Washing my baby...

[kgaskins]

Greetings...

I have a quick question. I've owned a K1200GT and a K1300GT and pretty much used off the shelf products (Turtlewax, I believe) to wash the bike. Since the engines were pretty much covered with the fairing, I didn't worry about it and it didn't seem to be a problem. Now, I have a R1250RT and with more of the engine exposed, I am rethinking what I should be using to wash the bike.

Can you folks recommend something that I canbuy at the local store or am I going to be relegated to the BMW dealer for this product?

Thanks,

Ken

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

I use either Meguiar's or Mother's or equivalent which ever is on sale at the local auto parts shop or Costco. The soap with wax in it is fine for the body work and wheels.
S-100 is used sparingly if the wheels are really dirty. Sparingly as you don't want that stuff to dry up on your bike... YMMV

 

[collingsbob]

I’ve used a foam cannon from Chemical Guys https://www.chemicalguys.com/collections/foam-guns-cannons
with ceramic car wash on my FJR1300, my ‘53 Vincent and my 2021 Toyota Rav 4 for quite a few years…and I plan to use it on my R1300GS when it gets delivered.

 

[pglaves]

Dish soap and water. Carb or brake cleaner on gunk.

 

[Toruk]

I use Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic products. The detail spray works great for a quick wipe down after a ride.

 

[BC1100S]

Dish soap and water. Carb or brake cleaner on gunk.

Plus 1

Why complicate something as simple as washing one's motorcycle?

 

[fbt80]

Dawn.

 

[r0ckrat]

If you wax the shiny colored bits, don't use dish detergent, it strips the wax off. Or wax it again when done washing.

Just about any auto wash soap will work, from "store brand" to Maguire's to Griot's.

 

[rogerc60]

Brake cleaner can be hard on painted surfaces. I like Spray 9 for cleaning the gunk.

 

[skibum69]

I use a product called Simple Green Max that works quite well on hard gunk and is pretty easy on the environment and your body. My poor little 640 Adventure definitely needs some washing love.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

Simple Green is detrimental to aluminum and banned from aircraft hangers at least that used to be. A friend of mine washed her GS wheels and they got stained pretty badly…

 

[lee]

Simple Green is detrimental to aluminum and banned from aircraft hangers at least that used to be. A friend of mine washed her GS wheels and they got stained pretty badly…

The GS cast wheels are coated and I thought the rims on the spoke rims were steel.

 

[RODELL]

Straight simple green (I don't know about the variants they now market) is hell on untreated aluminum. It will pit pretty quickly.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

The GS cast wheels are coated and I thought the rims on the spoke rims were steel.

She had the bare uncoated ones on her 1150... Yes the wheels are coated now but Simple Green is still not good for aluminum products..

 

[bbhatt]

Straight simple green (I don't know about the variants they now market) is hell on untreated aluminum. It will pit pretty quickly.

Not only that, but even hard coat anodized parts can discolor. And mere surface finished anno gets eaten through.