| Author | Message | ||
     Rocket_fuell |
I know this one has probably been covered before but what are some good cleaners that will remove tar from the motor on the XB's without hurting the paint? Also what will clean the stock wheels on an 03 XB9S non-colored? Thanks | ||
| Cataract2 |
You know, I've wondered that myself. | ||
| Xb9ser |
Clean a Buell? Whats that? Sounds like my harley buddies.I ask a friend at work hey want to ride to work tommrow? He says I don't want to spend 3 hr cleaning for a 10 min ride. I say well Buells are built to ride and not sit at home and look pretty. ps I do wash mine once a month wither it needs it or not. | ||
| Vito |
Well, I pull the Wide Glide out and detail it once every few weeks, and when I do, I will pull the Buell out and hose it off and take the sponge to it. I do the wheels with some Meguires wheel cleaner, hose it off, and take the leaf blower to it. Takes all of 5 minutes. Now my Wide Glide, THAT is another story. Detailing that is usually a 2 cigar affair with all the chrome I have on it. Usually a nice unwinding project after a good long ride. I'm a little concerned if I add an Ultra Classic to the stable. Me thinks I'll have to rethink this cleaning thing! | ||
| Skyguy |
I am bad I get a can of degreaser from Pep boys and spray it everywhere followed careful application of the magic wand at the car wash. Sometimes I detail the bike and use brake dust remover from the same auto shop followed of course by a careful application of the magic wand at the car wash.. | ||
| Sparky |
Harley has some stuff that removes bug splatter (I forget what it's called). It should work OK to remove tar and leave the paint alone. But if you use something stronger that winds up fading the paint, there is a dressing called VRT (Vinyl, Rubber, Tire) made by Adams Premium Car Care Products that can restore the black wrinkle paint finish like magic. And it's great on all the black plastic body parts too. For cleaning the wheels, it's hard to beat Simple Green, available just about everywhere. Probably take care of that tar too. | ||
| Hkwan |
WD-40, no joke! Just let it soak for couple of minute. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Hose? WD-40? OMG!!!!! I've never aimed a hose at any motorcycle I've ever owned... I do it all by hand, with a cap-full of Protect-All wash in a gallon of water and a soft cloth. I finish with a lambskin chamois and then I wax with Protect-All wax and another softer, dry cloth. Takes me about 1 hour start to finish. Do it as needed. Remember this is a labor of love. WD-40 what can I say about that... while true it is a solvent, so are many other things that evaporate much more quickly, and leave no residue. I would not recommend WD-40 for anything on a motor vehicle unless you are trying to back out a rusted bolt, and if you have rusted bolts on your Buell then shame on you. A tiny dab of mineral spirits on a soft cloth will remove anything from anywhere on your bike and will cause minimal if any harm. So far I have used it to get out some nasty tar-goop-crap that was blurped around my headlight bezel and some nasty bees from a swarm I rode through. These bees were all loaded up with sugar and nectar and pollen and they were soooo sticky my regular wash would not get it all off. Mineral spirits on a rag, one wipe-------gone. Then I immediately wash with copious amounts of warm water and DETERGENT to make sure no residue is left, then follow with the wash-wax routine. | ||
| Kdan |
I've never aimed a hose at any motorcycle I've ever owned... I do it all by hand, with a cap-full of Protect-All wash in a gallon of water and a soft cloth. I finish with a lambskin chamois and then I wax with Protect-All wax and another softer, dry cloth. That ain't nothin'. I lick mine clean. Hose, Wd-40, Carb cleaner, Brake cleaner, SOS pads, whatever I got. | ||
| 12r |
WD-40 is a killer mo'cycle cleaner ! I've used gallons of the stuff over the years with no ill-effects (twitch, twitch)  WD-40 and buckets of cold water everytime. A once over with that sweet-smelling mmmm...Harley Gloss if the weather is really good. I like a clean machine but polishing is a no-no. | ||
| Dana P. |
I use Honda contact cleaner. No residue and it doesn't hurt any of my bikes surfaces..... at all. | ||
| Lleub_da_buell |
check this out! http://www.dek.com/data/wd-40.pdf WD-40 is great for tar and road crud. I use it on both my bikes. Where's the chemists? I think white spirit means it is parafin based, also WD-40 has mineral oil...make your bike regular!! | ||
| Phantom5oh |
I've always used S-100 Motorcycle cleaner on everything but the Buell. I'll probably go back to that this year. It works great, a little expensive but it's fast and easy. Just spray it on, wait a few minutes, and then just hose it off and your done. It dries spot free and the bike looks killer. | ||
| Jerseybuell |
S100, hose it off, leaf blower. Done. Awesome. Plain vinegar for tough spots. Doesn't smell too nice, but it's non-toxic, cheap and won't hurt anything...just my .02 | ||
| Pwnzor |
Hey theres a good thought Jerseybuell... Vinegar is an excellent acid to use, very mild. If you don't like the smell try apple cider vinegar instead. WD-40 leaves residue and attracts dirt. Cold water can't wash it all off. Take it from an experienced hazmat handler, MSDS does not tell you everything. No paraffin here. http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc187.htm#SectionNumber:1.1 (Message edited by pwnzor on March 07, 2006) | ||
| T9r |
Not that I'm condoning this I have just done it a time or two to my old S-10 blazer. Add some kerosene to the bucket of water that I'm using to wash off the vehicle. It seemed to work well.... I like the vinegar approach for my cycle, it make sense. | ||
| Typeone |
S100, hose it off, leaf blower. Done. Awesome. +1 except i go ride to blast off the water  | ||
| Jandj_davis |
You know, that S100 is the same stuff as the 409 kitchen cleaner. Try it sometime, and you'll probably end up saving some coin. | ||
| Altima02 |
^ Is it really? Thats good to know. I really like S100, but it is costly. | ||
| Wahmbush |
Jandj_davis..... Was told by a friend that S100 is the best stuff and was about to go buy some....is this for real?} | ||
| Brianb |
You guys should try Goop hand cleaner. Not only will the bike be nice and soft, so will your hands. Wax on, wax off. Does not hurt paint or metals at all. We use it on helicopter blades to get the soot off! | ||
| Rocket_fuell |
Thanks for all the replies guys..I think I'll try the S-100. |
