Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 999 / 749 > washing the beast

[mark749s]

Seem to remember a post about whether to dry clean or hose pipe wash the bike.
I am now thinking that a hose pipe won't be coming near the engine bit.
I was thinking of spraying on muck-off and wiping it off with a cloth.
I will still use the hose on the rear wheel area.
My 749s appears not to like water on it, well the EOB light comes on soon after!!!

what is the word on the street for when it comes back from the dealers?

Cheer

Mark

[KeefyB]

Ooh baby wipes according to AndyB!
Personally I use soapy water and a sponge.Never use a hose,ya just dont know where all the water is going.
Car shampoo's are best.Dont get too much water on the sponge then dry it off with a clean dry cloth.(Old tee shirts are good for this)
I'll then use and aerosol polish like the Motrax stuff to finish.
I usually clean the wheels and any stray oil or grease with WD40.

[lancisto]

I've always had Italian cars, and now a couple of bikes and I've found that a bit of silicon grease in all of the plug & socket connectors does the trick. Everyone always goes on about dodgy italian electrics, but so far I've never had a problem. It maybe luck, but worth a go

[Brian_999s]

I have allways found autoglym road grime & bug remover is the best thing for getting the wheels clean but just plain old soap and water for the panels

[Twinfan]

Car shampoo (Halfords own stuff is good, or Autoglym), a bucket of warm water and a sponge are good enough for me. Wash the bike over, hose it off to rinse it, then chamois it dry. Sorted.

[wogger]

Mer polish is good, no powdery residue, you can get a special cloth from Halfords, similar to an antistatic cloth that removes any bits of residue.

Silicon spray on wheels, NOT brakes or seat and Armoral car dashboard and interior wipes for the black bits, like belt covers and inside fairing.

[Mr_S]

Virosol for the wheels diluted 10-1 (unless they're really filthy)
Autoglym Shampoo for the bodywork
Rinse with one of those flash spray guns (saves chamois work and is a very fine spray)
Any additional drying use a microfible towel

Then a couple of times a year
Polish (if needed)
Wax

[Jools]

Keep the Autoglym AWAY from screens, indicator lenses, visors or any plastics that are supposed to be transparent (or orangey coloured).

I used to use Autoglym all over any bodywork I needed to polish, but it eats all the transparent stuff. Crazes it, like hundreds of tiny little cracks. I wondered why nobody else seemed to get this and used to think it was just me - but no, stopped using Autoglym and the problem stopped as well.

Still use Autoglym on the paintwork though, no reason to throw a bottle of it away when it's OK on paint.

[mark749s]

look at my other thread.
I am now going to power wash it LOL

Mark