Cleaning/washing my first bike for the very first time | GTAMotorcycle.com

Cleaning/washing my first bike for the very first time

Corsara

Corsara

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Hey there,

After browsing the forums the whole morning trying to see an easy and straight-forward beginners method to clean my bike, I decided that I will do the following with it tonight, and please let me know if you spot problems in the sequence of events or choice of methods:

1) With the bike being cold, I will gently hose it with cold water all around.

2) I will use the leaf blower and try to dry the bike.

3) I will spray WD40 on a rug and will wipe the wheels with it.

4) I will put WD40 on another rug, and will wipe the O-rings chain with it.

5) I will take the bike for a 10 minute ride to warm up the chain.

6) I will apply Castrol Chainlube Grease (found in Canadian Tire) to the chain.

7) With a clean rug I will wipe off the excess lube from the chain.

8) I'll let the bike sit overnight for the lube to "sink in".


Do you see problems in this procedure? Is doing 5 after 4 alright and safe, given that there won't be any lube on the chain?

PS. The bike is a 2005 Yamaha FZ6.
 
Would try to stay away from WD-40 on the chain... use some kerosene on a rag to clean it.

Would also recommend Simple Green for any of the metal parts of the bike as opposed to the WD-40 (rims incl).

I usually just wash the bike like I would a car (use a gentle wash soap) and use some micro-fiber towels to dry after rinsing.
 
Why would you stay away from wd-40? I use it on the chain and wheels. I won't get into the chain debate again but as for the wheels, it's the best thing I've used. I've tried simple green, s-100 and other wheel specific cleaners and none of them work as well.
 
Smutty said:
WD-40 is NOT a lube. It's a penetrating oil. WD-40 contains petroleum distillates which means that it will break down the rubber seals in your chain (and any other rubber it comes in contact with). Long-term it will damage and shorten the life of your chain. Use kerosene for the chain, as previously stated by g-ram.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_I_clean_the_drivechain%3F
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_often_should_I_lube_the_chain;_what_should_I_use_to_do_so?
Click to expand...

You're right, it's not a lube. The lube is sealed in the chain, wd-40 keeps it clean, which is all that is needed and I could care less if anyone agrees with me or not... As I said, I don't want to get into that debate. I said that it was the best thing I've used for the wheels, what's the problem with that?
 
Corsara said:
4) I will put WD40 on another rug, and will wipe the O-rings chain with it.
5) I will take the bike for a 10 minute ride to warm up the chain.

Do you see problems in this procedure? Is doing 5 after 4 alright and safe, given that there won't be any lube on the chain?
Click to expand...

There's a big debate on that one. Personally, I prefer to run it, then clean it, then lube (step 5 before 4) but it's really up to you. I've heard it done both ways.
 
The lube is sealed in the chain with O-rings made out of rubber. They changed to rubber O-rings for longer-lasting chains. Using WD-40 on rubber causes the rubber to deteriorate. I'm not going to tell you what to do with your bike, and you see in my reply to the OP's question I didn't tell him what to do with his bike either. I'm just saying that it shortens the life of rubber causing it to harden and crack in the long-term.
If you're changing your chain frequently then it's a non-issue!
Also, some people use vaseline to lube the rubber seals on their car doors in the winter so it won't freeze shut. Guess what that does to the rubber! ;)

redridernl said:
You're right, it's not a lube. The lube is sealed in the chain, wd-40 keeps it clean, which is all that is needed and I could care less if anyone agrees with me or not... As I said, I don't want to get into that debate. I said that it was the best thing I've used for the wheels, what's the problem with that?
Click to expand...
 
Hmm...if I were to decide to use kerosene, where would I find it? They don't seem to sell it at the Canadian Tire :(
 
WD40 will make your bike rust.Any oil designed to absorb moisture....will eventually release it.Use it for drilling steel on your drill press....not on your bike.
 
Gary said:
It's in the camping section.
Click to expand...

Kerosene found in the camping section of CT successfully, many thanks!

I'm the OP btw. So, after reading everything and taking into account all of your advice and all, I can't wait to finish work and get on with my first cleaning :) Here's what I'll do as a first-time wash, basic washing, here's the new sequence:

1) Wash bike with just plain water from the garden hose

2) Dry the bike with some clothes and leaf blower

3) Put nitrile gloves on my hands

4) Soak a shop towel with kerosene

5) Use it to wipe the chain

6) Use clean shop towels to wipe off the dirt and kerosene from the chain

7) Soak another towel with WD40 and use it to wipe the wheels

8) Warm up the bike by riding it for 20 or so minutes

9) Lube the chain

10) let sit overnight


How does that sound?
 
Smutty said:
A quick search on the CT website didn't return a result of actual kerosene... I wonder if they stopped carrying it?
Click to expand...

They have it! I was fooled by the website too, that's why I asked. Fortunately, I work very close to a CT and just went there, they've got the 1 litre and 5 litre bottles of Kerosene in the camping department. The 1 litr is like 5 bucks or so.
 
Good to know. Thanks for sharing! :)

Corsara said:
They have it! I was fooled by the website too, that's why I asked. Fortunately, I work very close to a CT and just went there, they've got the 1 litre and 5 litre bottles of Kerosene in the camping department. The 1 litr is like 5 bucks or so.
Click to expand...
 
cbrguy said:
WD40 will make your bike rust.Any oil designed to absorb moisture....will eventually release it.Use it for drilling steel on your drill press....not on your bike.
Click to expand...

Smutty said:
I'm just saying that it shortens the life of rubber causing it to harden and crack in the long-term.
If you're changing your chain frequently then it's a non-issue!
Click to expand...

I bought the bike new in 08 and it has roughly 16,000 km. It's had one chain adjustment in that time and no rust. This is the first bike I've owned that I've only used WD-40. With the bikes I've had in the past I've used either Bel-Ray Lube or Maxima Chain Wax. I read about it online and figured I'd try it out and I will never go back to lube... for my chain. ;)

I'm not saying that everyone should do it but I was willing to risk trying it out and it's been great for me.
 
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