Washing and cleaning advice/tips

[alantf]

Originally Posted by bonehead

:plus1: 2 times a year, right? :lol:

That often? :biggrin:

[Water Warrior 2]

The bikes will get washed later this summer. After the trip to the Yukon they will need it. Last wash was in 2008 after a ride half way across Canada and back.

[diffluere]

I wash my bike every day in the late afternoon rain shower... :neener:

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by diffluere

I wash my bike every day in the late afternoon rain shower... :neener:

Maybe I should roll mine out in the driveway this afternoon.
Our weather has been pretty much like Florida this year.
90 degrees and afternoon storms; damn near every day.

[diffluere]

It's been hovering around 99-100 all week. Yesterday I think we only hit 94 because it was overcast. Of course, the one day I get the chance to put the cover on my bike it doesn't rain! Usually I get drenched on the way home from school and what's the point of covering a wet bike?

Every day I'm tempted to recover my seat with a non-black vinyl...even if I park in the shade it's molten-lava hot!

Oh the joys of Florida. Wouldn't trade it for snow though!

[Water Warrior 2]

Keep the seat a lot cooler by leaving a cheap cloth/towel over it. I had to get a sheep skin to cover the gel seat on my bike. The gel pad will heat up like a frying pan when parked in the sun.

[Sarris]

I wear a half police style helmet. So I put my helmet on the seat when it's parked. It keeps the seat from scaulding my ass (I don't usually bring a spatula).

Leaving the helmet on the seat in the Florida sun also helps dry out the helmet some, which if you're bald like me is a necessity.

Since I have no hair to absorb the sweat I get bad helmet funk really quick, so drying it out regularly helps.

[diffluere]

I'm too scared that helmet thieves at school will steal my helmet. I use one of those big u-locks for bicycles to lock it to the sissy bar. If it looks like rain I take the helmet to class with me. On some parts of campus I can score certain spots that are in the sun when I arrive, but in the shade when I leave. A few other bikes have discovered this trick though, so sometimes I miss out.

I really want a gel pad so maybe I'll find one that has the sheepskin cover. Sheepskin + Rain = disgusting though. How long does it take to put it on? Would it be worth it to stash it in the saddlebag, then put it on when I'm ready to leave, or too much PITA?

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by diffluere

Sheepskin + Rain = disgusting though.

Not really. Have you ever seen a soaking wet sheep ?? :shocked:
Wait, have you ever been close enough to a sheep to tell if it was wet or not ?? :crackup

Unless it rains a LOT over a LONG period of time, a real sheepskin does not take on water much below the top surface. Thus, it is easy to brush/shake most of it off.

I have one like you described but mine is ALL black; probably not a good idea where you live.

They typically attach to the seat with straps and hooks; easy to attach and remove.......too easy maybe as they are NOT cheap.

[Water Warrior 2]

Google Alaska Leathers. They sell sheep skins and have good pics of their products. If you don't like their price you will know what to make yourself with their pics, descriptions and dimensions.