Motorcycle cleaning saves maintenance

[@philmorrow2446]

Preventative maintenance. I have never looked at it like that. I will do now!! Thanks.

[@simonchilli2088]

I'd never noticed before how clean they are! They are in fact in showroom condition.

[@paulfoster5432]

I'm in full agreement with you, Except i don't use a pressure washer, But certainly like yourself, It's preventing things from happening, And i keep my Royal Enfields, Clean, and Solve auto sol is the best 👍 I've been riding motorcycles for over 50 years now 👍 Bye the way, You may already know this little trick, But your 500 Bullet Exhaust pipe blue, If you get the pipe really hot, and a thick cloth with a bit of Solvol Autosol on, being careful not to burn your hand, it will reduce the bluing on the pipe, it won't get rid of it altogether, but it Will make it look a lot better, Trust me, it works 👍 But make sure you don't use a man made fibre cloth, and get the pipe really hot 🔥 Cheers Paul 👍

[@charlesbarnett2724]

Theyre a credit to your diligence abd care. I only have my Himmy. Im not flush with cash, so I aim to look afer it. I wash it throughly once a fortnight in winter in a similar fashion to you. Investing every nook and cranny. If its wet, ot gets a rinse from the hose pipe byvthe back door after every ride out. Its 5 years old now with 12,000 miles. Whilst its not by any stretch in showroim condition, it is a very honest clean bike much of the time. Everything is sprayed with GT85 (aoart frim breaks obviously). It keeps everything mint. Metal and of course electrical connections. so true what you say about clean as part of maintenance.

[@lancerbiker5263]

I call it ragging my bike. Been using Autosol for 30+ years. You are 100 % correct, as ragging gives you a close up inspection opportunity as well as giving you a machine you can be proud to ride. Doesn't hurt the resale value either. Cheers.

[@TriumphRascal]

I’m right with you there, it’s a good way to check your bike over and there’s nothing wrong with being a bit OCD. Solvol Autosol has been in my life since the 1970’s also. Great stuff!

[@johnbellamy6449]

makes good sense , you only see something through looking . i worked on h g v fuel tankers and a thorough inspection ,round the outside , underneath in the inspection pit ,on top of the tank , tap ,tap ,tap with a small light hammer . soon shows if anything is loose . thanks Ian .

[@MrRabbitthumper]

Great adVice Ian. While I may not be as methodical as you (since I do not have a dedicated man-cave), I do like to inspect my bikes when I wash them (2023 REH and 2019 Honda Africa Twin). I learn about every cranny of the bikes, I kinda BOND with them each time 9but only motorcycle enthusiasts could relate to that statement!). And for me the whole process is very Zen, in the moment! Always enjoyable your videos. Thanks for this one. Now I gotta get out and clean the REH (after seeing what yours looks like! LOL!)

[@edwardsenesac]

I keep mine clean too, and garaged! Pride of ownership! I ride them hard too. From Miami....

[@philcox8771]

Good afternoon Ian & Sue, hope your recovering well, great video & spot on with maintenance & actual detailing your bikes throughly, same with mine.. oh & includes my other machinery.. mowers especially (disk/blade bolts).. Your bikes are in showroom condition 😅

[@iantoy7778]

Thanks 👍

[@tedcase9175]

Good show Ian, yup if I go out on mine the following day a clean n check job, like you I used to do MOTs so a clean is an MOT, I want my bikes to be safe and as reliable as possible also clean Cheers again Ian n Sue

[@JackDraper-iy3jn]

Hi Ian, enjoy your videos from Bulgaria. I agree with you about cleaning bikes, like you I come from an offroad background, raced acu motocross back in the seventies and eighties ,and after washing off I religiously went round all nuts and bolts, spokes etc. Have just carried this through to road bike maintenance, good practice I reckon. Ps , well done getting through that riverbed on the Hymalayan. Keep safe. Jack.

[@iantoy7778]

Enduro back ground my self 9 seasons in British championship back in the day, it why I can't get out of bed in the morning now 😅

[@lampy541]

I'm not the world's biggest fan of cleaning bikes but my two are never minging, patina might be the word to describe. My Himalayan is more tool than toy and the Yamaha is mainly touring duties. I do keep both maintained to the point where I can jump on either and go anywhere without worrying . PS you can do mine if you ever get stuck for something to do 👍

[@iantoy7778]

😆

[@felixklages1893]

We are very similar. I don't use a high-pressure cleaner either, because it washes a lot of lubricant out of the moving parts and can cause problems with the electrics. Last winter I did a few tours in the snow. In the spring I put on a new rear tire and noticed that the inside of the rim was badly painted and had a little rust. I then cleaned the inside and repainted it. Did you notice the same thing with your rims?

[@iantoy7778]

No my rims seemed still like new but I have seen others that have been pretty poor. Don't think there was much consistency in production with the 411 Himalayan. Think it's changed a bit now though.

[@mrmr9767]

Windolene for chrome. Try it.

[@iantoy7778]

Not get that in Bulgaria lol. Did not know it existed anymore

[@walt7518]

My meteor is matt black and I'm just starting to regret it because I don't get to polish it!!! Agree on the preventative maintenance, a couple weeks back I was cleaning it and wiped down the chain and a bloody o-ring fell out... So that'll be a new chain then (done). The one thing you didn't mention is, when cleaning, it can be relaxing....

[@iantoy7778]

You are right

[@jetranger47]

I just leave it in the rain uncovered... 🤪

[@mattdog1982]

Any tips on drying the bike? I use one of those pet dryers

[@iantoy7778]

That's a good idea, my workshop is heated in the winter. Summer's are up to 45C + in the summer. If I need to pressure wash my bike I use a pressure washer company that has a wax rinse in the water so it drys without leaving all the stans and water droplets on the paint work then just poshish it.

[@markdearlove8634]

Informative. Cheers

[@jonathandeeley6276]

I have a Meteor 350 Aurora and Classic 350 both with spoked wheels. I ride all year round but the spokes aren't stainless and they corrode like its going out of fashion. Tried ACF50 and to me its over priced and overrated. I'm trialing lithium grease this winter on the spokes, do you have any other rust preventative tips for spokes?🤔👍

[@iantoy7778]

I just clean mine with a bit of WD40 on the rag and use it as polish on the spokes and rims. We also don't have any salt on the roads in Bulgaria which makes a big difference.

[@dazzaoutandabout4870]

Interesting, something I need to adopt more. On a side note, noticed your himi tyres. Do you mind me asking what they are and how you find them on both dirt, mud and tar? Thanks and appreciated your advice.

[@iantoy7778]

The tyres are Heidenau K60 Scout. Bit sketchy for the first 50km or so but after that work great on all terrain.

[@dazzaoutandabout4870]

@iantoy7778 thanks very much. Do you find them wearing well? Ie kms. There's a whole heap of mixed review on tyres. I guess you can't have it all. What's the run in thing about. Are they hard? Thanks again.

[@iantoy7778]

@@dazzaoutandabout4870 Heidenau K60 Scout ,really like them . Good off road and very good on the tarmac. Does not sound like a landrove on the tarmac either lol

[@iantoy7778]

@@dazzaoutandabout4870 not had them on the bike long so don't know how many km I will get

[@BobfmBali]

Did you make inserts for the bullet panniers, if so can you show/demonstrate 😮

[@iantoy7778]

@@BobfmBali not sure what you mean by inserts

[@BobfmBali]

@iantoy7778 The panniers are Material aren't they, so do they just keep their own shape or did you make something to give them shape?

[@iantoy7778]

@@BobfmBali they are lined in side with like a hardboard wood .bought them of eBay in India . The bags are canvas.

[@johnfountain8588]

Good vlog with good advice I have had so many bikes I lost count and I cleaned as needed but not to the point of being obsessive compulsive but that’s down to me being somewhat lazy about certain things whereas I think you have what it takes and as always Regards from Florida 🦩🦩