SuzukiSavage.com - How do you clean your savage?

SimonTuffGuy Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline i like to thump... ;) Posts: 1159 Central PA Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #15 - 09/13/09 at 19:08:41 I don't know that I've ever gave it a whole wash... I usually end up spraying it with Quick Detailer and a rag and that works... Clean up the wheels and it normally looks pretty new.
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Charon

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #16 - 09/13/09 at 19:40:37

It is said that pressure washers are a bad idea, because they can force water (and detergent) past seals into places like wheel bearings. As far as spraying with a low-pressure garden hose, that shouldn't be much worse that riding in the rain, and modern motorcycles survive that very well.

I wash mine about once or twice a year, using a garden hose, a bucket of water with any convenient auto wash product, and a long-bristled soft brush. Spray with the hose to wet and loosen the dirt. Use the brush with soapy water to wash off the dirt, then rinse with the hose. Dry using a chamois to keep most of the water spots off, and call it good.

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Eschew obfuscation.

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runwyrlph

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #17 - 09/13/09 at 19:41:46

my boss found out i had a bike, he told me all about his friend who spends all day every saturday shining his harley.

he asked if i was like that

i said no, i just mainly ride it!

but in answer to the original question....

i just spray with hose, use a bucket with rag or sponge to wash it. use whatever it is i wash the car with- i agree with the above comment - if you get the wheels (and chrome) shiny it looks pretty good

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2007 s40 -stock -white spacer out -repaired to rideable condition!

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #18 - 09/13/09 at 20:00:49 What do you guys use to make the chrome and wheels look good? (Yeah I'm bad about just using Quick detailer alot also
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Tonydtiger1971 Senior Member Offline Yet while we were sinners Christ died for us Posts: 493 Dawsonville, GA Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #19 - 09/13/09 at 20:55:59 I usually just take a sponge with soap and water and rinse. Air dry at 45 mph through some curves and then hit a rain shower. LOL. There goes the wash.
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jabman Senior Member Offline Posts: 411 England Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #20 - 09/14/09 at 00:31:20 i use wd40 on a cloth to keep all the polished chrome and metal shining. on the tank i use a long lasting wax ploish very rarely and it dont get dirty yes harley riders do spend all there time cleaning their bike
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cursal

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #21 - 09/14/09 at 08:49:38

Ok looks like I'm gonna be the first to admit I spend at an around an hour a week cleaning the bike up.

I get it wet with the garden hose.
I wash it with some dish-soap and water,
Rinse it off with the hose.
Dry it with an old cotton t-shirt.

Once in a while,
I take off the seats and do a full rub down with Meguiar's ScratchX® 2.0
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+G10307

Then I do a nice Quik Wax Job
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G17516

Once all the metal and chrome is looking sweet I do the leather bags,
all the plastic, seats and cables with Armorall.

Then I take it out for a ride. (after I put the seats back on

)
I've only owned my Savage for 30 days but I've put on 1,200+ miles all for fun, not commuting.
I love riding it, but I also like the bike looking good when I'm on it.

The protective nature of the the "looky good products" and general cleaning help with keeping her stored outside and I notice if anything needs attention, belt, cables, hoses etc. when I'm doing the details.

Enjoying the ride... in style Cool

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1998 Savage, 18,700 Miles, Wind Shield, Tach, K&N Airbox Filter, Leather Bags, CYCLE-TRON II Battery, verslavy cam adjuster, Kevlar F Pads Black.
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #22 - 09/14/09 at 08:56:09 Yes,that was my concern.....leaving it outside! Things tend to start rusting there. Hopefully this winter though I'll have a bike (only) shed
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serenity3743

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #23 - 09/14/09 at 10:22:22

I confess, I (used to) wash my Savage every month or so, using Turtle Wax Zip Wax, a wash and wax product made for cars. And no, it doesn't hurt the electricals - they're made to survive in the rain, ain't they? Then I would wipe it dry with a clean cloth to minimize the spotting from the water droplets. More recently, I've started using Bike Magic, a spray-on/wipe-off cleaner, mostly just on the visibly dirty spots. I will say, a clean bike rides better! Wink

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2000 LS650P Suzuki windshield, luggage rack, saddle bag racks, k & n air filter, Dyna muffler,2/3 white spacer, do-it-myself seat. Love to ride!

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bill67

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #24 - 09/14/09 at 10:26:16

cursal wrote on 09/14/09 at 08:49:38:

Ok looks like I'm gonna be the first to admit I spend at an around an hour a week cleaning the bike up.

I get it wet with the garden hose.
I wash it with some dish-soap and water,
Rinse it off with the hose.
Dry it with an old cotton t-shirt.

Once in a while,
I take off the seats and do a full rub down with Meguiar's ScratchX® 2.0
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+G10307

Then I do a nice Quik Wax Job
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G17516

Once all the metal and chrome is looking sweet I do the leather bags,
all the plastic, seats and cables with Armorall.

Then I take it out for a ride. (after I put the seats back on

)
I've only owned my Savage for 30 days but I've put on 1,200+ miles all for fun, not commuting.
I love riding it, but I also like the bike looking good when I'm on it.

The protective nature of the the "looky good products" and general cleaning help with keeping her stored outside and I notice if anything needs attention, belt, cables, hoses etc. when I'm doing the details.

Enjoying the ride... in style Cool

Dish soap will take off any wax you shouldn't use it on cars either

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william h krumpen

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Dj12midnit

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #25 - 09/14/09 at 11:03:36

bill67 wrote on 09/14/09 at 10:26:16:

cursal wrote on 09/14/09 at 08:49:38:

Ok looks like I'm gonna be the first to admit I spend at an around an hour a week cleaning the bike up.

I get it wet with the garden hose.
I wash it with some dish-soap and water,
Rinse it off with the hose.
Dry it with an old cotton t-shirt.

Once in a while,
I take off the seats and do a full rub down with Meguiar's ScratchX® 2.0
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+G10307

Then I do a nice Quik Wax Job
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G17516

Once all the metal and chrome is looking sweet I do the leather bags,
all the plastic, seats and cables with Armorall.

Then I take it out for a ride. (after I put the seats back on

)
I've only owned my Savage for 30 days but I've put on 1,200+ miles all for fun, not commuting.
I love riding it, but I also like the bike looking good when I'm on it.

The protective nature of the the "looky good products" and general cleaning help with keeping her stored outside and I notice if anything needs attention, belt, cables, hoses etc. when I'm doing the details.

Enjoying the ride... in style Cool

Dish soap will take off any wax you shouldn't use it on cars either

Automotive paint contains oil. Dish soap removes oil. You can tell who uses dish soap by the oxidiozd paint.

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http://www.suzukiownersclub.net

2006 Progressive 412-4236C, Big Crank, TKat F\B, ME880 Rear.

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #26 - 09/14/09 at 11:20:35 I have a car wash product I use on my car. So that's fine for the bike also? And what type wax do you guys use? Is the detailer wax? and good enough? Or do you use a different wax every once in a while? (Might as well get all the questions asked in one topic,makes it easier to search
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #27 - 09/14/09 at 11:31:07 Carwash is what you need to use,I been using Zaino Brothers show car polish for over 20 years its not cheap but really good and easy to use.I buy it online.
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voldigicam

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Re: How do you clean your savage?
Reply #28 - 09/14/09 at 12:12:15

I use a pressure washer. Not set on high blast. Add car wash to dispenser, just a little, wet down. Get up under everything. I don't do the electrics hard. Main thing is getting up into the dirt traps.

Let soak a little.

Use soft brush where I noticed any buildup. Rare.

Rinse thoroughly with washer. I'll vary the force. Usually the front of the engine casing takes some pressure. Spray up.

Wipe the parts I can see and feel like with chamois. Real chamois.

Go over lenses and windshield with windex if there are spots.

Once everything looks really dry, ride around the block to heat everything up again. My block is 6 miles.

Then I lube everything with spray grease, oil, silicone or whatever matches the material and use. Displace any remaining water out of the tight spots.

I don't spray the seals at all, anywhere, except with the lightest wash. If there's buildup by a seal, it's a toothbrush job.

Bike stays pretty clean that way.

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2007 S40
2003 Volusia 40th Ann.
Friendsville, TN

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LostArtist Ex Member	Re: How do you clean your savage? Reply #29 - 09/14/09 at 12:19:45 there should be a basic bike wash/wax kit available somewhere, with like idiot proof instructions, I'd buy one, I really need to wash my bike this weekend, need to buy a bucket
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