To Wash or Not to Wash?

Ok, I'll admit it..... I like my bike clean. I take it out, I get it dirty. I come home and time permitting, I wash it. I'll take it out the next day and get it dirty again and (time permitting) come home and clean it up. I can't stand to leave it covered in s#*t. In my defense, if I know it's getting dirty again tomorrow I won't waste my time cleaning it but it doesn't sit for more than a day covered in poo. The way I see it... I take care of the bike and it takes care of me.

I'm admitting my problem because a fellow rider has threatened to "out me" as an "obsessive washer" to the ADV world. :eek1

Ok, let me know how you guys see it???

Ya wanna borrow my bike?

I am pretty much the opposite of this. I ride for main transportation every day, in all kinds of weather; if was uptight about the bike being clean, that would consume a hell of a lot of my time. I care that it runs right; that it is maintained as required, and repaired as needed, and that does the job.

PhilB

Kirk, Hell yeah I'll borrow your bike. I should mention though, I'm obsessive about MY bike, not others. When do you need it back by?

I've been riding back and forth to Florida about three times a month, for the last four months and haven't wash my bike once, as long as it runs good and the maintenance is kept up I believe it will be just fine, gives the bike personality.

When I was younger I thought a dirty bike was cool. Over the years I figured out that corroded fasteners suck. These days my bikes get the mud and grime washed off. It is amazing how much easier it is to work on a clean bike and how much longer everything lasts.

It's gonna rain,i'm good. :)

Hi, my name is Jason. I'm a bike washer....


Sorry, they run better clean. I agree that they are MUCH easier to work on clean. I am an outcast from my group of friends because of this affliction.

I wash my v strom a coupla times a year whether it needs it or not.

Insurance

Nobody steals dirty bikes

Paul

I'm in the obsessive washing is bad camp.

However I always wash before working on them.

, though it seems a lot more important for DS/dirt bikes and any bike ridden after the first road salt application of the winter...

You are not alone, my friend. There are others out there like you, like me. You dont have to suffer alone, in the dark, hiding from the SHAME of a clean motorcycle

They may MOCK you for waxing the underside of your fenders, But we do NOT!

Stand Tall! Step out from the Shadows! A NEW Day has dawned! One full of Hope & Promise!!! Step FORTH, and SLAM the door to that closet of shame behind you!!!




-Face

Just thinking of road salt keeps me up at night

I ride 6 days a week about 50 weeks a year. In all weather except ice and heavy snow. My bike gets a wash once a year. Right before its MOT.

I have to admit that i am about the same, really slack with washing the bike.

I ride my bike year round as my main vehicle, aside from heavy rains, and put close to 13000 miles on it per year. The only time i really wash it is when I'm working on it or have some friends over so we can work on/wash our bikes all once (not in the closet )

I prefer a clean bike mainly because it's easier to work on and gives you that clean feeling (mentally, if you know what I'm talking about).

i dont like the idea of hitting mine with a pressure washer at the car wash or dunking it with a hose, so mine sort of get's a whore-bath from a bucket n sponge without a lot of fuss.

Not only do I suffer the same affliction, but I HATE looking at all those fix-it pictures in the Thumper section showing mud caked bikes in various states of disassembly.

The Aussies are the worst!