Hello gents,
I just picked up my new (to me, with 7k kms on the clock) '13 CB11 last week. The bike is in showroom condition apart from some discolouration spots on the header pipes, and I hope to keep it looking like that. I am an all year rider, I ride every day if it's above freezing, rain or shine. My previous bikes had no chrome, and engine was coated black (water cooled). I'm slightly worried about potential corrosion of the chrome and exposed metal parts, especially around the engine covers and fins. I've read through the threads about some members' corrosion issues, read about recommendations for ACF-50 (which I just ordered), however I'd still like to hear from some all-weather riders here on what you do:
- do you use any protective coats (like ACF-50) for metal/chrome parts?
- do you blow dry your bike after rainy rides or just let it dry by itself?
- any ways to protect the stunning red paintjob of the tank?
- do you take any other precautions / protective measures?
- how often do you clean the bike through the winter?
I'm also curious to hear if you don't do any of the above, and what results you've had. For info: both at home and at work my bike is under a roof, but exposed to outside temperatures.
Thanks in advance for any comments!
I ride to work every day most of the year. I have a black 14 STD much easier to take care of. I wipe my bike down if I get caught in the rain after it cools off. The rest of the time I clean the bike every 3 or 4 days as needed. I also ordered some ACF-50.
I tend to let it be and get a little dirty. I may find time to wash or once every 3-4 months and it still cleans up nicely.
(10-14-2015, 06:36 AM)kennyw_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I tend to let it be and get a little dirty. I may find time to wash or once every 3-4 months and it still cleans up nicely.
Here in the Pacific Northwest it is inevitable that our bikes are going to get rather dirty when riding beyond the summer months. I try to wash mine every few weeks in the winter time. I've also thought about looking into one of those heated bike dryers at some point. That would probably come in pretty handy.
Water is not your enemy.
First, sun is...fades paint; destroys plastic. Gauge faces; switches; seats.
Second...the MUD that comes with rain on the road...will hold moisture and start rust in various sensitive places.
I'd say: A quick wash every couple weeks, as kenny says, would be enough. But I'd pay attention to the crud left behind after a dousing of dirty road spray...it will get under the seat, in crevices and in the fenders. That is where rust and problems will start.
Otherwise...ride it and don't worry! It's not a museum piece. Take reasonable care of it; but don't obsess. It will be shiny and new for a time; and then not-so-shiny for a long time; and eventually it will be scrapped as junk.
I use a good quality cover (Formosa covers), wash and wax regularly,dry - both forced air and chamois, and remove crud as soon as possible.
I spent a lot of money on it and am willing to invest my time to maintain it.
Prefer a high mileage bike that looks like it's rider knows what he's doing.
Thanks for the comments gents! Interesting to see some different approaches. I'm not obsessive about cleaning and every 3-4 days is unrealistic due to time constraints. However, I do like to look after my things (especially when they are so beautiful). The ACF-50 just came through the mail, I'll apply a coat on all things metal, then plan to wash down lightly every 2-3 weeks or so (plus after really dirty/muddy rides). Hopefully this should keep her nice and shiny for a long time yet.
One odd thing I learned from my astronomy hobby: Any cleaning is abrasive. Unless you use this very expensive spritz you spray on, dry, the peal. Washing is just an abrasive slurry; while good for some surfaces some times (headers) it's nasty on paint and plastics and your instrument glass.
The desert dust in the Phoenix area is especially nasty.
So I don't clean all that often. Bikes or cars.
Some soaps are Surfactants as they do their job by breaking down surface tension allowing water to mix with things such as dirt, grease, etc.. These are non-abrasive.
For me personally I rather enjoy keeping my ride looking sharp like it did when I purchased it. I also ride mountain bikes and unlike most of my riding buddies I just like the satisfaction I get from the experience of cleaning my bike; same is true for my CB. So it is just an individual thing, for me cars and bikes just seem to run better when they are clean. OK so yes I'm weird.
I can appreciate the guys on this forum that want to ride their CB while it looks its best. In my younger years I used to spend plenty of time cleaning my prized possessions. Everything was detailed to a ridiculous degree. I remember running Q-tips through the dash vents on our new 1982 Celica-GT on a regular basis. Man I wish I had that time back now. I wash the CB when it needs it and it has prob not had a good wash or detailing since late May of this year when I came back from Wyoming. Just rode 389 miles over the weekend with 50 miles of it through a good downpour between Lava Hot Springs Idaho and Montpellier. I'll get around to giving the bike a good year end cleaning this weekend (maybe).