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[cahdbiker]

Does anyone spray their fairing and lowers with any product to stop bugs from sticking prior to riding? I am thinking of trying some kind of non stick cooking spray so the bugs won't be able to stick to the fairing so much. cahdbiker

[tjstreetglide]

Try a good leather conditioner and dont try to rub it around, just spray it on and when you get to where your going then wash. got this from a hot rodder. I tried it on a 2000 mi vacation thru Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, Leave the bugs on till you cant stand to look at the bike any longer . The guy sprayed it on till it was running down the side of the bike, put it on the windshield to. It was almost to good to be tru, but it worked, and didnt bother the paint at all.
TJ

[cahdbiker]

Try a good leather conditioner and dont try to rub it around, just spray it on and when you get to where your going then wash. got this from a hot rodder. I tried it on a 2000 mi vacation thru Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, Leave the bugs on till you cant stand to look at the bike any longer . The guy sprayed it on till it was running down the side of the bike, put it on the windshield to. It was almost to good to be tru, but it worked, and didnt bother the paint at all.
TJ

Thanks for the tip I will try it on my next trip.CAHDBIKER

[1abastarsmda]

So let me get this straight.  We now use Pledge to shine our bikes, oven cleaner to clean the exhaust, Draino to clean the inside of the ends of the mufflers, and now I need to keep a can of Pam in the garage to spray the front of my bike before riding.  Hmmm!  Has anyone tried Maxi-Pads to clean their spokes or hair conditioner to dress the sides of their tires?

Sorry, I just had to toss this out there.  It's getting more and more difficult to explain the things in my garage to my neighbors.

[tjstreetglide]

Don't forget the glass cleaner for the chrome. Maybe the maxi pad dry the bike with.
    

[LarryB]

we have tampons in the A/C

[grc]

Just make sure to finish your trips with a 20 minute ride through a rain storm.  The water will dissolve the bugs and rinse them right off.  One downside is it tends to fill all the nooks and crannies with dirty water, but who said life is fair?

BTW, the Pam thing works pretty good on the underside of your lawnmower too.  So if someone questions that can of Pam, just tell them it's for the lawnmower. 

Jerry

[guppytrash]

So let me get this straight.  We now use Pledge to shine our bikes, oven cleaner to clean the exhaust, Draino to clean the inside of the ends of the mufflers, and now I need to keep a can of Pam in the garage to spray the front of my bike before riding.  Hmmm!  Has anyone tried Maxi-Pads to clean their spokes or hair conditioner to dress the sides of their tires?

Sorry, I just had to toss this out there.  It's getting more and more difficult to explain the things in my garage to my neighbors.

Thats funny!

I will tell you I trick I just learned about.  Soak a towel with water lay it on the bugs/windshield/fairing and leave it for 30 minutes come back pull it off.  Hit it with a little quick detailer and you are on your way.  I have only tried this once but it worked really good.

[Twolanerider]

Thats funny!

I will tell you I trick I just learned about.  Soak a towel with water lay it on the bugs/windshield/fairing and leave it for 30 minutes come back pull it off.  Hit it with a little quick detailer and you are on your way.  I have only tried this once but it worked really good.

Nice old trick that one.  I've trashed a lot of hotel towels over the years in the early AM before heading out to start out if not clean at least not caked with the prior day's bugs.

[1abastarsmda]

Thats funny!

I will tell you I trick I just learned about.  Soak a towel with water lay it on the bugs/windshield/fairing and leave it for 30 minutes come back pull it off.  Hit it with a little quick detailer and you are on your way.  I have only tried this once but it worked really good.

Just wet a towel and keep it in a plastic bag in your saddlebag.  You don't need to leave it on the bugs for 1/2 an hour.  If it's wet enough, they'll wipe right off in a minute.

[skreminegul07]

Don't forget the glass cleaner for the chrome. Maybe the maxi pad dry the bike with.
    

It's for the head gasket leaks.

[LarryB]

Just wet a towel and keep it in a plastic bag in your saddlebag.  You don't need to leave it on the bugs for 1/2 an hour.  If it's wet enough, they'll wipe right off in a minute.

ya, and when you get home, open the bag, whew, talk about stink

[Heatwave]

Getting the bugs off the front of your bike is actually pretty easy. Just take a towel and saturate with steaming hot water from the faucet. Wring most of the water out. Lay the towel across the area covered with bugs. Go crack a beer. Enjoy for a few minutes. When you come back, just wipe the area with the wet towel.

Wring out towel. Saturate again with hot faucet water. Lay hot wet towel over new area that needs to be cleaned. Go back to beer. Enjoy. Return to towel and wipe dirty area with towel. Continue till all areas are clean. Front of bike will be spotless in 15 minutes and no chemicals used on the bike.

[Fiestabill]

I have been using "Ivory" dish washing liquid diluted and sprayed on before washing. Works better than HD`s bug remover and it is cheap.

[1abastarsmda]

I have been using "Ivory" dish washing liquid diluted and sprayed on before washing. Works better than HD`s bug remover and it is cheap.

Dish washing liquid, from my understanding, is a taboo item.  I used to use it to wash my car, and then I was shown what I did to my paint surface.  Never again.  Car wash soap is apparently made for cars and dish washing soap for dishes, and not really interchangeable.  It really did destroy my paint surface over about a year.

[Fiestabill]

Used it for over 4 years, Paint hasn`t fallen off yet. Make sure its IVORY. :-)

[LarryB]

I use Dawn after I Clay Bar, removes all of the waxes. then build back up

[spydglide]

I totally agree with the hot towel-drink a beer-wipe off technique.  The only thing I'd add is the good Glare polish before you start the ride and the bugs come off much easier.  Just don't get lazy and leave 'em on there any longer than possible.  They'll etch your clear coat if left on and much harder to remove once they start the 'bonding' process with the paint.  But, what a great way to kill those West Nile Infected mosquitos......with a CVO!    har~  spyder

[treeman]

I learned about 'PLEXUS' from Diamond Shield (who applied a clear protective materiel to the front of my Motorhome) It stops some bugs from etching into the surface! and they definately come off easier and it repells dust ( anyway some forms of dust!)
 I since noticed some folks detailing their bikes, besides cleaning plexaglass with same.

[Gettinold]

Leave them on there, or they come back. 

[HogBreath]

Leave them on there, or they come back. 

That bike needs a wire brush a holt of it!

[MKW]

My 2003 softail has numerous paint chips on the tank.  I worry my fairing and bags on the FLHXSE will take a beating.  Has anyone found any aftermarket protective type of clear coat which proves to be strong against chips?  Thanks.

[StrokedRider]

Leave them on there, or they come back. 

Wut'd you do? Invite them to attack you?

[1abastarsmda]

My 2003 softail has numerous paint chips on the tank.  I worry my fairing and bags on the FLHXSE will take a beating.  Has anyone found any aftermarket protective type of clear coat which proves to be strong against chips?  Thanks.

You could put that 3M Protective Clear Film  http://www.protectivefilmsolutions.biz/3M_paint_protection_film.htm, but I would think that would be quite difficult to put on the fairing with so many curves in it.  I think several people have used it on the saddlebags.  You can buy a bra for the fairing, but then you can't see the paint.

My take on it is that it's a simple fact that chips will happen.  If you do everything you can to prevent them, you might as well have purchased a bike with primer and no paint, since noone will be able to see the nice paint job you have.  On the flip side, when you go to sell it, there will be a lucky buyer out there that gets a really clean bike, although you probably won't get much more than one that's been unprotected, but kept clean and waxed regularly.

[tjstreetglide]

I just had my bike done. Package, fairing front fender, front and top of bags, front of side cover, and I had them do the back 3 in of the gas tank. Looks good, polishes right up. 500.00
Tj

[1abastarsmda]

I just had my bike done. Package, fairing front fender, front and top of bags, front of side cover, and I had them do the back 3 in of the gas tank. Looks good, polishes right up. 500.00
Tj

You had your bike done with what?  I'm guessing you are talking about the 3M Protective Clear Film, but you didn't say.  If so, where did you get it done?

[tjstreetglide]

You had your bike done with what?  I'm guessing you are talking about the 3M Protective Clear Film, but you didn't say.  If so, where did you get it done?

Yes,
3m
The outfit it called Chiprotect. The dealers here in the great NW offer this as an option when you buy a bike. I am sure you can get it done on any bike though. http://www.chiprotect.com/ I think its a good deal. It looks good. Best of all you don't have to cover the bag lids with leather, which usually scratches the pain anyway,in my experience.
TJ

[spydglide]

Yes,
3m
The outfit it called Chiprotect. The dealers here in the great NW offer this as an option when you buy a bike. I am sure you can get it done on any bike though. http://www.chiprotect.com/ I think its a good deal. It looks good. Best of all you don't have to cover the bag lids with leather, which usually scratches the pain anyway,in my experience.
TJ

I know it's good protection, but it's kinda like putting seat covers on fine Corinthian leather seats.  These custom paint jobs are too pretty to mask.  JMHO.  har.  spyder

[Wanna ride]

I have been using "Ivory" dish washing liquid diluted and sprayed on before washing. Works better than HD`s bug remover and it is cheap.

Dish soap is not good for paint, it removes wax. And WD-40 is great for removing bug juice, without hurting the paint.

[BAKRDS]

I use the wet towel trick a lot on trips.Just make sure to shower first or use your roommates towel.(unless you're traveling with your wife)

[spydglide]

I use the wet towel trick a lot on trips.Just make sure to shower first or use your roommates towel.(unless you're traveling with your wife)

Yep, all good advice.  har!    spyder

[kraut]

Hmmm, the old world must be somehow different.

When we go for an extended ride, we are dirty in the evening - allready after the first hour on the open road actually -, our boots and leathers are dirty and the bikes of course are dirty. Bugs, pollution, road grime, you name it.

Riders take a shower before dinner, but the next morning they put on the dirty boots and leathers again and ride the dirty bikes. What else? I will not clean a bike for two hours only to have it dirty again within 5 Minutes on the open road (except windshields of course).

Bikes and boots and leathers and the lot will be thoroughly cleaned when back home. Not earlier (except windshields of course). With lots of warm water, leather-soap and HD-sun-wash. After drying Ballistol will be applied generously on leathers, metallic and painted surfaces. Ready to go again or for storage 

For windshields wich I do clean under way I use the soaked towel as decribed above in the morning and I keep a moist microfibre in a plastic bag (yes, it smells wonderfully indeed after the first day ) for the short cleaning under way (the more bugs are already in the microfibre the better it removes them - but for use only on windshields as this definitely does cause scratches on paint of course).

One of our friends had his new bike "nano-cared" for some 300 Euro. At first he was just freaky about this - but after some month he found out it wasn't worth the money and he never had it reapplied.

It takes two hours/two people to seriously clean a touring-bike, two hours to dry and one hour to conserve it. That's a lot of time I do not invest when on tour. And I dislike jobs done only halfways 

[DICKW]

Hmmm, the old world must be somehow different.

When we go for an extended ride, we are dirty in the evening - allready after the first hour on the open road actually -, our boots and leathers are dirty and the bikes of course are dirty. Bugs, pollution, road grime, you name it.

Riders take a shower before dinner, but the next morning they put on the dirty boots and leathers again and ride the dirty bikes. What else? I will not clean a bike for two hours only to have it dirty again within 5 Minutes on the open road (except windshields of course).

Bikes and boots and leathers and the lot will be thoroughly cleaned when back home. Not earlier (except windshields of course). With lots of warm water, leather-soap and HD-sun-wash. After drying Ballistol will be applied generously on leathers, metallic and painted surfaces. Ready to go again or for storage 

For windshields wich I do clean under way I use the soaked towel as decribed above in the morning and I keep a moist microfibre in a plastic bag (yes, it smells wonderfully indeed after the first day ) for the short cleaning under way (the more bugs are already in the microfibre the better it removes them - but for use only on windshields as this definitely does cause scratches on paint of course).

One of our friends had his new bike "nano-cared" for some 300 Euro. At first he was just freaky about this - but after some month he found out it wasn't worth the money and he never had it reapplied.

It takes two hours/two people to seriously clean a touring-bike, two hours to dry and one hour to conserve it. That's a lot of time I do not invest when on tour. And I dislike jobs done only halfways 

There is a lot of truth to this.

But if I have the opportunity to wash in the evening on a trip and the Materials to do so.....I will.
Otherwise I wait.

[BAKRDS]

I don't clean my bike very often on a trip except for the windshield & fairing.As stated by someone else dried bugs will etch the paint.Also if you collect a honey bee or 6 you'll attract  live bees every time you stop.That's why I soak the critters off every couple nights.

[Chains]

I have used CEE Baileys aircraft windshield cleaner and polish on my fairing, front fender and lowers, seems to keep the bugs from sticky and gives a high luster.

[cyril]

For windshields wich I do clean under way I use the soaked towel as decribed above in the morning and I keep a moist microfibre in a plastic bag (yes, it smells wonderfully indeed after the first day ) for the short cleaning under way (the more bugs are already in the microfibre the better it removes them  - but for use only on windshields as this definitely does cause scratches on paint of course).(quote)
Thats what i do it works

[dmnrdn]

I carry a bottle of Eagle One Wipe & Shine detailer in a Ziploc.  End of day spray down the front end  real good.  Stand around and shoot the chit with the buds for 5-10 minutes.  Spray some more on a micro fiber rag and off they come. Works so good the others I ride with are starting to do the same thing.  Plus the Eagle One is good for wiping down the chrome as it does not streak,  works great on the windshield also.

[StreetDog]

Getting the bugs off the front of your bike is actually pretty easy. Just take a towel and saturate with steaming hot water from the faucet. Wring most of the water out. Lay the towel across the area covered with bugs. Go crack a beer. Enjoy for a few minutes. When you come back, just wipe the area with the wet towel.

Wring out towel. Saturate again with hot faucet water. Lay hot wet towel over new area that needs to be cleaned. Go back to beer. Enjoy. Return to towel and wipe dirty area with towel. Continue till all areas are clean. Front of bike will be spotless in 15 minutes and no chemicals used on the bike.

How about using a small washrag, that way I get to drink more beers.

[cyril]

Any of you guys heard of MER . dilute with water spray on leave it on for weeks if you want to just washes right off ,used on caravans rv`s whatever  even add a lttle to you final rinse & buff off when its dry. Polish on in usual way
buffs off good even in sunlight no hurry.go for lunch & finish when you return.