the aerosol spray can as it appears to be the most common used by others on this forum.
The base ingredients are:
Naphtha, petroleum, light alkylate 5%-10% or (isoparaffinic hydrocarbon solvent)
Polydimethylsiloxanes (Silicon oil) 5%-10%
Water 70%-85%
Butane1% -5%
Isobutane1% - 5%
Propane1% - 5%
Now we can breakdown what these are and what they do.

The first ingredient is:

1-Naphta,petroleum,light alkylate.
This is a hydrocarbon solvent-based dispersant formulation which combines oil penetrability. In other words remember the label says "smear and smudge proof"? These are the ingredients that will break down and remove the smears, finger or dermal tissue oils. Criminals take note.. use this to eliminate finger prints. Just dont be a dumb azz and leave the can behind!!

Now, what is a hydrocarbon?
A general term for organic compounds which contain only carbon and hydrogen. They are divided into saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, aliphatic (alkane or fatty) and aromatic (benzene) hydrocarbons. Crude
oil is essentially a complex mixture of hydrocarbons.

To break it down even further, I will now define an organic compound.

An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical
compounds whose molecules contain carbon.
What is carbon you asked? I knew ya would!!

Carbon is a chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent (a state of an atom with four electrons making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds.)

A chemical element is a type of atom that is distinguished by its atomic number; that is, by the number of protons in its nucleus. The term is also used to refer to a pure chemical substance composed.

What does this all mean?? It is a pure chemical substance.
Why is it in there? Remember the finger print? It is a solvent that removes oily residues. This is the cleaning agent in the product.
Look at the can.."It dusts and cleans". this is what makes it clean/remove dirt,grease,oil,grime.

Dont try it on bodily fluids!! Get a bucket and warm water mixed with a 50:50 bleach solution. Ooops sorry, got a little carried away there. I mean...I have never had to do that detective sir. Hey I live in Florida and we shoot first then ask or answer questions later.

That was the more lenghty one. The remainder are relatively simple. If you are still reading at this point, thanks for bearing with me.Go grab another beer! I will summarize at the end and compare to other products on the market in terms of ingredients, costs and results.

The second noted ingredient is:


2-Polydimethylsiloxanes or Silicon oil 5%-10%.
This is silicone based oil. The molecular structure of this is such that friction is significantly reduced. This nifty additional ingredient is also the reason why the ..refer to label again.. NO WAX BUILD-UP!! Silicone will blend with it'self and not mix or layer with other chemicals.
It does however have the ability to **** bike painters off due to the fact that it needs to be completely removed proir to coating with paint. If not...start all over again. It makes surfaces slick so that nothing sticks. It also provides the shine to the surface.
This chemical is also present in 95% of products us bikers use on our scoots such as Armor All, Meguires Wax and STP Son of a Gun just to mentiion a few so if you are worried about using Pledge in the past on your bike, you may alraedy have and just did not know it.
This silicone oil is also an ingredient in Right Guard deodorant, baby powder,Desitin, Gillette Dry and several moisturizers and creams. This is why Pledge does not contain wax, they use this instead.
Makes me want to try it with the goa....wife!
To the guy that posted about the fella steping on his fender and sliding off...about to 5 drops of this in a drink will cause lets just say possible incontenence" which will then require the need for additional Desitin with the same ingredient to help that diaper rash from the copiuos ammounts of passing solids!!! Great stuff ain it?

The third ingredient:

3-Water. This acts as a dilutor. Kind of like "filler" in cheap dog food but in liquid form.
Cant use the product undiluted.

The remaining butane, isobutane and propane are the propellants that assist in expelling or propelling the liquid product from the can. Sorta like lighting a fart. The methane is the fart building under pressure and the propane, butane provides the ignition source. Both pledge and a good fart will produce a romantic blue and orange flame. Or so I have heard, maybe seen...OK OK I have done it! Kinda like putting your tounge on a 9v battery. You know you are gonna do it eventually when no one is looking. Try chewing aluminum foil!! Nah...dont do that either.

Other ingredients asuch as aromatic compound like orange, lemon or any other organic scent additive can also be incorporated.
If you are still with me on this one, you are either killing time, Fu&^*% off at work or the porn filter is working real good on your computer. If neither one... thanks for sticking around.

Now with this little snippet of knowledge, how does one apply it to everyday living.
If Martha Stewart says that a prison panty liner work just as well as a microfibre cloth stop reading. If not..please bear with me for I am almost done.
Several products out there are costly for several reasons. 1 because of proprietary ingredients/raw materials, 2 advertising costs, supply and demand and product to market costs. What will the market bear? I have always compared ingredient when shopping. Silicone oil is silicone oil, Pepto Bismal, for the guy trying to stand on the fender coated with silicone oil is pink Bismuth...same thing!
Pink bismuth is MUCH cheaper.

I heard of a product called Plexus. A great cleaner and conditioner for Lexan. At $15.95 for a 13oz can versus an 18oz $4.99? can of Pledge? I have not bought or used Pledge and do not know the actual cost I am sure it is not even close to this other product.

In summary:
Will not damage finish
Will provide a nice shine
Will not build up or layer
Safe on windshield. No alcohol or amonia
Safe on chrome
Also has some (although not real good) anti corrosion properties. I use Boeshield T-9 for this application.
One precaution!! Flammable! Do not use around open flames or on hot pipes or other hot components. Do not get on or use on denim ar matted finishes!!

I would also highly recommend that a wet or water wash, or a soft wetted cloth, (I use warm clothes because the heat helps soften bug guts better than cold) be done or used first to remove surface debris and particulate from the soon to be applied to surface, fenders, gas tanks,side panels. This will reduce potential scratching of your paint.

Well, I hoped this helps. Like I said, I have never used "Pledge". But I have applied the same ingredients in Pledge (just under a different name...Maguires Wax) on my bikes not knowing it, and they have all looked great!

No get off the computer and spray your bike with Pledge!, or go riding... __________________
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Hey what about the seats? What is the best thing to keep the seats looking new?