i have washed my bike a total of 1 time with water/soap since i got it over a year ago. And that was only because it was absolutely POURING on me the whole way home the day that i picked it up from the sellers house, it sucked......

Other than that 1 time, I use mothers Showtime spray about 1-2 times a week to keep it from even getting 'dusty'. Luckily i like washing it and my driving conditions never allow it to get too dirty (no rain, wet pavement, always garaged).

Bought my girlfriends bike yesterday and washed it with soap/water/bucket because it was sitting outside for 3 weeks without a cover and needed all the dust/dirt flushed out of the cracks. But again it was just a bucket of soapy water and a cotton towel...no hose and no pressure washing. Wont see water again for a long time.


Am I weird? probably, but i have 2 immaculate bikes.

Wash mine pretty often with low pressure water only. I wet it with a gentle spray pattern, then wash with soapy water, then rinse with gentle spray pattern again. Hand dry with a towel and she looks like new again. She is 3+ years old and 27K on the odometer. No issues related to washing. Always cover the intake with a shower cap before I begin and avoid steering head and wheel bearings. Also avoid spraying directly at the electrics under the seat.

Original post sounds like a weak or low battery is the issue.

I wash my bikes exclusively with wet rag, then wet soapy rag, then wet rag, wet rag, crevices with a scrubber/degreaser, wet rag, dry rag, chrome wax on dry rag, paint wax on a dry rag, dry rag, dry rag to get excess wax off after it's dried. It only takes about an hour, tops, and it's easy washing. I can take my time, smoke a cigar, and do it while sitting.

It's paradise compared to washing my Ford Excursion...

I only WASH my bike when it gets really dirty from riding in the rain or on a dirt/clay road, and then I use my Mr.Clean wash that doesn't require any drying. I almost always put it up on the jack so I can spin the wheels and she sits level.

However even then and all the rest of the times I clean the bike with the spray cleaner and Westly's tire white. I pull all the bags and seats and windshield and clean them separately. Never had a problem with it running rough or not starting after.