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[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.