Do you wash your bike after each ride?

[Dag]

I dont, but at least once a week....

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/webcam/garage.html


(I dont wash my bike all the time, I posted this link when I cleaned her up Tuesday)

[R J]

This is my previous schedule and leads to current"

Brand new to 1999 - washed every day during spring, summer, fall

1999 to 2001 - After every ride

2001 - 2003 - After every other ride, unlees it was in the rain

2004 - 2011 -  Just call me Daniel Meyer Jr.

Good Lord man, it was 7 years old when I quit, washing....

[Serk]

You mean... You can wash 'em??? I thought that's what riding in the rain was for? 

[Daniel Meyer]

2004 - 2011 -  Just call me Daniel Meyer Jr.

LOL RJ! 

I've about gotten my 2004 Alaska ride all washed off her now...

[fudgie]

Every couple months unless it gets rained on. I had 1100 miles of road grime, butterflies, and bazillion grasshoppers all over the bike at Sturgis. Made a trek to Deadwood for a bikini wash but none was found.  Had to do it myself.  Was gonna get one in town before we left but didnt want to pay $25. The scenery was worth it but couldnt bring myself to do it.

[R J]

Daniel Sr.

It took several months to get all of the Alaska junk off, but the hardest was the sand from the Bonneville Salt flats.

That sheet can and does get in everywhere.

What was real shocking, was when I replaced the front tire after my Salt Flat stop,            Sand up the ying ding was inside the tire.     I would never have believed it possible, but it was in my tire.

[Westernbiker]

I have owned my '97' Bumblebee for just over three years now and it has been washed twice since I have owned it. The last time it was washed was when I returned from Yellowstone this year and I had a guy come over and do it along with the trailer. It was REALLY bad! This guy washed it with purified water that he brings, it is dried and air dried with a hand held blower, polished ALL the chrome then waxed the bike and trailer. It looked like it just came off the showroom floor. Took him 5 hours and 15 minutes and cost me a C note. I felt it was well worth it. Usually I just wipe it down after every ride with a stuff called Purple Slice and a nonscratch proof towel I buy at Costco.

[Kaiser]

...for a bikini wash but none was found.  Had to do it myself.

I hope you are referring to the "wash" part and not the "bikini" part of "having to do it yourself". 

[ChromeDome]

Usually when I can't stand how dirty it is. I mean, if it is nice enough to wash ... shouldn't you be riding!

[Valkahuna]

This is my previous schedule and leads to current"

Brand new to 1999 - washed every day during spring, summer, fall

1999 to 2001 - After every ride

2001 - 2003 - After every other ride, unlees it was in the rain

2004 - 2011 -  Just call me Daniel Meyer Jr.

Good Lord man, it was 7 years old when I quit, washing....

+1. A very typical schedule most likely for a lot of us. (Although unfortunately I don't know Daniel yet) Works for cars too! 

[Psycho]

I usually wash the Bike once a year.   I take a bath every other year.

[R J]

I usually wash the Bike once a year.   I take a bath every other year.

Well the bath thing, we was aware of that.....

[ChromeDome]

I usually wash the Bike once a year.   I take a bath every other year.

That often ... who knew. I always thought that Connie just hosed you off every month or so.

[PhredValk]

Brigitt is my main mode of transport from April to October; to work, shopping, visiting etc, so I ride her daily (unless it's really raining). I guess I wash her if I want to show her off a bit, like after the ride home I wanted her looking good when she met my Mom. Last thing before putting her away for the winter and when I'm getting ready for riding in the spring as well.
Fred.

[Jabba]

The scenery was worth it but couldnt bring myself to do it.

That's the MARRIED man comin' out already.



I don't wash mine much.  Although more lately.  I follow the addage that if it's nice enough to wash... it's nice enough to ride... but sometimes I am sitting my 3 year old... and I CAN'T ride.  and he likes to use the hose... so they been getting washed a LITTLE more often.

Jabba

[bigguy]

Do you wash your bike after each ride?

[Big Rig]

Every couple months unless it gets rained on. I had 1100 miles of road grime, butterflies, and bazillion grasshoppers all over the bike at Sturgis. Made a trek to Deadwood for a bikini wash but none was found.   Had to do it myself.   Was gonna get one in town before we left but didnt want to pay $25. The scenery was worth it but couldnt bring myself to do it.

Om, sorry, but I had a BAD visual...you giving your bike a wash in a bikini....

Struck me as sick and funny all at once...

Yes almost after every ride, unless it is too dark to see...

[Pete]

After ever trip of several hundred miles.
Always after riding in the rain.
After several daily rides if it appears dirty. (probably wash once a week)

Soap and water is cheap and it takes only a few minutes to do a wash job.
As for a detailed cleaning, when I have the time and it needs it.

You folks that do not wash your bike? How do you know which is the "shiney" side?

[fuzzy2bucks]

Have been taught never to wash a motorcycle with soap and water, unless it is a dirt bike with caked on mud.  I just use Honda brand cleaning spray in the can and wipe it off, much better than Kawasaki's cleaning spray which requires an extra step which I use on my KAW Vulcan until I found the Honda product.

[Michvalk]

I live on a gravel road (3/4 mile to blacktop) ride early spring, late fall, sometimes in the winter. I Have to wash mine at least every other week, or I can't move it without the motor.(HEAVY) Needs it now, but won't get it until the weekend.

[NCGhostrider]

Wish I had time to wash my bike.  Now I am lucky to get q quick wipe down and clean the windshield before a ride.  I have been debating a thorough cleaning, but its so dang hot here that I will probably not do it!

[Kaz]

I may not be a Daniel Meyer the III but washing your bike gets in the way of riding it doesn't it?

[tank_post142]

hurricane wilma cleaned it up a while back.

[alph]

when ever i get time!!  lately it's about once a month..... 

[vanagon40]

I think the original owner spent more time polishing than riding.  He claimed that after every ride he polished the bike with Honda spray.  Between 2001 and 2006, he put 4,300 miles on the bike.

I wash the bike with water and soap at least once a year.  Honda Polish without water a few times in between.  If my disc brakes made less dust, or if I never rode in rain or on wet roads, I might never clean the bike.

Ride first, polish second.

[Rocketman]

She keeps telling me that if it sits still long enough to wash, it will get washed.


Still, it almost never does. 
Shown above:  One of the rare times, when the Valkyrie got the well deserved rest and bath after ~3500 miles to InZane.

[Hoser]

I dont, but at least once a week....

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/webcam/garage.html

Of course  I do, at least a wipe down.  Hoser

[big turkey]

Why wash when you can trade it ,,,,,,,in the same amount of time.

Land Elephant is the Premier authority on washing bikes.

Ask him.

Big Al

[Normandog]

Used to wash it before every ride and sometimes after if I rode home in rain. BUT as I got to riding more and more I learned the real enjoyment in a motorcycle is riding and not washing. So now I wash it when the spirit moves me.
I mean Daniel Myer's bike looks like a bike that belongs to a man who knows how to enjoy his motorcycle. He rides it. Thanks for the inspiration Daniel 

[Dag]

2004 - 2011 -  Just call me Daniel Meyer Jr.

LOL RJ!  

I've about gotten my 2004 Alaska ride all washed off her now...

That is the worst I've ever seen .... shame on you Daniel.  
I can barely see a Valkyrie behind all the crap.

     

[Dag]

She keeps telling me that if it sits still long enough to wash, it will get washed.


Still, it almost never does.  
Shown above:  One of the rare times, when the Valkyrie got the well deserved rest and bath after ~3500 miles to InZane.

This is what I like to watch. Two beautiful ladies taking a "shower" together  

[big turkey]

That's not crap,,,,,,,, that's adventure.

Big Al

[KW]

I used to wash AND detail her once a week . . .  This summer? I'm on pace to log more miles than any other summer, but have only wash her off 2 or 3 times and detailed her once. Am I a bad parent?

[Dag]

That's not crap,,,,,,,, that's adventure.

Big Al

OK, I do also have some "adventure" covering my Valk sometimes, but I use to wash it off and convert it to a good memory.

[KW]

PS - In that picture of Daniel Meyer's bike . . . that the oddest trailer I've ever seen behind his bike. How did it travel down the highway?!?!?  

[hubcapsc]

I "Joe's Juice" mine off when it gets embarrassing, and clean the snot out of stuff when I do maintenance...



-Mike

[Daniel Meyer]

PS - In that picture of Daniel Meyer's bike . . . that the oddest trailer I've ever seen behind his bike. How did it travel down the highway?!?!?  

Funny thing is the hotel staff wiped down my jacket, pack, and boots for me. They also gave me free laundry to wash my jeans. Guess they didn't want me in the hotel room that dirty.

That's 5000 miles of grime right there (Dallas, Texas to Fairbanks, Alaska...via Wisconsin). Several hundred of it mud roads.


(I wiped the blinkers/tailight at each fillup)

[Chrisj CMA]

Ive had my Valk over 8 years now........properly washed it with the bucket and soap mayby 4 times, but I do wiper her down after every ride and gently rinse off the very dirty parts immediatly upon arrivin g home is I had to ride in rain,dirt,etc..........I do the serious cleaning after supper before going to bed so cleaning never interferes with riding.  117,000 miles and shealways looks like this........well almost always..... 

[KW]

Daniel; that IS impressive my friend! Wow! Are those LytherLyke bags? It's just a little hard to tell . .   

My bride and I plan on 'going west' next summer. I just called her in the Library to read your post and to telll her "that's our goal!" I hope I didn't scare her!