What type of products do you folks use to keep your beasts looking good??
I am a bit of a nubbie as far as the Spyders go but I was wondering what type of products do you use to keep your rides all cleaned up and looking good. Thanks in advance.
Retired Army
2016 Chevy Silverado
2016 Spyder RT Limited
I just use some good car wash and wax solution I have to wash mine. For the RT it's like half a small car and I think they use high quality car paint in production. Just be careful with windshield clean micro fiber for it.
Cheers
‘21 Honda Rebel 1100 DTC Burgundy
‘13 Spyder RT-L Pearl White
You are about to be bombarded with a plethora of brand names and techniques. But, being a simple guy, I like to keep it simple. I am also OCD about my vehicles, but I am lazy, so I have to be efficient. So here's what I do....
+ When returning from a ride, I go over the bike with a California Duster and that, in itself takes off all the dust.
+ Then I clean, polish and coat the windshield with Plexis. That and going over it with the duster is all I have to do 95% of the time.
Disclaimer: Here in the NW, we are blessed with very few flying insects and Portland has soft water that acts as a cleaner to a degree. On my last all day ride, there were two insect hits on the w/s, plus a few really tiny guys.
+ If the bike is more than dusty, I fill a pail with plain water, toss an old wash cloth into it and place and old towel on the seat. I wet wipe a small area with the semi wrung out washcloth, then dry with the towel.
+ I very rarely need to hose wash, but when I do, First spray S-100 cleaner on the engine and wheels, only - because S-100 requires a lot of rinsing, but cleans without laying a hand on. Even on air cooled bikes, I NEVER touched the engine.
+ I use a leaf blower to dry the bike.
+ To polish, I use any polish - but my fave is S-100 cleaner/polish.
+ To wax, any good wax should do - I'm using Meguire's #26 yellow paste wax.
+ To detail, again, any good spray detailer will give 'er a shine - I like Griot's Garage Best of Show and I do this a lot more than waxing and polishing. I carry a small spray bottle of detailer when on the road, for touch ups at motels.
+ I strongly urge against using pressure washers and furniture polish that's made for wood.
I hope I helped.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
If you have products that you like for your car/truck they will work on the Spyder as well. I have a bike to ride not to show off, but I do keep it clean. I use Turtle Wax Ice car wash soap, Ice spray wax and 303 protectant for the non painted parts.
local car wash don't pull the trigger on the wand and you get a gentle mist.
Yamaha Spray Cleaner/detailer, been using it for years, great stuff. Use it everywhere. Very good on windshields. One cloth wipe and clean, one cloth to polish and finish
Mother's Back to Black to do the black parts as they go gray.
Turtle wax chrome polish when the Yamaha spray detailer isn't enough on the wheels.
Merlin's Blood on the wheels when they are really dirty. Spray on let sit 5 min. rinse off.
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
2012 RT L
AMA 25 years Life Member
TRA
PGR
Rhino Riders Plate #83
Venturers #78
TOI
For ease in buying, and decent results, I use Mothers products. The wash soap, leather care on the Corbin seat, backrests and armrests, Mothers wax, and instant detailer as needed.
I do use Groits shiny stuff on the black plastic, tires and belt.
For cleaning radiators, I use a trick learned here, spray with hydrogen peroxide. Let soak while filling wash bucket. Then rinse out as I was the Spyder.
The F4 windscreen, I prefer Plexus, but also use the F4 cleaner they sell.
I use Chemical Guys Water less spray, on the tupperware.
I use Lamonster's detailer spray for the seat.
Deanna
Current Spyder - 2023 F3 LTD Special Mineral Blue
Red LED NANO Saddlebag Marker Lights with Full Illumination
Sequential Fender LED'S (Amber/Red) with Safety Reflector
Dual Power Plate (12 V & USB ports)
Gremlin Bell
Rear Trunk Organizer (4 holders, 2 Elastic Holders)
Lamonster "Top Cuff" with adjustable drink Holder
SpyderPops Missing Guard Belt
Console Accent Trim (Carbon Fiber Domed Black)
Ultimate F3 Floorboards
Front Fairing Service Access Door Covers (Carbon Fiber Doomed Black)
Sway Bar with Links
Rolo Laser Alignment
Half Cover
A-Arm Daytime Dual Color LED Running Lights with Blinker Module
Hi-Viz DRL and Sequential Mirrors lights
Wash - Blue Coral Wash and Wax (big jug only $3.88 at Wally World)
(I'm avoiding S-100 which I use on my other bike - me thinks it's a bit too caustic)
Tough Grime Removal - Turtle Wax Clean Finish Polishing Compound (very infrequently - once a year)
Detailer - S100 Detailer and Wax (works on (*everything*)
Windshield - Novus (1) Plastic Clean and Shine
So yeah a lot of turtle wax products - not that I'm a partisan for them but their products work for me and are available at discount stores. Autozone and O'Reilly's jack up the prices on their cleaning supplies...
F1 for the cleaning of all Painted/Perspex/Chrome surfaces (basically anything that's not the seat) I tried Motul seat MC seat cleaner, but as good as it looked it was too slippery
It seems the Turtle has come a long way from it's past of let's make it twice as hard as it has to be. Their modern stuff seems to be as good as or better than the big boy brands.