How neurotic are you about washing your bike after a ride?

[AhamayLover]

Husband insists on getting every speck of mud off. But the last thing I want to do when I get home is work!! Plus, I'd rather leave the mud on and "show off" to everyone I ride past. I know it's bad for the bike's parts...

Does anyone else feel this way?

Just curious! ?

[pkley]

I'm definitely not that anal, especially if it's just dusty. But when it's muddy, yup, gets washed every time.

Biggest reason for me is I'm forced to look at the bike and inspect it for any new damage. ?

[mxchic]

I am so neurotic about cleaning my bike after each ride. ? I figure if I am going to take the time to wash it I might as well do it right. I can't help it I just have to get the thing super clean. I find that when I do a detailed cleaning, I notice things. I have found bolts missing, things that are loose, stuff shoved in the brakes etc. After you bike has been wet it is good to lube the chain and other areas (cables and anything that pivots). It really helps to have all the mud & dust off when you lube it. When it is dusty I still give it a wash. It doesn't take long. I just can't stand to see all the dirt caked on my chain.

So, yes I am a freakin neurotic nut. If I put my bike away clean, it makes the maintence work a lot easier.

[125shifter]

I'm just flat out neurotic.

[fiep]

not really neurotic

I have to wash 2 bikes most of the time ...

when it is only dusty I service it and fine

when it is muddy I wash it and service it right after

if I have to wash I make sure it is clean and not only halfway clean

but I will not polish plastic or use a toothbrush to get the last grain of sand out of some remote corner of the carb ...

[learning2fly]

Mud's gotta go, dust I'm not so picky about... depends on how hard/long I rode & what I've got to do to the bike for maintenance, sure is easier working on a CLEAN bike than a dirty one! ?

[martinsgate]

Gotta clean em before you put them away. I have to look at it in the garage in between rides so I prefer to see her all shiny and clean. Plus, the dried up dirt ends up all over the garage floor, making even more work.

[shift1313]

im not that bad:) This bike is the newest bike ive had< that hasnt been beaten>. if we havent gotten too dirty im not bad but if its caked in mud i gotta clean it off that day. PS purple power works great to bring dull browning white plastic back to white.

[BIGGITY]

I'm horrible about this. Sometimes my bike will sit for 2-3 days before I wash it after a ride. I'm just too friggen tired by the time I get home.

When I do eventually wash it though I simple green the living hell out of it and then wash it. I actually have my bike in pieces right now dialing it all out and replacing broken/lost parts. Found a bolt missing from the gas tank. Thanks goodness the other bolt was still there to hold it on.. ?

[Croaker]

If we've ridden in very, very muddy terrain we'll stop and hose them down at the car wash and then do detail work on them at home....sometimes a couple of days later.

If they're just dusty, we don't usually clean them.

Most of the time, they have sawdust on them in the garage. Ah-hem.....xrDan likes to do a little woodworking now and then. Even putting them in the driveway doesn't help completely. ?

[AhamayLover]

Shift1313- You are too...

And you know it!!!!

Love you! ?

[CoreyClough]

I clean it after every ride. Like said above, it's amazing what you find loose, missing, or just something that's just been along for the ride. I also clean the air filter, and WD-40 the chain after each washing. A habit that I'm glad I got into doing. ?

[HondaDirtRider5]

I usualy ride 3 times a week so its usualy one day at the track then one in the garage after school. . . . . i spend as much time working on the bike as i do riding it easily

I rode last night, and as soon as the sun gets outa my face in the sky ill go wash her and spend about 2 hours on mantanince

[drzpilot15]

I once went almost a year without washing my RM. Couldn't see any yellow at all. ?

[trx310r]

Wow. All you lady's clean your own bike! Where are the husbans or boy friends? You must put a stop to that and make sure they do there work.

[macgyverracing]

haha i have to confess I dont wash my own bike... it gets done for me - but hey whiles he's doing that im inside making dinner! I think thats a fair trade. ?

[mxdirtbunny]

My boyfriend does a great job of washing and inspecting after rides. Like many we're not as picky with minor dust, but still inspect and lube even if we don't wash. He just informed me that I have to start washing it myself again now that I'll be riding it ?. It's been nice having him do it!! Here's a pic we took when installing the new pipe and working on the valves and cam.

[matte]

I am so neurotic about cleaning my bike after each ride. ? I figure if I am going to take the time to wash it I might as well do it right. I can't help it I just have to get the thing super clean. I find that when I do a detailed cleaning, I notice things. I have found bolts missing, things that are loose, stuff shoved in the brakes etc. After you bike has been wet it is good to lube the chain and other areas (cables and anything that pivots). It really helps to have all the mud & dust off when you lube it. When it is dusty I still give it a wash. It doesn't take long. I just can't stand to see all the dirt caked on my chain.

So, yes I am a freakin neurotic nut. If I put my bike away clean, it makes the maintence work a lot easier.

I absolutely hate having to leave the bikes dirty when we get home from a race or ride, if there's any daylight left I wash 'em, and if the sun goes down before I'm done I've been known to finish the job with the pressure washer in one hand and a flashlight in the other

[trx310r]

Very nice bike! ?

[learning2fly]

haha i have to confess I dont wash my own bike... it gets done for me - but hey whiles he's doing that im inside making dinner! I think thats a fair trade. ?

I really enjoy washing/inspecting/maintaining my bike... its somehow a 'cool' down for me after a hard day of riding, just putting my hands on it, taking care of it, getting to know more about it from a different aspect than just starting it and riding it... maybe thats weird, huh? Conversely, I HATE cooking (and am terrible at it! ) ... so I don't think that's a fair trade at all! ? (However, I'm not the one making it, am I? So as long as YOU'RE happy with it, I say ?, good deal!)