Ok, here is my situation I live in an apartment, meaning no garage and no outside hose. It's about time to give the magna a bath. There is a do it your self place, but it has pressure washers. Will I be ok if I use the pressure washer but keep back a few feet so I'm not 'blasting' the bike with water and then bringing a rag and wash it up well with that.
My second option is slapping on the rain suit and head over to the local gas station car wash.
Let me know your thoughts or ideas.
Yeah used to do it your self with the pressure washer used the S100 stuff and blast it off just keep a few feet back and you'll have no problems
Rain suit? Not if you're going thru a car wash! It keeps the water IN! Wear a bathing suit, don't sweat it! I "dry clean" my bike. I use Simple Green to get the most dirt off, & rinse with water on a rag. Dry then shine. I've never soaked my bike, it's 5 years old, & I was told today it was in really great shape for a 5 year old bike! Of course, no ride in rain or thick fog.
Works for me.
Cheers!
Greg
Bathing suit, huh..... I could get my bike washed and get in my shower for the day. And my wife says I can't multitask! Thanks for the info guys.
Any suggestions or opinions about what wax to use, or will any automotive wax do just fine?
Herman be VERY careful with the pressure washer, I personally do NOT like using them, as they can force water into your wheel bearings and things.
A good ole bucket of hot soapy water and a wash mit or such. You can get away with using a pressure washer but be very careful.
Avoid pressure washers. Use them and you are asking for future trouble.
Honda makes a great spray cleaner that works good as long as you are not trying to get off caked on/burned on bugs. Best way is warm soapy water and soft rags. More hassle I know but better and safer in the long run.
I gave the Magna a bath today. I just used two buckets, one with soapy water and one with clean. I washed and then rinsed with a rag from the clean water. Worked really well.
Thanks for the help.
That all around honda cleaner is the best thing going. Use it from the top of the windshield to bottom of the bike. Soapy water is best for the mud and grit. Spray the honda cleaner on the paint as well and it will do as well as wax. When it comes to the wheels use something like mothers and plenty of rags.
I stopped using the Honda spray for general cleaning because if there was still any water on the bike from washing it would streak. Also on those long rides, the morning dew on the bike would make it streak. I'm now using the BOM. It is expensive, but it doesn't mind water and does a great job on all surfaces. It also seems to keep the bugs from sticking so bad and repels dust. The $20 bottle I bought at the Wing Ding last year still is about 1/3 full so that's not too bad. Nothing against the Honda spray, it just didn't fit with the way I clean my bike. I do still use it for occasional polishing. The BOM is strictly a cleaner/protectant and does not polish.
Curtis
S100 works quite well also, Devin won a full cleaning kit in Eureka Springs.
I will have to check into where I can find a couple to pick up for "door prizes" for MOOTMag 3.
Yeah love the S100 too spray it on rinse it off clean bike presto!!!!