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[sixgun95]

Any products/ideas to battle hard water during wash? What used to take 1 hr now takes 3, crazy!  Getting a whole house soft water system soon but until then any recommendations? 

[dayne66]

I used to blow the bike off with a leaf blower.....left minimal water to spot

[Skillet]

Same here.

[grc]

Use a car wash detergent that contains wetting agents.  Those are additives that cut surface tension so the water doesn't bead.  When you rinse, flood the surface with a solid stream and let the water sheet off.  Then use a blower to remove as much residual water as possible, follow up with a soft cloth.

If you don't mind spending some cash, look for a filtration system that creates deionized water.  You can buy the filters and rig up a system for your rinse water that will be just like what they use in car washes for the "Spot Free Rinse".  It won't be terribly inexpensive, however.


Jerry

[sixgun95]

That will not work with hard water, as a matter of fact it will be worse.

[kiwihog]

costco has a pretty good water deionizer online around $350

[Midnight Rider]

I have extremely "hard" water here...lot's of minerals and higher PH level.  The Mr. Clean wash thingy you used to be able to get worked, but now the cartridges are hard to find, and expensive.

Griot's Garage has several different systems available for purchase, depending on how much you want to spend.  The least expensive option is an in line system for the hose that can be connected in just for the final rinse. http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/in-line+water+softener+%26+deionizer+with+fittings.do?sortby=ourPicks

Even using a good washing liquid, though it definitely helps, will not eliminate the spots.  And I can't dry mine off fast enough with the air dryer to eliminate ALL the spots.  Elbow grease is the only thing that will get them off.  At least that's the case where I live.  The filter is the only thing that will work with my water.

[miker]

Buy a silver bike...

[Midnight Rider]

Buy a silver bike...

That'll work too, but RED is the fastest...

[hogasm]

Hook a few magnets to your garden hose to catch the minerals that cause the hard spots.....no chit it works

[Deep Blue Dives]

 And I can't dry mine off fast enough with the air dryer to eliminate ALL the spots.  Elbow grease is the only thing that will get them off.  

Same for me too - usually hot and lower humidity.  I use a Chammy that is always stored wet to do the final wipe down.  Ring it often, and the water spots are held to a minimum.

[sixgun95]

Hook a few magnets to your garden hose to catch the minerals that cause the hard spots.....no chit it works

I want what he's drinking!  javascript:void(0);

[mlbraptor]

I have the same problem. it is really hard to get the chrome clean after the water spots..

[mini]

I bought a 3 Gallon Weed Spayer from hardware store, went to Walmart and bought 4 Gallons of Distilled Water.
Wash my Wicked Saphire and Stardust Silver then rinse with the Distilled Water and it's all good.

[MKW]

Car (bike) wash.  Just avoid using the high pressure near the electronics and air cleaner.

[SG Racer]

I have the same problem. I wash it then pull it in my shop and blow it off then start wiping with a chamois. It is a PITA.
 I feel your pain.

[mandm1]

... look for a filtration system that creates deionized water.  You can buy the filters and rig up a system for your rinse water that will be just like what they use in car washes for the "Spot Free Rinse".  It won't be terribly inexpensive, however.

Jerry

That will not work with hard water, as a matter of fact it will be worse.

Sixgun95, I respectfully disagree with you. I have a de-ionizing system that works very using the hard water in my town. Check out a company like CRSpotless.com (I have no affiliation whatsoever with this company, other than owning their product.)

As a test, I washed and rinsed a metallic black 300C SRT8 in direct sunlight using this system. After letting it air dry, there were no hard water spots at all. And yes, I was nervous the first time while waiting ...

The initial cost of the system and the consumable resin refills are not cheap, but works VERY well!

Mike

[TIF2]

^^

+1 here on the cr spotless system here.
Well worth the money in my opinion.

Completely spot-free just rinse and walk away if you like. I still blow-dry my stuff but there is no need to.

[mrmagloo]

I bought a 3 Gallon Weed Spayer from hardware store, went to Walmart and bought 4 Gallons of Distilled Water.
Wash my Wicked Saphire and Stardust Silver then rinse with the Distilled Water and it's all good.

^^^
This is the hot ticket!  I've got well water and have been doing this for years. Just get a cheap $10 pressure sprayer from the hardware store, and the cheapest distilled water you can find at the supermarket.

After washing and rinsing well with the hose, I'll dump a gallon of distilled water in the sprayer and displace all of the hard water. Then take the bike for a quick ride around the block and then state the drying process with a chammy and microfiber, etc. Zero water spots.