Topic: Road grime, blood and other bits (Read 3417 times)

johna · « **on:** May 29, 2010, 11:47:21 PM »

Road grime seems to have baked on like a powdercote
any suggestions on how to remove without scratching the chrome.
I think i may have a major detailing job to do, the bike is a bit of a mess.
Its amazing how much dirt you can collect in 2 days

Thanks

johna

Indenial · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2010, 07:53:04 AM »

WOW, sorry no idea. But I want to know what you do and see after pics.

49445CVO · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:00:02 AM »

Same here. I think I would try and use the wet towels and leave them on the surface for awhile to loosen it up

Twolanerider · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2010, 11:25:36 AM »

If the road grime you mention is some tar or other asphalt byproduct might also try kerosene. Won't hurt the paint when washed back off in a reasonable amount of time but will soften up the road yuck if that's what it is.

LRS · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2010, 01:56:36 PM »

I have used 0000 Steel Wool on all my Chrome for many years, it does not scratch and removes all signs of Road Grime.

Hawg · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2010, 02:32:59 PM »

What do they have on the roads that leaves that on your pipes?
Looks nasty!!

Fired00d · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2010, 02:48:57 PM »

Have you tried just soap (bike wash) and water yet?? If not just start there and see how much comes off before trying anything else.... start off w/the basics and then see what is left.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Wanna ride · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2010, 02:55:27 PM »

Like Fired00d said, but be sure to use a good quality auto-wash soap, not household detergents. After the soap and water, try some Simple Green. But a couple of precautions first... Make sure the bike is not hot (engine, pipes, etc). Spray it on and let it sit and do it's thing for a couple minutes. Then thoroughly rinse it off with a garden hose. This part's important... do not let it evaporate. It can stain if you do. This might take a couple of applications, and you can use a soft cloth to help wipe it in, using the hose to rinse it all off. I wouldn't suggest using Simple Green on the painted body parts (bags, tour pak, fenders, etc).

Hope this helps.

49445CVO · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2010, 04:01:27 PM »

Quote from: Fired00d on May 30, 2010, 02:48:57 PM

Have you tried just soap (bike wash) and water yet?? If not just start there and see how much comes off before trying anything else.... start off w/the basics and then see what is left.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Good one d00d, I almost never think simple or use the basics.

I second this

Chains · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2010, 04:42:22 PM »

Quote from: Hawg on May 30, 2010, 02:32:59 PM

What do they have on the raods that leaves that on your pipes?
Looks nasty!!

From the looks of the pipes, the word roads may be a stretch

guppytrash · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2010, 05:19:59 PM »

I agree with dood. The least amount of rubbing the better.. water, S100, more water.
If it is tar try this Turtle wax bug and tar cleaner. I used it on my truck after coating with tar on a fresh asphalt and it worked fantastic.
http://www.turtlewax.com/img/products/pop_2_1_4_11_1.jpg
I used the bottle on the far right.

Indenial · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:18:06 PM »

Would WD-40 do anything?

johna · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2010, 12:05:03 AM »

Thanks for the hints
The front is an even bigger mess and and I will have to book it in to bike hospital.
I smacked a 160lb + wild pig at about 65mph so while its stripped for repairs and replacement parts I am considering having it done professionally.

The roads look and feel like tar but what is on them i do not have any idea, but mix it with water and thats the result.

The road is south of Lightning Ridge which claims to be what they call the "Outback" a bit rough in parts but generally OK.
Things that matter or splatter are generally pot holes, mud, cattle, horses,sheep,kangaroos,wallabies, goats,wombats, foxes,emu's,owls,night hawks,cats,dogs,rabbits and pigs to name a few.Wild and domesticated the farms don't have fences only the boundry fence

Riding at night out there realy keeps the heart pounding

Chuck Pryor · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2010, 01:20:54 AM »

Quote from: johna on May 29, 2010, 11:47:21 PM

Road grime seems to have baked on like a powdercote
any suggestions on how to remove without scratching the chrome.
I think i may have a major detailing job to do, the bike is a bit of a mess.
Its amazing how much dirt you can collect in 2 days

Thanks

johna

these mufflers are chrome?? wow.

southtxcruiser · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2010, 01:08:26 PM »

im really intrested to see the cleaned results and what worked best...

moscooter · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2010, 04:12:57 PM »

Quote from: LRS on May 30, 2010, 01:56:36 PM

I have used 0000 Steel Wool on all my Chrome for many years, it does not scratch and removes all signs of Road Grime.

I agree with this comment. I have also used it on chrome with excellent results. Use soap and water first, then maybe some solvent as suggested in earlier posts. Anything left should come right off with steel wool. Just make sure it's 0000 or 000 as he said, have the surface wet if you're concerned, should clean it right up.

ice6900 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2010, 04:50:46 PM »

I would ride the bike to the next rally, right into the trader village directly to the Mothers stand, where they are always wanting to demonstrate just how good there products are, tell them if they bring the bike back to concourse condition then you will consider taking on a franchise

Twolanerider · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2010, 08:48:22 PM »

Quote from: ice6900 on May 31, 2010, 04:50:46 PM

I would ride the bike to the next rally, right into the trader village directly to the Mothers stand, where they are always wanting to demonstrate just how good there products are, tell them if they bring the bike back to concourse condition then you will consider taking on a franchise

That reminded me of a hoary nasty trip. Was on a long trip on a really nice Road King. Had come across the top of the Great Lakes and dropped out of Canada back in to the states at Champlain. Wandered around the lake some then headed east across VT and NH and rain. And rain. Finally in Maine on the way to Ellsworth and hit construction on US 2. No road surface type construction. In the mud.

Traffic was throwing mud and muck everywhere. Wheels schwimming and schwishing and sliding. Had to drop back a 1/4 mile behind car in front just to keep from being blinded by his whale tail of liquid road goo. It went on like that for 20 miles.

By the time finally got in to Ellsworth the bike and I looked like the Pillsbury Doughbiker. Just one huge mud ball. There was a rally in town. Some guys at the rally were doing bike washes. Headed there first thing. Gave them their $25 and an extra ten for hosing me down. Pulled on some dry clothes behind a tree and wandered the rally site (shopping center parking lot) for a couple hours. They did a damn nice job on the bike too. Wouldn't take a tip either. I like Mainers.

Aussie1 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2010, 02:24:08 AM »

Try the S100. You can get it from most HD dealers. It's not cheap but I swear by it. Bloody good on getting all the crap off wheels too (especially the hard to get at bits behind the brake discs). Just spray it on rinse it off and chamois dry. Lovely.

moscooter · « **Reply #19 on:** June 03, 2010, 09:40:47 AM »

Quote from: Aussie1 on June 03, 2010, 02:24:08 AM

Try the S100. You can get it from most HD dealers. It's not cheap but I swear by it. Bloody good on getting all the crap off wheels too (especially the hard to get at bits behind the brake discs). Just spray it on rinse it off and chamois dry. Lovely.

He's right, pretty good stuff........But (DO NOT) let it sit long before thoroughly rinsing it off completely or you're asking for problems you don't wanna have.

Author Topic: Road grime, blood and other bits (Read 3417 times)

Wanna ride