How do you keep your motorbike in mint condition?

Question

Hi - I have a second hand CG125 at the moment but if I pass my test I will be wanting something bigger (and faster) - But if I am spending £1300+ on a newer bike I would like to keep it looking really smart

What do you guys do - Have you any tips? If you have to go out in the rain like me, can you stop it from rusting to bits
Do you coat the bike in wd40 as I have been told?

When I see R1s Ninjas and especially Harleys they are normally in really good nick and would love to know how they do it - Any tricks of the trade?
I know it might seem a bit of a dumb question but people who have been into bikes for ages must have some answers?

Thanks

Safe riding :)

Answer 1

Most serious all weather riders will have a winter "nail" or "hack" i.e. a small cheap bike that they can use through the winter. This means you can keep your beloved big bike tucked up safe & warm in your garage.


There's nothing that destroys your bike quicker than the salt on the roads in the winter, if you have to ride your bike on salty roads rinse it off as soon as possible as the salt quickly eats anything made of alloy.

A bit of rain won't hurt it, the best maintenance regime is a little & often , wash every week, dry & polish paintwork to avoid water marks. I use GT85 instead of WD40 as it is safer to use on rubber & gives superior protection.

Use "pro prep" silicone spray on painted engine casings, hoses & black plastic for a showroom finish. Crystal Glo polish is also supposed to give really good protection to your paintwork.

Answer 2

Ok the short answer is "Endless hours of cleaning"

If you have to use a bike in all weathers the I am afraid that unless you are prepared to clean it off every time it gets covered in road grime and salt then the demon rust will get in there

I am fortunate to be able to ride when I want too and now only for pleasure. I keep my Harley and my Goldwing in a "Carcoon" bike bubble once clean. This really only helps once the bike has been thoroughly cleaned first

Like I said I am in the position of being able to ride for pleasure and can choose to leave the bike in the garage when the weather is foul

So the essence is take the time to keep it in a clean condition and polished and wash off anything that will harm it daily if you have to

Good luck and ride safe(rubber on the road and shiny side up)

Answer 3

If you want to ride in all conditions, you have to accept there will be some degradation in the finish of your motorbike. Yes, the WD40 idea is valid. Note: DO NOT GET THIS ON YOUR BRAKE DISCS (when you have brake discs of course!), or your brakes will not function, and you may die. Same for Scottoil FS365. If you ride in winter, there will be some salt on most roads, so rinse your bike off with a hose as soon as possible after riding, then reapply WD40/FS365. You could also use Waxoyl, it's a spray-on wax that won't wash off with water (requires solvent or steam cleaner) - again don't get this on your brakes!

Answer 4

Unfortunately the best way to keep a bike pristine in this country is to only use it on sunny, dry days.
Deterioration is something you need to accept if you want to use the bike properly, but at least the little Honda is less prone to corrosion than some, so keep it as a winter bike. That way your newer pride and joy will last a bit longer. Use Scottoiler FS365 protection spray to abate the corrosion a bit.

Answer 5

If you are going to ride regularly, your bike will need cleaning, preferably with something actually designed to clean motorbikes (rather than cars or bicycles).

The best one on the market is S100 range of motorcycle care products - as recommended by Harley-Davidson and Ducati.

After 25 years of riding, I've found nothing else works better...

Answer 6

Clean your bike regularly with a mild soap, and polish your chrome. Avoid gravel roads and riding in the snow. Rain shouldn't hurt your bike too much, unless the roads are salty. Avoid salty roads like the plague.

Answer 7

the best way is to keep it tucked away in the garage away from the crappy British weather and car drivers