Bike cleaner / degreaser

Discussion in 'Ducati General Discussion' started by chase, Jan 12, 2014.

  1. What do you all use ?
    Went out yesterday an today decided to give it a clean/hose off .
    i first used the new WD40 stuff from Halfords , it was asolutley useless .
    Then went to S Doc 100 which previously has been good but it was no better ( perhaps a bad batch )
    Neither of these would touch the chain spray debris .
    What do you all use ?
    Gunk ! is it still about ?
     
  2. Paraffin on a rag or Gunk.
     
  3. SDOC 100 gel. Not the liquid, that is rubbish. always get good results and dries to a shine though always finish with a good polish like Mer.
     
  4. I use Muc-off degreaser, brake cleaner and chain cleaner cos it works fine and is easily available at Halfords; for the bodywork I stick to autoglym products cos they work best. The one thing I've always got is Mr Sheen, works brilliantly at cleaning wheels and chain spray, better than anything else I've used.
     
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  5. Jif/Sif or whatever it's called now, the spay on stuff it works well on chain grease and costs pence.
     
  6. For degreasing, i've been using Jizer (unfortunate name), but i find IPA (Isopropyl alcohol) is very good as it cuts through pretty much everything instantly and doesn't leave a greasy film afterwards, like some degreasers do.

    Quite cheap on flea-bay, think i bought 5 litres of the stuff for around £13-15 a while ago including delivery.

    For general cleaning, Autoglym Fast Glass cleans up most stuff really well.
     
  7. Gunk, old petrol or paraffin.
     
  8. Usually Gunk for degreasing. I used Wurth brake and chain cleaner last weekend for the 1st time and it was very good.
     
  9. For the really greasy bits......Paraffin.
    Cheap, effective and not too aggressive.

    For a quick wipe over on cleaner areas .....GT85

    Both the above used with a roll of cheapo kitchen paper towels which always hangs on a dispenser on the shed wall.

    A paintbrush with the bristles cut down to make them stiffer makes a good scrubbing brush.
    And I always save my old toothbrushes.
     
  10. On the wheels I use a silicone spray...I also use this spray on black plastics & hoses. Works a trest and keeps them shiny / protected.

    For cleaning, I use Silkolene "wash off", its green in colour. I dry off bike with leather chamois.

    Then i use ""vlucanet wipes". If you havent tried you should give them a whirl.

    Odd time I will also you autoglym its great stuff but pricey over here.
     
  11. Another one for SDOC 100 bike cleaner GEL.Used there polish after which is also very good.
     
  12. I use Jizer as well and find it works well but don't buy it in 5ltr, go to a local motor factor and get a 25ltr drum, last one I bought a couple of years back was only about £35 +VaT .
     
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  13. Mer is about as far away from a good polish as you can get!

    Try poorboys, meguiars or good old autoglym super resin for a good polish. A good wax is just as important as it protects the finish you get with polish. As for the degreaser i use muc off, its cheap, cheerful and does the job. I use autoglym bodywork shampoo and plenty of clean water to rinse it off.
     
  14. Castrol metal parts cleaner / brake cleaner works well on tar blobs and for blasting out snotty blobs of old chain lube from hard to reach places.
     
  15. I like sdoc 100 gel and a softish brush on the engine and anything delicate or painted, inc wheels etc

    stubborn stuff like chain lube on the engine side stand swings arm and bare metal work i use paraffin on a cloth
    in both instances rinse it off with cold water before it dries

    dont use muc off on anything painted, plastic or carbon as can mar the finish badly (i personally wont use it at all on motorbikes)
     
  16. muc-off first then Contect Duck oil for the chain lube/rear wheel. I also use Castrol chain wax and found this doesn't fling half as bad as a lot of other makes so makes cleaning much easier anyway.
     
  17. Neat sdoc100 on the engine, callipers, other dirty stuff...wd40 for everything else.
     
  18. Not sure I agree about Mer but as it happens it is Autoglym super resin currently in the garage. I love doing that final polish after cleaning the bike, I'll even do Mel's.
     
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  19. White spirit on an old tee-shirt to remove the crud off the back wheel, cans and hugger, spray brake cleaner and a tooth brush to clean the calipers, Turtle Wax wash & wax for the wash, then the whole thing is blasted dry with the leaf blower, Castrol Racing Chain Wax on the chain, Turtle Wax Ultimate or Mer wax on the paintwork, Autoglym Plastic and Vinyl Care on the black stuff, ACF50 wiped onto the fork stanchions.
     
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