usually i hose the bike down to get off the big pieces, might use a bit of soap and water if real bad. then i spray it down with s100 and then hose that off. maybe a bit of wax or spray shine or pledge. you get the idea.

but what should i do if water is out of the question. what do you guys do like if you are sitting in the garage and just can't use the hose to spray it down.

winters coming, temps are low, and the bike is dirty.

help!

 

get a bucket, fill it with hot water in the shower or slop sink if you have one, and give the bike a proper wash before you put it away.

sure you can clean it with quick detailers and whatnot, but if the bike is actually dirty you need to wash the dirt off of it before you go rubbing dirt and dust into your paint leaving scratches.

 

I use meguiars quick detailer. Great product as long as the bike has normal road dust and what not. Now I won't use it if I've been caught in the rain or something like that. Then it gets the hose.

 

I use a damp microfiber cloth. No soap.

 

Drape wet towells over your bike, let them loosen up the crud/bugs, etc.
Wipe it down with a cleaner rag, then what ever polish you use.

 

I had a customer tell about BUG SLIDE. I tryed it and it works great. Bugs slide right off without soaking.

 

I don't know of any way to do a thorough job without a hose and water. I use Lemon Pledge all the time on the tins and motor, but there is no way to get the grime off the front and bottom of the engine without water and soap. If you do not look at the bottom of my bike, it looks very clean most of the time, and I live on a half mile of sand gravel to the hiway.

 

i started this thread cause i was talking to a guy who said after a ride he gets home and immediately washes his bike. i said thats the difference between him and me cause i ride longer and don't do the immediate wash thing.

he said he found it calming to wash his bike in his garage, his 'man cave'.

well i like being in my garage, but there is no drain there so washing using water just get wet all over the floor.

so trying to figure something else out, thats all.

and i figure it better to leave it dirty until a day that i can take it out and use water then to scratch the dirt in.

 

"It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again."

lol

 

Depends on how dirty it is. A little dust and a few bugs is easy to clean without a full on "wash". I use a wet towel for the bugs/wheels, and detailing spray for the rest. Living in AZ, this is usually all I ever need to do.