in Florida we have harsh salt air. So 4 times a year a good teflon wax. Weekly cleaning with the S100 Detail and Wax with several microfiber cloth

 

This is a very organized effort:

(1) Jack the rear of the bike up with a lever jack.

(2) Remove saddlebags.

(3) Clean left and right side behind saddlebags, including rear wheel, rotor, pulley, and belt. I use S-100 and a brush on the belt and areas I can't access easily with a sponge, but auto detergent diluted in a pail of water everywhere else. Apply some Armor-All on belt, inside and outside, wiping off excess. Take bike off lever jack.

(4) Clean rest of bike, including saddlebags, with auto detergent. No water near inside of fairing around stereo, speakers, etc. Dust that area with paint brush and/or clean with Windex when needed. May try Armor-all for inner fairing one day.

(5) Dry with compressed air, then a towel. Follow-up with a tee shirt and Windex on chrome, auto detailer on paint, and Pig Spit on the black engine powder-coat. Seat (vinyl) gets Armor-All treatment and leather fender bib is cleaned and conditioned with Lexol. I usually remove the seat and clean around battery area.

(6) About every three months I'll wax paint and some chrome surfaces with NuFinish liquid.

I've got it down to a science now, about 30 min. for a quick wash, up to 2 hrs. if really grimed up from a ride in the rain.

Looks like new!

 

Wow! Thanks for the replies, gents. I have a lot of great advice to work with.

I love this forum.

Ciao.

 

$5 bundle of microfiber cloths
$14 Mr klean car wash kit
$39 toro electric leaf blower (only reason i bought it)
$13 Cycle care #4 leather cleaner/polish

$9 Mequires wax once in a while

$13 Cycle care #33 for wipe downs

 

Wow!

10 hours to detail the bike......

Distilled water.....

Etc, etc.....

When do you guys have time to ride?

 

Sams has microfiber towels. 25pack for $10 and they are 18"x18" in yellow,Orange,Green,Blue. I just bought 6 packs.

 

Some of us are blessed to live in Dixie and ride year round.

 

The rest of the day, after the two minutes it takes to buff off a mist of distilled water. San Diego has two seasons: Rainy, and the rest of the year (you'd call it summer). We think a cold morning is 40 degrees!

 

Sure[&o]. Wash with soap and water...rinse..dry..apply wax..remove wax...repeat as needed...