Polishing

[HobbyMan]

MMMM..... Don't you love wax?

[Pat Kelly]

I used to clean/polish my Honda 400 continuously, even the inside of the frame where I could reach (stamped steel frame with engine as a stressed member). This was when I was single.
Now it's an occasional wipe-down with a semi-yearly 'good' cleaning on my LG. Wash, wash again with diluted ammonia (removes old wax), polish, wax. I do this with the easy parts of the bike removed (seat, tank, side covers, exhaust, fenders). I also remove the tank emblems to avoid the build-up around the outline.
My E is the workhorse (and winter bike) and has a rattle-can paint job so it just gets an occasional trip to the carwash and chrome goodies wiped down.

[HobbyMan]

I guess it is because I have some extra time, but when ever I get home for the day, sometimes ever other day, I always rub the chrome and tank down to make sure ther is no dirt on it. I try to leave it under a blanket to keep the dust off. Once a week to every other week, I put a little wax on the tank. When ever I wax, I also find any exposed rubber parts, including the tires, and wipe the dirt off. Then I apply a little armor-all. It may be a little excessive, but it seems to make the bike happy. And a happy bike makes me happy.

[Czekus21]

I wipe er down before just about every ride BUT I don't consider it polishing. Just nockin the garage dust off. Polishing only comes about once a year. To get the winter salts off the bike. Seems I put more mile on in winter then the rest of the year.

[webbcraft2150]

I usually give 'er a wipe down every evening after the bike (and the garage) cools down if I rode it that day. Weekly washing can take from 30 minutes to 2+hours for the full blown "toothbrush" treatment. Simichrome and Mothers metal polish treatment is usually every two weeks. It a labor of love. (my wife accused me of paying more attention to the bike than her once, I told her if she could pull that many G's accelerating, I'd polish her chrome to. hammock hooks installed in garage shortly after )

[TADracer]

I usually give my baby a quick wipe off before each ride and soetimes after a ride too if the bugs are out.

But then about every week I polish the Aluminum and Chrome and then use a light wax on the painted surfaces.

[Dennyz]

I painted everything black so I would not have to polish.

[Geezer]

Originally posted by Dennyz
I painted everything black so I would not have to polish.

I plan to do that to my 79 for that and other reasons.

I used to have a BSA A65 that I had the entire engine polished like silver. I felt like a slave to the bike but it sure was purdy...

Geezer

[HobbyMan]

Today I found myself filling a small simple green spray bottle with auto glass claner for keeping the exhaust clean while away from the garage. I have it wrapped it up in a rag, tucked away under the side cover. I know it, I am OC about it.

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

Every two to three weeks, the Battle cruiser gets a "Field Day", wash, touch up wax and wipe down of the chrome. About every month and a half, he gets the full treatment with Mothers and Chrome Polish. The windshield gets a polishing too.

[oseaghdha]

I usually give my baby a quick wipe off before each ride and soetimes after a ride too if the bugs are out.

I got nuthin...........

[GNEPIG]

.. every time i wipe my bike off, it rains! so it doesnt get the love i'd like to give it.
it's a damn shame to, cause there is a good lookin bike under all that road yuk.

[mro]

Use to live in Largo.
Rain no big deal except when it came down so hard you could not see 10 feet.



mro

[HobbyMan]

Its when it hasen't rained in a while so the dirt is left over. I hate starting out with clean chrome and end up with a dull dirt layer over the the exhaust. So I have some glass cleaner and a rag under the side cover. I just can't stand dirt. Plus, if you leave the dirt there, it absorbs water and promotes rust or pitting.

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

I had washed and waxed the Battle Cruiser yesterday morning, including polishing the chrome and the aluminum, what do I get for my efforts? A 40 ride home in the rain from a PGR mission in Northern Kentucky. Oh well, Friday night is coming and there is beer in the fridge... Exciting life, huh?