SuzukiSavage.com - Bug splats

Salad_Shaker

Ex Member

Bug splats
04/25/06 at 06:55:41

Here's a seasonal tip: cleaning the multiple bug splats off my leather jacket was more of a problem until a fellow rider suggested using baby wipes of the kind all parents with small children will find familiar. Not too sure about the clean baby's butt smell that hangs around afterwards but it certainly gets rid of those little yellow smears that ended thier brief days by a 60-70mph collision with my chest. For the others that met their maker on my helmet visor I just use wet kitchen or toilet paper, but it never made the grade for the leather jacket.

Back to top

IP Logged

Jim_R Ex Member	Re: Bug splats Reply #1 - 04/25/06 at 08:03:06 bad thing about using toliet paper is that it always leaves fuzz. I always heard newspaper and windex was a good way to go. at least for cleaning windows
Back to top	IP Logged

911radioman Ex Member	Re: Bug splats Reply #2 - 04/25/06 at 15:28:37 Honda Pro Spray Cleaner and Polish works for me... yes, even on leather! Then I follow it up with a good spray down with Pledge... conditions the leather nicely.
Back to top	IP Logged

Max_Morley

Serious Thumper

Offline

LT650 Luxury Touring
& sidecar rig

Posts: 1490
Moses Lake. WA
Gender: male

Re: Bug splats
Reply #3 - 04/25/06 at 20:38:10

Please do not use windex or other ammonia based cleaners on your windshields. It will ruin them. I use a product called PLEXUS and it works very well. There are others out there. The information I have comes from the folks who made the windshield for my fairing. I soak the windshield with and old t-shirt or towel to soften the bug bodies and hardened juice for a few minutes. Then use that dripping soft cloth to wipe the remenants off. After it dries I spray the Plexus on and buff it out with another clean soft all cotton material. I find it also works well on plastic eye glass and sun glass lenses. Actually helped minimize the scratches in my tri-focals. Max

Back to top

Max at Thumper Acres. '96 Savage bagger, '03 Savage w/Cozy sidecar for wifeni.

IP Logged

Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: Bug splats Reply #4 - 04/25/06 at 21:31:57 on the mesh jacket after a few days of drying a brush seems to do the trick pretty well - now I would not recomend this be your better halfs out of the bathroom or bugs splats likely to be the least of your concerns.
Back to top	IP Logged

Savage_Rob

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Mechanically
Inclined Amateur

Posts: 6972
Texas (Dallas area)
Gender: male

Re: Bug splats
Reply #5 - 04/26/06 at 11:46:36

For gear (leather and textile), I'm a big fan of NikWax products. They have every type of cleaner and or sealer you'll need. In general, I just use the boot cleaner gel for any leather cleaning and the plain NikWax in a tube for anything except boots. I use the black Nikwax boot sealer for them about every 3-4 months and just Kiwi black in between. Scotchgard spray on clean textiles makes 'em a lot easier to clean later as well as making them more water resistant. Use the kind that's made for lawn chairs and stuff. It lasts longer. The Honda Pro spray cleaner an polish is great stuff for just about anything on the bike, including the windshield, though I like to use horticultural vinegar or Simple Green to clean it first if it gets really nasty.

Back to top

IP Logged

Digger

Serious Thumper
2005 No Login

Offline

Ya gotta be tough to
ride singles!

Posts: 1604
Colorado Springs, CO
Gender: male

Re: Bug splats
Reply #6 - 12/29/06 at 19:34:31

Salad_Shaker wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:

For the others that met their maker on my helmet visor I just use wet kitchen or toilet paper, but it never made the grade for the leather jacket.

FWIW, I find that hydrogen peroxide works good to remove bugs that are fairly fresh.

Also, I'm afraid to use paper towels on helmet visors and windscreens as I feel they will scratch the plastic. A cotton cloth works good here.

Back to top

Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

IP Logged

Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Bug splats Reply #7 - 12/30/06 at 08:33:28 H₂O₂? That's different, but I bet it helps those injured bugs heal faster What's wrong with plain old water and a rag? Why does there have to be a fancy "product"? I wonder what Clive's great granddad used to remove bugs from his suit. I even use Armor All on my leather when done too. Keeps it soft and makes it shine.
Back to top	IP Logged

justin_o_guy

Ex Member

Re: Bug splats
Reply #8 - 12/30/06 at 12:29:46

Tractor Supply has a good sized jug of leather maintenance stuff for about $9.00. Water & chemical cleansers are tuff on leather. If leather isn't supple it is breaking down as fibers crack & chafe as it bends. I treat my chaps every so often, wet or dry. If I get caught in the rain they get treated as soon as they are dry. BHugs come off of leather that is not dry a lot easier. I am not "all consumed" with it. I figure if I can get 6 years out of the chaps they will have paid for themselves.The jacket is 16 & I am almost wishing it would die.

Back to top

IP Logged

Bugscraper Full Member 2004 No Login Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 130 Gender:	Re: Bug splats Reply #9 - 12/30/06 at 18:06:57 Just scrape 'em off. The good ones you can eat -- especially the ones already on your teeth.
Back to top	IP Logged

mickthelimey Ex Member	Re: Bug splats Reply #10 - 12/30/06 at 20:31:42 preflably sauted in a little butter,followed by a refreshing warm moyonaise malt.
Back to top	Science and Logic fly you to the moon, Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers IP Logged

Yonuh Adisi FSO Serious Thumper Offline Savage Jedi (Knight) Posts: 3622 Pilot Valley NV, aka Tatooine Gender:	Re: Bug splats Reply #11 - 12/31/06 at 06:07:47 Rolled in cornmeal and deepfried works very well too.
Back to top	Check out Flight of Destiny http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9130XC IP Logged