Holy COW!!

[stlheadake]

I've got a Silver bike!!  All this time I thought it was Black!  Well this afternoon accidentally turned into a great one!  I got home from work, ate dinner, listened to the kids talk about their 'rough' days, then snuck outside.  I washed my baby!  First time since October, maybe September!  I rode it ALL winter even in the snow once or twice on accident.  She was FILTHY!

I cleaned her up pretty well, put a couple coats of wax on her.  She'll be good for another six months or so.  In the process, I was reminded of WHY I don't clean her.  I found several scars, and rash from derbris all over the front fairing.  Kinda hurts a little.  I put two coats of wax on her, hell that and the loss of dirt, oughta get me a couple more MPG'S 

[metzgerf16]

Usually the kind of weather that encourages cleaning the bike is the same weather that encourages riding the bike.  I'd rather ride.  And like you said, when you clean the bike, you find more scratches and dings.

[Son of Pappy]

I only clean when it's service time.  These silverdammit bikes are made to be ridden, not polished, as has been proved over and over.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

I only clean when it's service time.  These silverdammit bikes are made to be ridden, not polished, as has been proved over and over.

+1

[martin_14]

I don't remember the color of my bike. I'd have to look the pictures of when I bought it, but she is soooo fast that by the time the camera shutter reacted she was already somewhere else. Oh, yes, now I remember: she's black. 

[stlheadake]

I'm with you, my bike is my transportation to and from work, play, and everywhere in between.  I sure get proud when she's all gussied up, but I'd much rather be out of the driveway having fun!

Usually the kind of weather that encourages cleaning the bike is the same weather that encourages riding the bike.  I'd rather ride.  And like you said, when you clean the bike, you find more scratches and dings.

[jjsC6]

No reason you can't ride and keep them clean.  I put about 18,000 miles on my bikes a year, and they are all immaculate the day after I ride them.  If they are your daily transportation, I certainly understand that it would not be practical to keep them clean all the time, although I do keep my cars pretty clean as well.

[So Cal Joe]

No reason you can't ride and keep them clean.  I put about 18,000 miles on my bikes a year, and they are all immaculate the day after I ride them.  If they are your daily transportation, I certainly understand that it would not be practical to keep them clean all the time, although I do keep my cars pretty clean as well.

I'm with you. I keep all my vehicles clean and spotless. It doesn't take that long to do if you keep up with it. My bike gets washed after every ride and waxed about once a month. My SUV gets washed once a week and waxed every 3 months. I guess that's why when I sell my stuff I have no problem getting my price.
Oh yea, and being retired doesn't hurt either.

[Ron Dawg]

+2

5 minutes with some wet towels on the windshield (soaking off the bugs) and 2 minutes with a couple of wet/dry microfiber cloths and a can of pledge after each ride on the rest.I think it's easier to clean a little and often than a LOT on a day when I want to ride.

[rtarp1]

you will get less paint chips if you keep wax on it .

[Son of Pappy]

I'm not too worried about resale as I'm not interested in a new ST of any kind, well, if they offered a special 2013 in Neutron Silver or Root Beer Brown, non ABS I may take a peek, but I would not sell my '08 to get it.  As ABS has become standard and Neutron Silver is too fast for the majority of riders I reckon I will just keep riding what I have

[ZG]

I keep my bikes clean but I also don't ride them every day, and try to avoid riding them in the rain if possible...
 
I used to keep my truck clean but now she get's washed maybe a half dozen times a year so is usually dirty, I think it doesn't bother me with my truck as much because she's more of a daily driver... I get the feeling that the folks on here that don't keep their Connie clean is due to the same reason, they use it as a daily driver.
 

[booger]

No reason you can't ride and keep them clean.  I put about 18,000 miles on my bikes a year, and they are all immaculate the day after I ride them.  If they are your daily transportation, I certainly understand that it would not be practical to keep them clean all the time, although I do keep my cars pretty clean as well.

I'm with you.  My bike and cars costs to doggone much not to keep them in great mechanical order AND clean and shiney

[Conrad]

I'd rather be riding than washing and waxing too. The thing is, I enjoy have a beer or three from time to time. I never ride and drink but I can certainly wash, wax, and drink. If I can't ride her, I can sure clean her up.

 

[koval68]

No reason you can't ride and keep them clean.  I put about 18,000 miles on my bikes a year, and they are all immaculate the day after I ride them.  If they are your daily transportation, I certainly understand that it would not be practical to keep them clean all the time, although I do keep my cars pretty clean as well.

Yup, I am in that group as well. 

[stlheadake]

I USED to clean my truck (3/4 ton 4x4 crew) which took half a day.  I used to keep my bike clean.  Then I had kids.  FOUR of 'em.  I find now that I have MUCH less time to clean.  I really only get to ride to work, occasionally on the weekends.  When the opportunity presents, I RIDE!  I can clean later!

[RideBellChain]

I polish and clean and fondle my bike almost as often as I ....       

It's so freaking easy to clean compared to my cruiser with all that chrome!  I use Motospray from Cycle Gear and a micro-towel...takes about 10 minutes if you keep up on it.  Other advantages to cleaning other than letting people know you have a bad-ass bike that you love: you do a visual inspection and catch problems before they catch you...

[RideBellChain]

+2

5 minutes with some wet towels on the windshield (soaking off the bugs) and 2 minutes with a couple of wet/dry microfiber cloths and a can of pledge after each ride on the rest.I think it's easier to clean a little and often than a LOT on a day when I want to ride.

I made the mistake of using lemon-pledge once because I heard it keeps the love-bugs off...I heard "Pledge"...my wife had the lemon-stuff so I used it...and couldn't figure out why I had bees all over the place!!!  Don't use the LEMON Pledge and ride through orange groves...nope, don't do it...ask me why!   

[metzgerf16]

I don't have to clean my bike that often since I live in Vegas.  Getting caught in the rain isn't a problem out here, nor do we many bugs.  So a good wash and wax will last a long time.  I can get by for a month, sometimes longer, without washing it just by using a California Car Duster.  I take care of my bikes and car.  They don't get neglected by any means, but if I have a choice between riding or washing the bike, I'm riding.

[Cold Streak]

I am much more interested in keeping the inside of the bike clean via regular oil changes, clean filters, etc.  When I do clean the outside it's with a can of bike cleaner and a towel.  The wheels get cleaned when I change the tires.  Also agree it's the best way to drink beer and spend time with the bike.