How Does HF Keep His Bike So Clean?
Written by Highfive
Much to my amazement, I've been asked repeatedly by other riders, "How do you keep your bike so clean? What magical cleaning chemicals &/or equipment do you use? At first, I thought people were joking. But, the Krabill has assured me this is a serious question. So, I'm going to let you get dirty with me (er..uh..clean, that is). I hope this article is helpful to you, and you're not disappointed with the simplicity of my procedures. Let's dive in.
I have two important rules regarding bike cleaning:
1) The ride isn't over until the bike is clean!
2) No high pressure washing!
Now, like most things in life, there are exceptions to the rules. But its not often that you would find me violating these two rules. Most of my cleaning is performed at Rancho Highfive utilizing this super duper, top-secret equipment:
That's right, I use my standard, low pressure, home water supply via a garden hose with a trigger sprayer.....plus a bucket, sponge, Dawn dishwashing soap, and good 'ol fashioned elbow grease. I've tried all kinds of different soaps through the years. Even that fancy pantsy "Save the Planet" biodegradable stuff. Nothing works better for me than "DAWN" dishwashing soap. Its cheap, plentiful, available everywhere, and just plain works!
Be sure to put a plug in your exhaust pipe. You don't want to be spraying water and soap down in there. Also, don't spray hard and long into the bearing areas (i.e. steering bearings, wheel bearings, shock linkage). And, don't spray hard at your fork seals.....there's no reason to fill the inside of your dust covers with a bunch of water. That will just lead to early fork seal failure (as I've learned the hard way).
Dirt & mud has a unique characteristic: "Dirt really sticks to dirt, but not so much to clean metal." Yeah, it gets on there and clings hard....but if you wash it off soon enough, it actually comes off quite easily. However, if you leave it on there to dry out for weeks on end...baking and re-baking with multiple heat cycles from riding....it just ain't coming off (maybe ever).
So, if you really want to keep your bike looking fresh & clean, WASH IT OFTEN...but in a gentle way that is not harmful to the bike, its seals & bearings, and decals. No need to use a high pressure washer. Rubbing the surfaces with a sponge takes the grime off the surfaces much better than a high pressure washer anyway.
After hand washing and drying the bike, its a good idea to start the motor and bring the engine up to normal operating temperature. Ride it around a bit too. This helps dry out all the water that may be hiding in crevases, bolt heads, the chain, the brakes, etc. A couple of miles down the road & back, will really help keep your chain from rusting. Just make sure you haven't flooded your airbox during the washing & rinsing process. You don't want to start your bike with an airbox full of water.
Next up, my all time favorite, all-purpose detailer: "gasoline on a rag."
At my house, I use it for everything. Probably even more than duct tape. Although, my wife has been a bit slow to accept the smell in the den. I'm kind of partial to it, but she doesn't seem to appreciate its deodorizing benefits as a household air freshner. Its not a "problem" in our marriage, rather just an "issue". Everybody has "issues". But I digress...
Here's what I do and how I do it....the photos speak for themselves. Reader Beware: these are some of the most popular spots for grime to congregate.
Yes....I clean the spokes regularly, and they look shiny new all the time. It also might help to ride better. By that, I mean stop falling down so much and bashing your spokes in the rocks. But I can't help you with that "issue". I don't know how, because...well...I don't go down.
Next, clean the swingarm and rear shock like this:
As well as the engine...
I know....you're thinking this is Crazy Simple. And you're right! It is. Gasoline on a rag seems to wipe off nearly any kind of FRESH grime. Not sure what you might need to chisle off some Year-Old Stain. Maybe a fresh can of spray paint....I dunno.
If this hasn't made you a Believer yet, then maybe this next example will. I've heard so many people complain about the boot marks on their pretty white side covers, and I've chuckled at all the different suggestions I've read in the forums for dealing with it.....some good, some not so good. Here's what I do:
Yup....gasoline on a rag. Its the darnd'st stuff I've ever come across. Works every time. Once my wife was complaining about all the fingerprints she couldn't get off the Fridge in the kitchen. She had tried every kind of cleaner ever sold at Wally World. I told her, "no worries, I'll fix it in a jiffy!" Got the fingerprints off in short order (one swipe), but she suddenly didn't seem too happy about it upon returning to the kitchen. Women...Go figure!
My final step is to polish the plastic and tires using these faithful partners:
Armor All keeps all the black rubber and plastic components spiffy. Love it on my tire sidewalls too. While the Honda Spray Polish is spectacular product as you can see in this photo above. There are lots of brands for the plastic spray polish. I've not tried others, but they are probably very similar. I have discovered the Honda Spray Polish works wonders on my plexiglass windshield (on my Goldwing). That's something you might want to try on your other bikes. You do have "other" bikes...right? If not, then you've got an "issue".
Well, there you have it. That pretty much covers my typical cleaning routine. The benefits of a well kept bike are many. It makes maintenance routines safer & easier, and always yields a higher resell value. People are willing to pay more for a well kept machine. But the most important reason for me is "Performance" related. I use this process to inspect my bike with a fine tooth comb. Checking for irregularities that need to be addressed long before they become a problem. Finding and fixing loose bolts, broken parts, etc, early on pays enormous dividends to me. You can call me anal, but you'll hardly ever catch me broke down on the trail!
HF