Kawasaki Concours Forum

Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: Uglydog56 on September 15, 2011, 07:46:37 PM

Title: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Uglydog56 on September 15, 2011, 07:46:37 PM
Okay, I admit that I don't detail my bikes often enough.  I once had a license plate frame that stated "Riders ride, posers polish."  I generally just don't worry about it, if you ride every day you can't keep them immaculate, at least I can't.  My windshield is clean, isn't that what matters?  But she was looking a little rough so I spent 2 dollars at the car wash and knocked the critters and major dirt off, and my wife wrote it down on the calender.  ???
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: darrell on September 15, 2011, 08:31:24 PM
I have a pic around somewhere of my bike at about 9000 miles. Hadn't been washed yet, and every time I stopped the swarm of flies that landed on it was just a bit more than disgusting.

Found it:

(http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f394/ironrdr/IMG_1172.jpg)

-darrell
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Rick Hall on September 15, 2011, 10:24:47 PM
Okay, I admit that I don't detail my bikes often enough. 

Detail ? ? ?

I think I wash Sam once, maybe twice, a year. I even used soap last year.

A fella told me a story about meeting 'someone', and they asked when was the last time he washed his bike (apparently it was filthy). He replied "at the 1998 rally in so-and-so when it rained".

Rick
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Son of Pappy on September 15, 2011, 10:40:36 PM
I wiped the dew off last weekend and when I was replacing the front rotors I cleaned the rim up.  I do wipe off the bugs from the light on a regular basis, at least semi anually.  Found a dragon fly about 3 layers deep.  It's supposed to rain on Sunday, should get a nice bath then.  Time to pull out the stitch!
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Pfloydgad on September 16, 2011, 06:42:06 AM
Wow...If flys land on you windscreen to feed when your stopped.
That gives new meaning to "Meal on wheels" I guess.   :o
Ride safe all, and ATGATT please.
Greg
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: VirginiaJim on September 16, 2011, 04:44:10 PM
Detail ? ? ?

Rick

+1
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Mr. Green Genes on September 16, 2011, 08:46:55 PM
I never thought a little dirt would harm my scooter, high pressure water on the other hand...,
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: snarf on September 17, 2011, 05:34:51 AM
I bet I wash my bikes more times during the week of Nationals than I do all year.
My mother comented on the amount of people washing their bikes at the rally in VT. I had to explain to her thats the  reason we go to the rally's. We get free water and a chance to wash off a years worth of grime.  :o
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: sherob on September 17, 2011, 07:30:30 AM
Windshield and lights get cleaned... mirrors too... rain takes care of the rest.  I'm notorious for not cleaning my bike... I ride, the bike will get dirty as soon as you clean it and ride.  :o
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: VirginiaJim on September 17, 2011, 07:39:50 AM
A sound philosophy in my book!
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: anycleavers on September 17, 2011, 07:49:34 AM
Now I know I am in good company!
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: booger on September 17, 2011, 08:36:48 AM
Nope, not I.  I wash and wax my bikes religiously.  They cost to damn much not to keep them in the best possible shape.  That includes maintenance and cleaning. ;)
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: mjrfd99 on September 17, 2011, 08:45:47 AM
Nope, not I.  I wash and wax my bikes religiously.  They cost to damn much not to keep them in the best possible shape.  That includes maintenance and cleaning. ;)

 :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:  Why would you let it look like schist?  Ya wash yourself don'tcha
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Conrad on September 17, 2011, 08:48:27 AM
Nope, not I.  I wash and wax my bikes religiously.  They cost to damn much not to keep them in the best possible shape.  That includes maintenance and cleaning. ;)

That's the way I am too. I like to keep my bike clean. Besides, you can't drink and ride but you can drink and clean the bike.     :chugbeer:
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: ZG on September 17, 2011, 10:10:38 AM
That's the way I am too. I like to keep my bike clean. Besides, you can't drink and ride but you can drink and clean the bike.     :chugbeer:

I too like to drink and clean my bikes in the garage on a rainy day, I must be a freak...  :-\
 
And I live in the PNW, so that's alot of drinking!  :chugbeer:
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Cold Streak on September 17, 2011, 10:16:20 AM
Rain = FBW (free bike wash)

I keep all the important stuff clean, like the headlights, mirrors and stuff.  Don't look under the fenders or other similar locales though.
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Ron Dawg on September 17, 2011, 02:32:50 PM

I too like to drink and clean my bikes in the garage on a rainy day, I must be a freak...  :-\
 
And I live in the PNW, so that's alot of drinking!  :chugbeer:

...but I'll bet your bike's clean! :rotflmao:
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Uglydog56 on September 18, 2011, 12:47:35 AM
Well there's the problem - I quit drinking, no wonder my bike's so dirty!
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Conrad on September 18, 2011, 07:53:12 AM

I too like to drink and clean my bikes in the garage on a rainy day, I must be a freak...  :-\
 
And I live in the PNW, so that's alot of drinking!  :chugbeer:


Hmmm, it's raining today and my bike is dirty. I guess I'll be doing some drinking later! Plus the Bears are playing so that's a given anyways.
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Mister Tee on September 19, 2011, 08:28:48 AM
I'm somewhere in the middle.  I ride my bike every day and I don't clean it every weekend.  I do keep the windscreen, mirrors and headlights clean though.  Every 1-2 months I will go over it with a bucket of water with a few drops of soap and wet rag it, but I have only done one proper washing with a hose since I've had it.  Well, that isn't counting another proper washing where I intentionally rode it in the rain to clean it.  That did the best job of all.

I think overwashing is probably more damaging to a bike's finish than under washing though.
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: GTRrob on September 19, 2011, 11:24:28 AM
Okay, I admit that I don't detail my bikes often enough.  I once had a license plate frame that stated "Riders ride, posers polish."  I generally just don't worry about it, if you ride every day you can't keep them immaculate, at least I can't.  My windshield is clean, isn't that what matters?  But she was looking a little rough so I spent 2 dollars at the car wash and knocked the critters and major dirt off, and my wife wrote it down on the calender.  ???

I remember that one time you washed your Suzuki...didn't you just put it on its side in the snow and slide it around ;)
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Bob Young on September 24, 2011, 01:35:23 PM
 :D
I wash the '86 before every trip, clean it up during the trip every day and probably don't touch it for weeks after getting home. But I clean it (wash with soap and wax after) usually every month, check the tire pressure, battery connections and fluid, all other fluids. Then take it for a ride to show off.
Gotta' keep it claen and serviced, can't afford another.

hang in there and ride safe,
Title: Re: You know it's been too long when....
Post by: Strawboss on September 25, 2011, 10:24:16 AM
Cleaning a bike is therapy. I keep mine clean, when it gets dirty, I wash it. Its easy, it doesn't take very long. Its more than a tool to take my from point A to point B, I'm attatched to it, its part of me, part of who I am, I care about it as I care about myself. I take care of myself, I take care of the bike, when I'm dirty, I bath, when the bike is dirty, I clean it. Its my choice thats all.