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[Sean M Cary]

Tank down?  Wheels up?  Total wash down, or do you work a section at a time?   

I have not owned a bike as nice as my "new" 03 SERK - and before I dive in and learn the hard way, can anyone give me a rough idea of the go around for a detail?

Sean

[SPIDERMAN]

Tank down?  Wheels up?  Total wash down, or do you work a section at a time?   

I have not owned a bike as nice as my "new" 03 SERK - and before I dive in and learn the hard way, can anyone give me a rough idea of the go around for a detail?

Sean

Sempi Fi Dude
                  Welcome to the site and Congrats on the 03 SERK. That's one of the best of the best for CVO's.

If the bike has any grit (like from riding in the rain) the 1st order of business is to wash it using LOTS of water and LOTS of soap. You don't want to push that grit around and scratch it. I also sometimes spray the motor down with GUNK, but local ordinances can cause you grief on that, so be aware. Once washed, either towel dry or blow dry using one of those motorcycle dryers

Once washed, I put my on a lift. If you don't have one go down to your local Kragin Auto (or facsimile) and buy one for about $70. Put the bike up in the air and work your way up. You want to get all the grease, oil and grime off before you even think about polish and wax.

Next, I go over the entire bike with Harley Spray Cleaner and Polish. After that, (twice a year) I use a commercial sealant to protect the finish against UV. Then I wax the entire bike with a yellow carnuba wax, wipe off, buff and polish. In between wax jobs I use a detail spray like Harley Gloss or McGuire's.

One thing you need to invest in is some turkish towels (for wiping off cleaner and polish) and some micro-fibre cloths for final polish. Use old towels etc for getting the grime off the bottom of your engine etc.

Make sure you have a different cloth(rag) for every use and keep em separate. I toss em in a bucket filled with water and a bottle of Spray and Wash and when the bucket is full, dump it in the washing machine and cycle it. Make sure you do two loads, one for the really dirty and one for the mostly wax/polish covered. Two reasons. A) you don't want to chance getting grit in the micro-fibre cloths and B) the second wash rinses the machine so wifey doesn't go to use the machine and get some left over greasy rinse water on her Victoria's Secret

Having said all that, there's guys on the site that get into high end products, buffing machines and go to lengths that make what I've described seem rather pedestrian, but my bike's always look good even after 1,000's of miles of riding


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[Boatman]

Regarding washing, everyone is different but I go from the top down.   After washing the saddlebags, I take them off and then do the tires and wheels last with a different wash mit than what I use on the chrome and painted surfaces.  

Spiderman did you a nice write up.   

[Fired00d]

I do about the same as BB only I put it on the lift (Sears ATV) before beginning the detail. Remove the saddlebags (put them on Bagrrest Bag Stands), and seat so I can clean behind/under those areas.

Take your time, enjoy, and have some cold refreshments ready for those hot days when you and the bike are getting to know each other.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Seegarsmkr]

I kinda do the same but I'm a front to back top down kinda guy.  I lift it up to make the whole cleaning process easier.  Much easier to clean the wheels if you can spin 'em.  What lengths I go depends on how dirty Thunder gets.

Seegarz

[SPIDERMAN]

I do about the same as BB only I put it on the lift (Sears ATV) before beginning the detail. Remove the saddlebags (put them on Bagrrest Bag Stands), and seat so I can clean behind/under those areas.

Take your time, enjoy, and have some cold refreshments ready for those hot days when you and the bike are getting to know each other.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

      d00d, if I read your post correctly, you're saying you wash your bike ON the lift.
 
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[Fired00d]

      d00d, if I read your post correctly, you're saying you wash your bike ON the lift.
 
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Yep, I do. Makes it much easier to clean the wheels (turning them) and underneath the bike.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[SBB]

      d00d, if I read your post correctly, you're saying you wash your bike ON the lift.
 
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Is that a problem?
I wash mine like dOOd, with it on the lift.
The lift is locked down and not going anywhere.

 

[Seegarsmkr]

I kinda do the same but I'm a front to back top down kinda guy.  I lift it up to make the whole cleaning process easier.  Much easier to clean the wheels if you can spin 'em.  What lengths I go depends on how dirty Thunder gets.

Seegarz

That makes 3 of us!!

[SPIDERMAN]

My Handy BOB 1500 is in the garage which is carpeted. My driveway slopes from the garage door all the way to the street. Don't think I could manage it, but thanks for putting the idea in my head. If you see a post some day with a bunch of foul language aimed at you guys about my bike taking off down the driveway on the lift, it'll be your fault(s)

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[Fired00d]

Errr, ummm. I wouldn't recommend detailing bike on a lift that wasn't on a level surface. I also use the Craftsmen ATV jack not a table lift. You might just want to continue detailing the way you are doing presently.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[SPIDERMAN]

I've got one of those little portable jobs Gary. Bought it at Kragin Auto. Same thing as Sears and a bunch of other place sell. It's actually pretty sturdy. We use it to change front wheels since it's a whole lot easier than screwin around with taking the clamp assembly off the table lift. Anyway, the sucker's got casters on it and that's the part that plays hell on a slope.

By the way, Beags has this monster portable lift that he bought from J&P Cycles for like $450 years ago before Sears and everybody else started selling em so cheap. He'd like to sell it but the shipping costs would be murder. Maybe our new member that started this thread could PM him and work something out. 

Hey Semper Fi Dude, PM Screamin_Beagle if you'd like a deal on a hell of a portable lift for your bike

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[Sean M Cary]

Sempi Fi Dude
                  Welcome to the site and Congrats on the 03 SERK. That's one of the best of the best for CVO's.

Semper Fi to you - it was Dad's, a Force Recon Gunnery Sergeant - passed to me now that he is guarding the streets of heaven.   Tag is 10NOV75...

I am realizing quickly that I need a lift - may go the cheaper route first, but am really liking the J & S one...just gotta fit it in the budget.  I prefer to cry once when getting tool...    

Did a walk around the bike today between a million other things going on!  Dad was insane about taking care of it, needs some care from sitting, found cobwebs in the front fender...  Some dry rotted vac fittings on the EFI/Intake.  Just needs some love, it sat for a year before he died and it was passed to me.  Gonna do a detail, fire it up for a ride and get home and change all the fluids.  Rubber is new, just sat for longer then I would have cared for it to.

Oh well, I really appreciate the reply!

Sean

Sean

[HogDude]

Sean,
Lots of good advice regarding procedures, etc. 
Here's another thing I do.  I use a 2 bucket method when washing the bike.
1 bucket for suds, the 2nd bucket with water only.
After a swipe on the bike with your soapy mitt, ALWAYS dip & rinse the mitt in the 2nd bucket before inserting back into the suds.

With this method, you cut down on introducing grit back into you soapy water and eliminate transferring back to the bike. 

[SPIDERMAN]

Semper Fi to you - it was Dad's, a Force Recon Gunnery Sergeant - passed to me now that he is guarding the streets of heaven.   Tag is 10NOV75...

I am realizing quickly that I need a lift - may go the cheaper route first, but am really liking the J & S one...just gotta fit it in the budget.  I prefer to cry once when getting tool...    

Did a walk around the bike today between a million other things going on!  Dad was insane about taking care of it, needs some care from sitting, found cobwebs in the front fender...  Some dry rotted vac fittings on the EFI/Intake.  Just needs some love, it sat for a year before he died and it was passed to me.  Gonna do a detail, fire it up for a ride and get home and change all the fluids.  Rubber is new, just sat for longer then I would have cared for it to.

Oh well, I really appreciate the reply!

Sean

Sean

Sean,
       Like I said, PM Screamin_Beagle. He's got this awesome portable lift he'd like to get rid of. All of us have table lifts so nobody close by needs it. I know he doesn't want much for it, just would like to pass it along to someone who can use it.

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