All-weather riders: protecting your bike?

[Carguy1959_imp]

When I buy something new. I have to try and see how long I can keep it looking new or very close. I had a 2004 F150 FX4 and kept I close to new for 5 years and 100,000 miles. As far as the bike, I ride it almost every day and I takes about 15 minutes to completely wipe it down.

[EGAlvarez_imp]

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.

I recommend heating the can in a pot of very hot, not boiling water, for a few minutes and remember to go with a couple of light coats to avoid drips.

ACF-50 is the best for hard to reach places, around electrical areas, under fenders and in tiny cracks, but for protection and shine, I like to use a coat of Meguiar's paste wax on painted and chrome areas.

[aschem_imp]

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).

I'm about 30 minutes from Lava, didn't know anyone actually had a CB 1100 in this area. Hats off to you for riding in the rain (I am now a fair-weather rider (no rain/sleet/hail/snow) for me).