Something I HATE about the Spyder!

[finless]

Yes there is something I really hate...

CLEANING THIS THING is a PAIN in the ASS........

So many little nooks and cranny's. So many angles and spots to clean and wax....
Area's where road dirt collects you cant get at....
The cross struts (with plastic covers) and front end plastic all need cleaning and care....
The "static" cling the Tupperware causes when waxing! Make sure you have a lint free buffing cloth!

I have to tell you after doing a full wash and wax at least 3 times now since I have owned my Spyder,
it takes hours and when done.... I AM BEAT! It's a SH*T load of work.

Now if your really anal about cleaning, have a look under the fenders or better yet, under the complete ass end of an RT.
I had mine with all the covers off last weekend except the trunk and rear body panels (had them off before on another farkle session). Yet when I looked up in there even with only 4700 miles on it... FILTHY! But I am NOT that anal to go after cleaning all that stuff. Maybe once a year if I desire to be that clean...

Anyway, one thing I hate yet love to do, is make my Spyder look "show room"...

I would rather wax a van or a 26' boat than detail a Spyder! I have done both and trust me... detailing a Spyder is a lot harder

Bob

 

[Chupaca]

Wow..!!

that's dedication..Fortunately we have the RS much easier. Using protecall after rydes keeps road film a water spotting to a minimum and easy to wipe clean with a little protecall and a microfiber cloth...but do strip her down to the nubbies and clean frame and power plant once in a while..congrats they do run better when they are well taken care of...:thumbup:

 

[Jeriatric]

Wash, wax and Aleve. Synonymous

Anti static products. There are other brands available.

http://www.chemicalguys.com/Chemical_Guys_WAC_116_16_Extreme_Slick_Synthetic_p/wac_116_16.htm

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Yes there is something I really hate...

CLEANING THIS THING is a PAIN in the ASS........

So many little nooks and cranny's. So many angles and spots to clean and wax....
Area's where road dirt collects you cant get at....
The cross struts (with plastic covers) and front end plastic all need cleaning and care....
The "static" cling the Tupperware causes when waxing! Make sure you have a lint free buffing cloth!

I have to tell you after doing a full wash and wax at least 3 times now since I have owned my Spyder,
it takes hours and when done.... I AM BEAT! It's a SH*T load of work.

Now if your really anal about cleaning, have a look under the fenders or better yet, under the complete ass end of an RT.
I had mine with all the covers off last weekend except the trunk and rear body panels (had them off before on another farkle session). Yet when I looked up in there even with only 4700 miles on it... FILTHY! But I am NOT that anal to go after cleaning all that stuff. Maybe once a year if I desire to be that clean...

Anyway, one thing I hate yet love to do, is make my Spyder look "show room"...

I would rather wax a van or a 26' boat than detail a Spyder! I have done both and trust me... detailing a Spyder is a lot harder

Bob

:agree: Damn things won't stay in one spot long enough to clean them right. :roflblack:


Cruzr Joe

 

[finless]

I commute on mine every day which is 64 mile total round trip.
It's on the LA freeways with some bumper to bumper even in the HOV lane for about 8 miles...
The "black crap" build up is unbelievable! Car's don't seem to collect this junk everywhere... But the Spyder is a nook and cranny "gunk" catcher

I don't have to wash my spyder as much as my car, but my god.. when I do.... what a job.

One thing I just cannot do... Is let my spyder look like some I have seen where the person probably never washed it... Talk about nasty....

If you're proud of something "keep it clean"... It runs better! That's what I Dad use to say anyway
Placebo? Maybe.... but maybe not!

Putting miles on something doesn't mean it needs to look like it has miles on it!

Bob

 

[Cruzr Joe]

I commute on mine every day which is 64 mile total round trip.
It's on the LA freeways with some bumper to bumper even in the HOV lane for about 8 miles...
The "black crap" build up is unbelievable! Car's don't seem to collect this junk everywhere... But the Spyder is a nook and cranny "gunk" catcher

I don't have to wash my spyder as much as my car, but my god.. when I do.... what a job.

One thing I just cannot do... Is let my spyder look like some I have seen where the person probably never washed it... Talk about nasty....

If you're proud of something "keep it clean"... It runs better! That's what I Dad use to say anyway

Bob

Bob

You will hate the 14 then, the new radiators cutouts are trash collectors, they love to collect leaves and small pieces of paper

Cruzr Joe

 

[SpyderAnn01]

The radiators do collect junk. I had so many tumbleweeds in mine on the New Mexico trip I was afraid it might overheat.

 

[Jeriatric]

The radiators do collect junk. I had so many tumbleweeds in mine on the New Mexico trip I was afraid it might overheat.

One of the earliest 14 reports mentioned this too. Sounds like an easy to Remove & Replace prescreen may be needed.

 

[finless]

By the way... is it just me or do you hate the 2013 / 2014 front wheel fenders?

I like the round fenders. These new ones are just too odd looking... Just my opinion.

Also just that many more cracks and cranny's to wash and wax...

Bob

 

[gwritesel]

I commute on mine every day which is 64 mile total round trip.
It's on the LA freeways with some bumper to bumper even in the HOV lane for about 8 miles...
The "black crap" build up is unbelievable! Car's don't seem to collect this junk everywhere... But the Spyder is a nook and cranny "gunk" catcher

I don't have to wash my spyder as much as my car, but my god.. when I do.... what a job.

One thing I just cannot do... Is let my spyder look like some I have seen where the person probably never washed it... Talk about nasty....

If you're proud of something "keep it clean"... It runs better! That's what I Dad use to say anyway
Placebo? Maybe.... but maybe not!

Putting miles on something doesn't mean it needs to look like it has miles on it!

Bob

you're supposed to wash them? Who knew?I'd rather spend my time riding than cleaning,that's the way I've been with all my bikes.

 

[Flash Gordon]

I think cleaning my Spyder is a piece of cake compared to my last Harley. JMO

 

[ARtraveler]

For me, cleaning the :spyder2: is literally a pain in my back. I try to keep up with them, but, my :spyder2:'s will never win best of show anyplace, due to their lack of polish. :roflblack:

 

[happyspyder2039]

I actually don't mind cleaning & waxing. Just be sure to get a good lint free towel for drying or a quick trip to car wash & air shamy also works

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I wash/wax mine at least once a week. I use Plexus on the windshield. I use Pledge on the rubber ware. I use Future floor wax on the tires.

after I don't know, maybe 35 wax jobs, it now takes me about 30 minutes to do the whole thing--even under the fenders. I think having a 1/2 billion coats of wax makes cleanining it easier.

 

[crazyspyder]

yaa

:shocked: I tend to believe they perform better dirty..im old n senile so I really cant distinguish the difference!:roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

SethO found the solution to cleaning...DON'T!! :roflblack:

 

[Texas]

It's interesting you bring this up Bob, because I just picked up my '14 RTS last weekend, and have yet to wash it yet, but It's something that's been on my mind. As far as drying it goes, I have that issue worked out. because I can now blow most of it dry with the new attachments I have on my Wet/Dry. However, washing it is another story. On my two-wheelers, I always take the hard bags off each time and clean inside the fender well, and yes, they always look like they just rolled off the showroom floor. The other day I layed down on the floor to look up underneath the back of the RTS and just shook my head. Right now it is clean, but soon it will be very dirty.

The only thing I can think of is to get one of my car ramps and back the rear wheel of the RTS onto the car ramp, which will lift up the rear end about 10" to at least make some of the rear end more accessible. However, I won't be able to get up inside the fenderwell, and this is going to drive me nuts. I have a powerwasher, and mixing my Blue Coral car wash detergent with this can at least clean the standing dirty out, but I don't know how to get the surface grime off without doing any damage. If anyone has a solution that doesn't involve pulling off panels, I'm all ears.

 

[finless]

I wash/wax mine at least once a week. I use Plexus on the windshield. I use Pledge on the rubber ware. I use Future floor wax on the tires.

after I don't know, maybe 35 wax jobs, it now takes me about 30 minutes to do the whole thing--even under the fenders. I think having a 1/2 billion coats of wax makes cleanining it easier.

Interesting products you use! I am using standard car products. Carnuba wax, true vinyl, etc. But something to think about.

Once a week is too much for me. I do it when it starting to look like it needs it. I do dust off the easy dust weekly using one of those car dust pad thingys.

Bob

 

[finless]

I wash/wax mine at least once a week. I use Plexus on the windshield. I use Pledge on the rubber ware. I use Future floor wax on the tires.

after I don't know, maybe 35 wax jobs, it now takes me about 30 minutes to do the whole thing--even under the fenders. I think having a 1/2 billion coats of wax makes cleanining it easier.

Interesting products you use! I am using standard car products. Carnuba wax, true vinyl, etc. But something to think about.

Once a week is too much for me. I do it when it starting to look like it needs it. I do dust off the easy dust weekly using one of those car dust pad thingys. The rear vinyl gets cleaned about every 2 weeks as that collects most the road gunk.

FYI keeping black clean is a PAIN! It shows everything like finger prints.

Bob

 

[recordingguy]

I believe I saw a post here of which a 2014 owner installed the 2011- 2012 fenders on the 14. It looked much better than the 14 fenders, a lot cleaner. His dealer installed them for him. Some one needs to come up with a kit with fenders painted to the 14 colors. When I buy my 2015 model RT I will need to change them unless they improve the looks of the fenders for the 2015 year model. Bob