I've always been taught the only DUMB question is the question that is not "asked"...NO matter how dumb it is..DISHWASHING SOAP is made to wash dishes and to CUT GREASE. You do not want to get the "grease" or wax off your bike that way, UNLESS you are doing a claybar of the tank and other areas, and want to start fresh.
I use Mcguires or a blue poly stuff....I work in an Operating room, and I use these really nice cotton gauze pads to wash and wax, also there is a mcguires spray on "waxing" for the in between real "waxings"


My bikes have been in the do it yourself wand spray car wash also, BUT I never take the brush across the tank, usually a sponge with the soap off the brush. I have a 2005 883 sportster
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SKULLCRUSHER,
Not to bust your stones, but loud pipes do nto saves lives, they only scare the **** out of people. education and defensive riding saves lives along with helmets. Everyone should take a safety course, PLUS you get a break on your insurance.

 

My pipes saved me on Saturday. In the left lane of a two lane road each direction, left lane straight, right lane must turn right. Well as I approach the stop sign the car on my right starts to get over in my lane within a foot of my front tire. I let the clutch lever out to use the engine to help with my panic braking and the car gets back in her lane. At the stop as I open my mouth to say something she looks out the window and says thank god I heard you because I didn't see you and decided to go straight at the last minute.

 

If you are going to dry it with a blower, made sure the blower is REALLY REALLY clean. Nothing like blowing bits of dirt at high speed at a clean bike.[:@]

 

Yeah, I think they call that sandblasting. Great for removing things, such as paint.[sm=badidea.gif]

 

My pipe saved my *** the other day. One good throttle blip got a WISUVTOCP to hit her brakes instead of merging onto the interstate (and into me).

And the leafblower idea is a big plus for drying your bike, and especially your car.

 

i agree with you about the safety course and how it is a good thing for everyone who rides(and as a matter of fact they should make the non riding cagers take the written part of the course just to make them more aware that we are on the road)..but i can think of several times where someone was gonna pull out in front of me and i pull the cluch and juice up the engine and have caught attention,so you are wrong about that loud pipes save lives..and also i really dont know how this subject even came up in this tread..

 

Good point about the leaf blower being clean. I seldom use mine in the vacuum mode, but I'll keep that in mind for the future.

 

I use the car wash with the wax in it and S100. That combo works really well. I have an 04 sporty and im not scared of the rain so it gets pretty dirty.

 

I USE SIMPLE GREEN JUST SPRAY IT ON LET IT STAND FOR 5 MIN AND RINSE WITH WATER DON'T USE A BRUSH ON ANY ANY PAINT.
IT REALLY CUTS THE ROAD GRIME AND OIL FAST WONT HARM THE PAINT OR CHROME IF YOU HAVE HARD WATER AT YOUR PLACE YOU CAN TOUCH UP THE CHROME WITH GLASS CLEANER MAKING SURE NOT TO GET IT ON THE PAINT OR IT WILL STRIP THE WAX OFF QUICK. KEEP THE CHROME SIDE UP.

 

Sorry, I can't resist.

Don't ride along side people in cars and it won't bother you if they decide to change lanes!!!!!!!!!!
Stay behind them, or in front of them and not along side. It's called defensive riding (or using your head instead of your pipes to save your life)