washing the Valkyrie

[Shasta]

Hey guys

As a KLR owner I am not familiar with the concept of washing a big, bueatiful, shiny bike.

How do you guys do it?  Is it okay to hose it down?  Have any of you tried these type of products and or had any luck with them?

http://www.amazon.com/S100-12001B-Total-Cleaner-Bottle/dp/B000WJX6IM

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G55033-Motorcycle-Care-Kit/dp/B0012ZITJQ

Thanks, Matt

[..]

I use a hose attachment with a mist function. Don't want to drown the bike.

Soak a towel with 50 50 hydrogen peroxide and water and lay on windshield to soften  bugs.

[BonS]

S-100 has been my go-to cleaner for decades. For what it's worth it's the go-to cleaner at every Harley Davidson dealer. I spray it on everything and just hose if off. My best cleaning tool is a blower. I use one made for blowing water off of cars but any blower could work. The Valkyrie just has a lot of water catching locations and the blower gets most of them. It still takes a towel, or two, to complete the wipe down though.

[DarkSideR]

I have found a good formula to keep the Valk clean and shiny. Hose her down, have a bucket of soapy water, and a good sponge. Work your way top down hitting the wheels last. After she is all cleaned up I use a high quality chamio to dry it off. The chamio eliminates water spots and nicely polishes the chrome.

I'm sure others have more complicated formulas, but you could put a microscope to my bike and not find a spec of dirt.

Once a year I use a rubbing compound to remove swirls in the paint and a plastic polish to clean up the windshield.

Products used;
 - Meguirar's Wash & Wax Soap
 - 3M Rubbing Compound (removes swirls)
 - Meguiar's Wax (polish & protect the paint)
 - PlastX (cleans up windshield)
 - Don't forget something to maintain and treat your seat.

Hope this helps

DarkSider 

[czuch]

Dish soap, thinned out real good with a terrycloth towel. Rinse, dry with receiving blanket.
NEXUS makes a dynamic windshield cleaner. 3 phase .
1 silicone to polish.
2 to remove scratches
3  Its really gritty.
I have a bad de-lamination and I put the "2" on it and its like new.

[Robert]

Lots of water
a good soap/wax solution
assorted brushes and micro fiber towel
good blower
spray wax or detail spray along with a few dry micro fiber towels
The detail spray acts as a lubricant to keep anything in the towels from scratching the paint.
Keep some detail spray with a micro fiber towel to remove bugs on the road.

Takes 45 minutes to 1 hour and she looks like new. If you are worried about water and the bike runs rough its better to find out now than in a rain storm 

[Oss]

Used to have the secretary wash the bike

no blow drying or high pressure hose

high heels optional

[John Schmidt]

Oss, ever wonder what she'd do if a person were to pull one of those bowties? You know she isn't going to chase you. 

[DarkSideR]

When did Oss get an R1? 

[Shasta]

After much thought I have decided to go with Oss' technique.  Can I find that cleaning kit on Amazon?

[Bighead]

I use simple Green in a spray bottle and spray the whole ( cool not hot ) bike down that will loosen any bugs/road grime then spray it with jet setting on hose nozzle then Purple power car wash soap and a wash mitt then air compressor hose to blow water out of all the nooks and cranny's then finish with a chamois. (sp)

[Mr Whiskey]

Dish soap, thinned out real good with a terrycloth towel.

Hydrogen peroxide straight (it's only 3%, mostly water already) to soften up the bugs, & multipurpose Pledge.
100% cotton washcloths from wallyworld (rip the tags out).
The cheapo Mainstays, bought 32 of 'em for 'bout 7 bucks.
I keep all three in a couple of plastic bags in trunk.
Put dirty rags in one bag, clean in other.
(Plastic bags double as rain booties, haha!)
That's about it most times.
Still amazed at the shine I get with Pledge!
If it's really dirty, car wash, hydrogen peroxide, multipurpose Pledge. Takes me 'bout 20/30 minutes

Jus' a headz-up, dish soap is formulated to cut grease, strips the wax everytime you use it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dish soap, thinned out real good with a terrycloth towel.

Hydrogen peroxide straight (it's only 3%, mostly water already) to soften up the bugs, & multipurpose Pledge.
100% cotton washcloths from wallyworld (rip the tags out).
The cheapo Mainstays, bought 32 of 'em for 'bout 7 bucks.
I keep all three in a couple of plastic bags in trunk.
Put dirty rags in one bag, clean in other.
(Plastic bags double as rain booties, haha!)
That's about it most times.
Still amazed at the shine I get with Pledge!
If it's really dirty, car wash, hydrogen peroxide, multipurpose Pledge. Takes me 'bout 20/30 minutes

Jus' a headz-up, dish soap is formulated to cut grease, strips the wax everytime you use it.

Learn something on here just about every day.  How is the car wash soap ?

[Bighead]

I use car wash soap all the time but then again I don't nor have ever waxed my bike

[Pappy!]

Used to have the secretary wash the bike

no blow drying or high pressure hose

high heels optional

For some reason that just looks like an upside down heart!......knew she loved me!

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I hand wash with no soap at home. Use the brush on the pipes at the car wash, then the spot free rinse and blow dryer followed by hand drying. Usually take off my ultimate seat before washing.

I think Oss has the best method though. 

[Gavin_Sons]

I have never washed my bike with soap and water. Use lucas mist after and before every ride to wipe it down. 

[Mr Whiskey]

Learn something on here just about every day.  How is the car wash soap ?

See people doin' their Bimmers & Benz with no worries.
(Got the car wash "bug" from SmokinJoe, haha!)
I hit it with the pre-soak, then quick pass with soap at pressure, & spot free rinse. (H3ll, Lucky 13 uses the WAX, which is mostly fish oil by the way, you can't "spray" carnauba through a hose!)
Ride it dry most times, then pledge first chance I get. Removes all the water spots, looks awesome!

I never touch it with car wash brush. Been used in too many pick-up truck beds.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Learn something on here just about every day.  How is the car wash soap ?

See people doin' their Bimmers & Benz with no worries.
(Got the car wash "bug" from SmokinJoe, haha!)
I hit it with the pre-soak, then quick pass with soap at pressure, & spot free rinse. (H3ll, Lucky 13 uses the WAX, which is mostly fish oil by the way, you can't "spray" carnauba through a hose!)
Ride it dry most times, then pledge first chance I get. Removes all the water spots, looks awesome!

I never touch it with car wash brush. Been used in too many pick-up truck beds.

Sorry, I meant the soap you buy that says for car washing. I have never washed my bike at a car wash. I VERY seldom wash a vehicle at one either.

[saddlesore]

Dish soap, thinned out real good with a terrycloth towel.

Hydrogen peroxide straight (it's only 3%, mostly water already) to soften up the bugs, & multipurpose Pledge.
100% cotton washcloths from wallyworld (rip the tags out).
The cheapo Mainstays, bought 32 of 'em for 'bout 7 bucks.
I keep all three in a couple of plastic bags in trunk.
Put dirty rags in one bag, clean in other.
(Plastic bags double as rain booties, haha!)
That's about it most times.
Still amazed at the shine I get with Pledge!
If it's really dirty, car wash, hydrogen peroxide, multipurpose Pledge. Takes me 'bout 20/30 minutes

Jus' a headz-up, dish soap is formulated to cut grease, strips the wax everytime you use it.

+1 about the dish soap. It  has ammonia in it. I used shampoo years ago but now I use a wash/wax soap.