As a rule I clean my bike once every three years. I make sure it's mechanically fine but the cosmetics I could care less about

 

you mean we're supposed to wash these things?

 

It takes me aprox. 15 min. to clean and dry my bike! So why not do it when ever it is needed prob. once a week. I have all the tools ( nice soft long brissle brush for the motor, mit for the paint and leaf blower to dry) If done in the sun using harley sun wash it never gets spots and the blower dries it quick and the sun takes care of the rest I prob wax it once a month, I really couldn't be bothered, its a nice bike but it's not the bike i plan an babying in the near future.

 

I spend only an hour on my bike. I use to spend 2.5 to 3 hours cleaning my bike until my neighbor who has ridden his whole life let me in on a little secret. Secret goes as follows:

-Pressure wash bike (not needle pressure either), or use hose.
-Leaf blower the bike, this will remove all water from all the orfices of the bike and stop the spotting.

Maybe this is new to some, maybe not, but this works very well for me, and I am a clean freak!

 

And it still takes an hour?!?!?!

What I and charliebox didn't write was DO NOT USE A GAS LEAF BLOWER the exhaust from the gas engine isn't good for the paint also do not used an air compressor there is oil and moisture in the tank that will also blow onto your bikes finish.

 

I gave up washing my '81 GL1100 about 4 or 5 years ago for the exact same reason. Something tells me I'll be a little more meticulous about the new bike...

 

i live in portland, or enough said, my bike is so dirty i forgot what color it is

 

I've always used an air compressor with no issues. but then again I have an air dryer/purifier inline at work and home....

 

If your bike is anything other than a garage queen it's almost impossible to keep it clean when you ride a lot!