I tend to use the turtle wax car wash as well because it's not aggressive and cheap so I don't feel bad using it up. However, I just started using a degreaser called Purple Power which is a knock off of another name brand but it works great and is super cheap. I bought a gallon for $7 last year which is concentrated and filled one of my Westley's Bleach White sprayers (work good to foam the solution) along with some water and have been using that ever since. Gonna last a long time and it save me from having to use the brake cleaner for the gooey stuff like the chain and wheels.

^^^I had a bottle of that Purple power stuff but I was told it may not be safe for paint (as it says on the label too, if I recall). It worked wonders on the flung chain wax but I only used 1 or 2 times before I started to worry that it may cause harm over time. I just use Black Magic Titanium wheel cleaner and rinse with a lot of water. A lot stronger than ordinary soap and water but supposed to be safe for High oerformance wheels, unpainted surface or painted. It is not terribly expensive. I got on sale back in 08 ~$5/ bottle. Started my second bottle end of last summer.

Only prob---it will make the brake pads slippery for a couple days. I spray it on a rag and rub it on wheels to keep it off of brakes.

Just to clarify--I only use automotive soap for body panels and any other parts. Wheels get extra dirty so I go for a more powerful soap but restrict use to wheel ONLY.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/29/2011 @ 11:21 AM *

For a moment, I thought this was going to turn into a chick pick thread. <sarcasm>Glad THAT didn't happen!</sarcasm>

oh it could!

gone and made me do it haven't ya! :)

I'll never, never forget Cool Hand Luke. I guess I was about 11 when I first saw this scene. My dad didn't turn the TV off. I can't imagine why not.

finished it off with another product Goody swears by

* Last updated by: bean07 on 3/31/2011 @ 2:36 AM *

Truck washes will cut some nasty grime and guts from most any surface -- good stuff! Works great on wheels and engine components with stubborn buildup

For those of you using Zaino, where can you buy it cheapest? It seems Amazon doesn't carry it.

I just learned that the Honda Polish for cleaning bikes takes chain grease right off.

That's good info. So, what bikes do you have now?

Found Zaino at Ecklers.com. Think I'll order what the Nissan Titan forums recommend as a baseline set of products -
1. Z1 or ZFX. I suggest Z1, ZFX will dry up in the bottle.
2. Z2 Polish
3. Z6 Gloss Enhancer

BTW - I don't own a Titan, but came across it when googling for Zaino. Seems reasonable to buy those three as a start from the experiences of those members.

* Last updated by: loadedmind on 3/31/2011 @ 8:14 AM *

LOL Now ! I like it that much I PUT MY $$$$MONEY$$$$$ WHERE ME MOUTH IS HE HE NOT BAD FOR FIFTY BUCKS TOO!

I use kerosene on a rag for engine and swingarm parts and cleaning of the chain and on painted bits and plastic
I use plexus or motul wash n wax..no water...no soap ever.

AKRYPTO; I worry about the fine grit and dust acting like sandpaper unless I rinse first with water, at the least. After 13 years, and dozens of washes with soap and water, you'd have to use a microscope to find any swirl marks or scratches on my old black ZX11. No corrosion or rust either, so for me, no reason not to use soap and water. I just make sure I don't wet the electronics, and dry before I ride. Wax it spring and fall, and sealant on the wheels.

I typically use a variety of products to for different areas. Some degreaser sprayed on the wheels and a pressure washer for the nasty stuff right up to specialty products for plastics, rubber, and the windscreen.

My black tank was quite marked up and a couple stone chips down to the metal so I decided to fix it up. Gave the chips several coats of generic touch up paint to fill them up to above the surface of the original paint first. Then I wet sanded the tank with 1500 grit paper. Next is a medium cut cleaner from Meguires, then a swirl remover from Meguires, both applied with a 7 inch polisher, then Carnuba wax from Meguires. This is a scary project at first but went really, really well. I am impressed, and no more orange peel at all. I think I will work my way through all the plastics with this method due to the tremendous results.

Now to keep it clean I am going to try the fancy Meguires auto wash. Nourishing it says??

Here are some names and pics of the products used.
First polish after sanding:

Second polish:

Final wax:

This is the stuff I use on my visors and windscreens:

This is the wash I'm going to try:

* Last updated by: Madmak on 5/5/2011 @ 4:16 PM *

I dont really completely wash my bikewith soap and water. I use castrol superclean on a rag for the wheels, swingarm, and engine. I use spray detailer wax and Meguiars wax for paint. I try to wipe it down after every ride so it doesnt build up.

I assume you people afraid to wash your bikes with water are fair weather riders as well, right?

Here are some names and pics of the products used.

Wow, Madmak! You are a bike detailing artiste! like that !

If you get into it enough to figure out how the products work, it is amazing how new a bike can be kept looking even after it suffers a little damage to the paint. Much of my fairings look smoother than new after all the rubbeing and buffing. A little scratch or a nick doesn't scare me anymore. All of that stuff is fixable if you doen't mind spending the hours to do it.

Thanks Rook, I agree. It takes some time and patience but you can keep things looking better than new. The trick to it all is starting at the right step. If you don't start far enough back in the process the results are never top notch.

Here's a pic of my tank during wet sanding. Obviously a step backwards in appearance but a necessary step if you're trying to fix the issues I was. Can't just cover everything up with wax!

I put that Sh1t on everything!

I assume you people afraid to wash your bikes with water are fair weather riders as well, right?

Sorta... Can't be a total fair weather rider here in WA state. If I was, I'd never ride... But, if it's lookin' really nasty outside, I'd rather be in a cage.

My first few times out, this year, I was caught in hail and thunder storms. Since there was still sand and gravel on the roads, my bike got got filthy to the point of being too dirty to dry wash and I broke out the hose... WHAT A PITA! I spent more time blowing water out of and off of the bike than I did with the soap and bucket. I'll stick with dry washing, whenever possible.

I put that Sh1t on everything!

FTW!

Dogo, I've been noticing a more flagrant attitude in your posts and your FTW stance. Could this be little bit of an Obama syndrome now that you're invincible with your shiny new suspension????

Dogo, I've been noticing a more flagrant attitude in your posts and your FTW stance. Could this be little bit of an Obama syndrome now that you're invincible with your shiny new suspension????