My Evo has now covered 33k miles and although still with fresh looking paint and metalwork the area around the clutch and front brake lever looks increasingly “grubby”. I must admit that when I clean her after a run I’m not to particular :fou::freak: I’m thinking some kind of spray-on cleaner or would a bathroom foam cleaner be okay ? I used to look at pictures of Vince’s (Luddite) Evo and cringe at my slothfulness……:hissy: What do YOU use ?
Cleaning grubby controls.
- Thread starter crawsue
- Start date
This is a good question really and I meant to have a go at answering it while it was on the old site, but didn't quite manage it.
I enjoy cleaning my Monster and some of it is highly ritualised, like the final polish of the silencers before a ride, with Autosol or Silvo.
For wheels and other painted items I use a trigger atomising spray (squirt) of gentle detergent solution. I'm using one from Rock oil at moment called Dirt Blaster. I also used a Mucoff one, which was much the same.
Great for getting road grime and brake dust off wheels and also the tyre side walls. Never on brake discs.
Chain lube spots are more easily removed with a little clutch and brake cleaner on a rag. Also C&B cleaner is always the finale to a clean with a careful wipe round each side of each disc to remove water and any other contaminant that may have splashed on them.
If it's really mingin I will get a bucket of warm water with a dash of Wash and Wax stirred in, but try not to get any on the discs if possible.
I'll use a rag for that but a chamois would be the dogs I suppose.
Don't be tempted to put a squirt of dish detergent in the bucket unless you're really stuck. It has salt in it and can lead to minor corrosion if used long term.
If it only needs a cat wash, I reach for my Ultra Grime wipes. These are industrial wet wipes and will get most kind of muck off any surface except for stubborn greasy deposits. They are kind to paint and metals, even very kind to my skin and I'll use them to clean my hands very often.
I buy them in bulk and always have a packet on the go in both workshops. Brilliant for cleaning glue off woodwork jobs. About the only thing that's effective on uncured PU glue.
As mentioned above C&B cleaner is a favourite for anything oily or greasy. I always buy a 5 litre container and never aerosols.
I'll pour a little into a take away tub and then use an old toothbrush, which will get in pretty much anywhere. Good way of cleaning the chain and sprockets.
Again doesn't hurt paint or finishes. I do admit to cleaning my fingers with it occasionally, but not sure that's a great idea, latex gloves are your friend.
This would clean up your levers and controls with a little polish with a dry cloth afterwards.
However after 33k miles I would remove the levers and toothbrush them all round in the take away tub, then reassemble with a smear of moly grease on the pivots.
I couldn't comment on bathroom foam and It might just work, but test it your bike not mine!
I do however use Mr Muscle foaming drain cleaner on the engine every now and then to bust hardened grime.
I'll pour a little of both parts into a take away tub, whereupon it starts to foam straightaway. Then brush it onto the engine, into fins and all the crevices, with a toothbrush or bottle brush, whatever takes your fancy.
Wash off with water fairly quickly and repeat if needed.
A combination of that and Gunk seems to bring the silver engine parts up fairly clean with plenty of scrubbing.
The exhaust pipes get an annual electro-polish with my collection of mops from Metal Polishing Supplies.
The other polished metal occasionally gets the Autosol, but is kept good mostly with Silvo. which comes in a tin and is impregnated wadding, Used to be called Duraglit. I'll use that on chrome and the anodised fork legs too as its much more gentle than Autosol.
For the paint and lacquered carbon I've got some lovely Farcela G10 compound and wax.
I enjoy cleaning my Monster and some of it is highly ritualised, like the final polish of the silencers before a ride, with Autosol or Silvo.
For wheels and other painted items I use a trigger atomising spray (squirt) of gentle detergent solution. I'm using one from Rock oil at moment called Dirt Blaster. I also used a Mucoff one, which was much the same.
Great for getting road grime and brake dust off wheels and also the tyre side walls. Never on brake discs.
Chain lube spots are more easily removed with a little clutch and brake cleaner on a rag. Also C&B cleaner is always the finale to a clean with a careful wipe round each side of each disc to remove water and any other contaminant that may have splashed on them.
If it's really mingin I will get a bucket of warm water with a dash of Wash and Wax stirred in, but try not to get any on the discs if possible.
I'll use a rag for that but a chamois would be the dogs I suppose.
Don't be tempted to put a squirt of dish detergent in the bucket unless you're really stuck. It has salt in it and can lead to minor corrosion if used long term.
If it only needs a cat wash, I reach for my Ultra Grime wipes. These are industrial wet wipes and will get most kind of muck off any surface except for stubborn greasy deposits. They are kind to paint and metals, even very kind to my skin and I'll use them to clean my hands very often.
I buy them in bulk and always have a packet on the go in both workshops. Brilliant for cleaning glue off woodwork jobs. About the only thing that's effective on uncured PU glue.
As mentioned above C&B cleaner is a favourite for anything oily or greasy. I always buy a 5 litre container and never aerosols.
I'll pour a little into a take away tub and then use an old toothbrush, which will get in pretty much anywhere. Good way of cleaning the chain and sprockets.
Again doesn't hurt paint or finishes. I do admit to cleaning my fingers with it occasionally, but not sure that's a great idea, latex gloves are your friend.
This would clean up your levers and controls with a little polish with a dry cloth afterwards.
However after 33k miles I would remove the levers and toothbrush them all round in the take away tub, then reassemble with a smear of moly grease on the pivots.
I couldn't comment on bathroom foam and It might just work, but test it your bike not mine!
I do however use Mr Muscle foaming drain cleaner on the engine every now and then to bust hardened grime.
I'll pour a little of both parts into a take away tub, whereupon it starts to foam straightaway. Then brush it onto the engine, into fins and all the crevices, with a toothbrush or bottle brush, whatever takes your fancy.
Wash off with water fairly quickly and repeat if needed.
A combination of that and Gunk seems to bring the silver engine parts up fairly clean with plenty of scrubbing.
The exhaust pipes get an annual electro-polish with my collection of mops from Metal Polishing Supplies.
The other polished metal occasionally gets the Autosol, but is kept good mostly with Silvo. which comes in a tin and is impregnated wadding, Used to be called Duraglit. I'll use that on chrome and the anodised fork legs too as its much more gentle than Autosol.
For the paint and lacquered carbon I've got some lovely Farcela G10 compound and wax.
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I use XCP cleaner these days. On everything except chain and sprockets. Best results i've ever had. Used to use Muc-Off and S-Doc1000 but the XCP is streets ahead. I found an online motorbike cleaning test reviews where they tried something like 100 different products. XCP came top so I gave it a go. For the chain I still use kerosene. I use it to fuel my workshop heater, and have an odour free version in my parts cleaner, so always have some to hand.
motomartin11
Registered
I'm stuck in the 1970's- still using Jizer but it ain't what it used to be. Nor Gunk for that matter.
More recently I've been using Muc-Off which is OK.
Not heard of XCP? . I thought it was a 70s / 80's post punk / new wave band. Anyone remember "Making Plans For Nigel LOL.
I shall have to try some XCP though.
Yes though some good advice which causes me to review my cleaning strategy. Only on Sunday did I properly degrease and clean the discs on my bikes following advice I think I saw on here........
More recently I've been using Muc-Off which is OK.
Not heard of XCP? . I thought it was a 70s / 80's post punk / new wave band. Anyone remember "Making Plans For Nigel LOL.
I shall have to try some XCP though.
Yes though some good advice which causes me to review my cleaning strategy. Only on Sunday did I properly degrease and clean the discs on my bikes following advice I think I saw on here........
motomartin11
Registered
Gazza's pictured bike puts my M750 to shame...
Leamreject
Registered
You’ll be surprised what a cheap pound shop can of furniture polish can do to break down oil and grease. Fantastic on your rear wheel to remove chain lube that has splattered everywhere and great around the gear selector where there is a build up of thick grease
And no need to polish anything after as it leaves a polished finish.
And no need to polish anything after as it leaves a polished finish.