Hi all
I posted similar to this ages back but thought I'd recap how to keep your bike in showroom condition with very little effort.
a lot of people jet wash bikes, or clean weekly with soap and water... don't do either of these. Both remove all the protection from the bike and everything gradually 'drys' and seizes up. Though it gives a instant quick clean, your bike will start looking very old very quickly, especially if ridden in winter.
My current bike has over 30,000 on the clock with winter use and still looks brand new by following the below every 2 weeks. I hardly clean with water at all, maybe once every 2 months or so. The clean takes no more than about 40mins.
1. Adjust chain, remember most chains will tighten as you do up axle nut so pay special attention to this. Adjust when chain at tightest spot, a snapped chain is a scary thing.
2. Lube chain.. take your pick, Wurth dry lube or others containing PTFE seem to be best.
3. Spray liberal amounts of WD40 onto a rag and wipe over all exposed metalwork and even some bodywork. I use it on exhausts, numberplate mounts, seat undertray, frame, fork legs, calipers, wheel rims, suspension parts, engine casings etc etc. Build up a nice film on everything... WD40 not only cleans off dirt / oil, but leaves a nice protective film. Next time you clean it will be even easier. Pay special attention to avoid tyres / brake disks for obvious reasons
If your feeling rich ACF50 is even better... but WD40 is just fine and cheap as chips. You can also lube up gear linkages, footpeg joints etc etc, but a general lube is better than WD40. Many garages sell high temperature lube which is great for this.
4. Remove bugs from fairings / bodywork with a damp rag with a drop of washing up liquid
5. Mr sheen or Pledge your bodywork for a very lazy shine
6. Check tyre pressures, for mr average 36 front, 42psi rear
7. Loosen lid of front brake res and clamp your front brake lever closed with a cable tie and leave overnight for just a few hours. Not only does this help free seized pistons it helps get air out of system. Don't forget to put lid back on before riding! ....you'll be amazed how great your brake feels.
Every couple of months clean with soap and water, just don't go too mad. Shove a hose into your calipers to blast out brake dust / crud and carefully try and unclog your radiator of dirt. Don't use a pressure washer EVER!
Only other maint my bike gets is every 6 months I strip calipers, clean and make sure pistons move freely. Also blast out BMC air filter with compressed air... she also gets 4k mile oil changes. Thats the lot, follow the above and your bike will look new forever. Last tip, buy some copper grease, any nut or bolt you remove apply this before putting back... fail to do this and you will be stripping out allen head bolts next time you disassemble.
I posted similar to this ages back but thought I'd recap how to keep your bike in showroom condition with very little effort.
a lot of people jet wash bikes, or clean weekly with soap and water... don't do either of these. Both remove all the protection from the bike and everything gradually 'drys' and seizes up. Though it gives a instant quick clean, your bike will start looking very old very quickly, especially if ridden in winter.
My current bike has over 30,000 on the clock with winter use and still looks brand new by following the below every 2 weeks. I hardly clean with water at all, maybe once every 2 months or so. The clean takes no more than about 40mins.
1. Adjust chain, remember most chains will tighten as you do up axle nut so pay special attention to this. Adjust when chain at tightest spot, a snapped chain is a scary thing.
2. Lube chain.. take your pick, Wurth dry lube or others containing PTFE seem to be best.
3. Spray liberal amounts of WD40 onto a rag and wipe over all exposed metalwork and even some bodywork. I use it on exhausts, numberplate mounts, seat undertray, frame, fork legs, calipers, wheel rims, suspension parts, engine casings etc etc. Build up a nice film on everything... WD40 not only cleans off dirt / oil, but leaves a nice protective film. Next time you clean it will be even easier. Pay special attention to avoid tyres / brake disks for obvious reasons
If your feeling rich ACF50 is even better... but WD40 is just fine and cheap as chips. You can also lube up gear linkages, footpeg joints etc etc, but a general lube is better than WD40. Many garages sell high temperature lube which is great for this.
4. Remove bugs from fairings / bodywork with a damp rag with a drop of washing up liquid
5. Mr sheen or Pledge your bodywork for a very lazy shine
6. Check tyre pressures, for mr average 36 front, 42psi rear
7. Loosen lid of front brake res and clamp your front brake lever closed with a cable tie and leave overnight for just a few hours. Not only does this help free seized pistons it helps get air out of system. Don't forget to put lid back on before riding! ....you'll be amazed how great your brake feels.
Every couple of months clean with soap and water, just don't go too mad. Shove a hose into your calipers to blast out brake dust / crud and carefully try and unclog your radiator of dirt. Don't use a pressure washer EVER!
Only other maint my bike gets is every 6 months I strip calipers, clean and make sure pistons move freely. Also blast out BMC air filter with compressed air... she also gets 4k mile oil changes. Thats the lot, follow the above and your bike will look new forever. Last tip, buy some copper grease, any nut or bolt you remove apply this before putting back... fail to do this and you will be stripping out allen head bolts next time you disassemble.
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