I saw this around 15 years ago and have been seeing it time and again to ensure I have the right spirit each time I clean. TH-cam was only getting started back then and DIY videos were little to none. This video series was GOLD back then and is still to date! Thank you Nick for this amazing video!
I see the whole thing behind this video as a wake up call to caring for your bike. It works and what else can be said. I don't have a small bike like this, but I know the importance of keeping a bike clean and in safe working order. So thanks for the heads up.
Great video.. I know our customers are always excited when we put up videos to show them how to do things, I won't need to do a video for this one now. You did an awsome job and I know that everyone appreciates it.
Thank you for the video I've learnt a bit more for the maintenance to my jan 1991 FZR600 I'm looking to see how to take the fairings off, as all my bikes in the past have been the naked bikes this is my first one with a fairing. I've had the bike 3 months now and it's time I got the fairing off to clean it back up to the state I bought it BRILLIANT VIDEO as people say you learn something new every day
Great video series. One thing to note however, is that WD-40 is not kerosene based, so be careful when using it on the chain as it is a penetrating solution that can remove the lubricant from the o-rings.
In regards to taking stickers off: I saw a video where, instead of using duct tape, you can use petrol. You just gather some petrol and lightly soak a towel with it. You rub it on the tank/fairing and it comes right off. Using the hair dryer and the polish/cleaner are a necessity in the process. 1)Hair dryer 2)Slowly Take stickers off 3) Lightly soak a towel w/ petrol and rub on tank/fairing 4)Use the polish/cleaner to clear any excess off *Don't completely soak the towel, it will cause ruckus
CHAV is a word used here in the UK to describe amongst other things a person with no taste. I love the clean look, simple, pure and no anodised stick on rubbish. Cheers Nick Hine
I just wanna say, THANK YOU!!! Ur vid helpt me a lot! When it gets a little bit warmer (its freezing in belgium) i'll start right away with all the tips u gave me on how to clean my bike :) THX THX THX!!!! Greetings!
I learnt a new tip recently for removing the glue left behind after removing decals / stickers. Spray with furniture polish & leave for a minute. Wipe away effortlessly. Simple but true. No elbow grease needed.
Hi there No, WD40 doesn't affect rubber like most degreasers do. It's perfectly safe, I've used it on O-ring chains for years with no problems. Kind regards Nick Hine
I get it from the local motor factors EK Brakes. They supply garages etc rather than the general public, but will still sell over the counter to you. Kind regards Nick Hine
Hi there I've yet to have WD40 penetrate O-rings and I've cleaned my chains for years with it. It's not to do with the viscosity of the fluid in this case. If your O rings seal then neither kerosene or WD40 will pass. If they're old and worn then both WD40 and Kerosene will pass. Cheers Nick Hine
Nick, top vids from a fellow 'cleaning freak'. I use my CBR daily in the crappy British weather and hate when it's caked in muck so it's cleaned at least weekly with tons of WD40. Have you any advice on ACF50 or FS365? I know ACF is pricey but if the hype is believed I can spray it on and leave it for weeks knowing the crap is not touching the bike. Any thoughts or experience of this stuff or is the best way to wash and cover the bike in WD every couple of days? Cheers mate.
Hi there Yes they're disposable latex gloves, we sell them on our online shop but you'll be able to get them from most motor factors too. They stop oil getting engrained into your hands. Cheers Nick Hine
To remove glue from paintwork after removing stickers. Use upvc solvent cleaner. The stuff window installers use to clean upvc. It removes any sticker glue,oil,gease and it wont ruin your paintwork. Ive used it many times. It smells just like sweets. Like the old pear drop sweets.It will also remove rubber tire marks off your drive/block paving.Its great for cleaning up motorcross or atv plastics aswell.
Oh my God! I was just looking for a video to explain how to properly clean a naked bike, not how to restore a motorcycle! Wow that thing needed a lot of cleaning!
My bike is only a couple of months old so there isn't any built up dirt but i want to keep it good and clean. The parts i worry about cleaning are the engine and breaks. Is there a cleaner for these parts that i can use that wont cause dammage if i accidently get it on the wrong part of the bike?
There's an alternative to buffing the paint off your bike attempting to remove dried on glue.Look for Goof-Off or Goo-Gone. Both are solvents (hydrocarbon based) designed especially for removing glue, overspray and tar from paint. They're safe for plastics and don't leave a greasy residue behind.
Thanks for the kind words and for your product recommendations. I guess everyone will always have a favourite polish. I do have to say that WD40 is still a truly wonderful invention that in terms of effectiveness and kindness to surfaces has yet to be surpassed. Kind regards Nick Hine
can i use Nu Finish, a car wax, to wax all painted parts on my bike? also, is all purpose lubricant safe to use on the bike (paints, plastics, forks, everywhere)to clean and prevent rust? thanks, cheers
I've tried them all, and NOTHING ticks as many boxes as WD40. You could leave it on just about any surface (O-rings for example) indefintely and it would not damage it. Try that with modern degreasers. As for rubbing compound, again sometimes removing material is the only way to get rid of marks in the paint. It's low tech and it works. Regards Nick Hine
Isn't WD40 bad for O ring chains? Obviously you'd wash it off and lube the chain after you've finished but is using it on chains okay? I've heard it swells and deteriates the rubber?
Hi matey, I've yet to find a significant difference between ACF50 and Duck Oil. Buying duck oil from a proper trade motor factors in a 5 litre tin is the most cost effective route, about £15 a pop. If anyone knows why ACF50 is so much better I'd like to hear it. So far it seems a very techie sounding name, a high price and a 'as used in the aviation industry' sticker seems to have turned it into a liquid with the ability to 'walk on water'. Time will tell. Cheers Nick
Strangely enough you can use peanut butter for taking of you stickers, rub it on, let it soak in for a while and take of the stickers. I didn't believe it also when somebody told me, but it works !
@dvrom Simple Green is good for light grime, but it won't do a damn thing to thick grease, oil, and grime that will accumulate places like your chain and under the covers. You'll need something petroleum based like pure Kerosene or WD-40. You have to be the only person on the planet with a bottle of Simple Green that will cut through grime faster than WD-40.
Rinsing with cold water can slow down salts reaction to metal, but there is really very little you can do to stop corrosion. Triumphs aren't protected very well, but neither are any bikes anymore. The solution is to move to a country where they don't grit the roads and destroy our lovely things. Regards Nick Hine.
You should not use WD40 on your chain. It will penetrate the O Rings and disolve the lubricants behing them. Kerosene is thicker than WD 40 and will not penetrate the O Rings.
if you dont want to waste wd40 use simple green general purpose cleaner, i use it on my bike and its safe on electrics rubber ect and works as good if not better than wd40.
I see you spraying liberal amounts of "WD40" type stuff over your brake callipers A word of advice, if I may.... Stop spraying that stuff over the calipers as it will attack the seals. They are specifically designed to resist brake fluid and almost any other oil based substance will lead to their failure. Use a brake+parts cleaner for these items and you won't find you have no brakes when you need them most. WD40 is great for all other areas but NEVER on the brake calipers.
roythearcher nonsense wd40 doesn't damage rubber at all its an anti grease so it dispels everything including other lubricants water etc but doesn't damage rubber seals etc
It is a mild degreaser and a lubricant solution..So basically spraying it all over the calipers is asking for trouble because WD40 can affect the seals and also leave a thin film over the disc and pad..So when you hit the brakes your grip is gonna be so shit you wished you never sprayed it on the brakes..There was a test done at my local Yamaha factory service center where they showed how WD40 damage the chain O ring if you use only that to clean and lubricate it..They also further reinforced that WD40 left on any rubber part will have serious problems, as over time and constant use of WD40 and nothing else the rubber degrades faster..Also since WD40 is a kerosene based liquid with lubricating additives it ain't the choice in high temperature areas like the brakes and engine zone..
I think him spraying WD40 on the brake disks was a mistake for sure :O - Rather than WD40 use Tire foam. This will dissolve everything and is kind to everything on the bike - try and get non-silicone based but otherwise just don't spray it on air intakes.
WD40?! Good Lord, are you serious?! The stuff is sold EVERYWHERE in the US: hardware stores, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, hell, even grocery stores sell the stuff now :)
@blackvinnie1 If a power washing is all that you need, then your bike probably isn't nearly as filthy as the one in the video. That bike literally has inches of crap packed tight in crevices. He's going through all of this extra care because whoever owned that bike didn't do anything in the way of cleaning maintenance for what looks like a decade. And I'd be careful using a high powered water stream on your bike. You could force water into your electronics or force grease out of a bearing.
Yeah that's what i thought. But then as long as you remember to wipe it off properly, it shouldn't be a problem. That said, i'd still avoid doing it i think.
I saw this around 15 years ago and have been seeing it time and again to ensure I have the right spirit each time I clean. TH-cam was only getting started back then and DIY videos were little to none. This video series was GOLD back then and is still to date! Thank you Nick for this amazing video!
I see the whole thing behind this video as
a wake up call to caring for your bike.
It works and what else can be said.
I don't have a small bike like this,
but I know the importance of keeping a bike
clean and in safe working order.
So thanks for the heads up.
Great video.. I know our customers are always excited when we put up videos to show them how to do things, I won't need to do a video for this one now. You did an awsome job and I know that everyone appreciates it.
You are a real pro.
My bike got cleaned and is shining most of the time.
Thanks.
Hey just wanted to say thanks for taking time to do a thorough video. Really provided some useful ideas
Really useful video ,,,thank you from Belfast northern Ireland
Really did enjoy watching this video well presented through out. Easy to follow and under standard. Top marks
So satisfying to watch the transformation.
Nice video! You showed me how to clean my bike inside out. Thank you for that.
Thank you for the video I've learnt a bit more for the maintenance to my jan 1991 FZR600 I'm looking to see how to take the fairings off, as all my bikes in the past have been the naked bikes this is my first one with a fairing. I've had the bike 3 months now and it's time I got the fairing off to clean it back up to the state I bought it BRILLIANT VIDEO as people say you learn something new every day
Great vids and really good info!!All 5 parts were great. Thanks a lot
Great video series. One thing to note however, is that WD-40 is not kerosene based, so be careful when using it on the chain as it is a penetrating solution that can remove the lubricant from the o-rings.
In regards to taking stickers off:
I saw a video where, instead of using duct tape, you can use petrol. You just gather some petrol and lightly soak a towel with it. You rub it on the tank/fairing and it comes right off. Using the hair dryer and the polish/cleaner are a necessity in the process.
1)Hair dryer
2)Slowly Take stickers off
3) Lightly soak a towel w/ petrol and rub on tank/fairing
4)Use the polish/cleaner to clear any excess off
*Don't completely soak the towel, it will cause ruckus
CHAV is a word used here in the UK to describe amongst other things a person with no taste. I love the clean look, simple, pure and no anodised stick on rubbish.
Cheers
Nick Hine
I just wanna say, THANK YOU!!!
Ur vid helpt me a lot! When it gets a little bit warmer (its freezing in belgium) i'll start right away with all the tips u gave me on how to clean my bike :)
THX THX THX!!!!
Greetings!
Instructions wasn't clear enough, drove my bike into a river...
I learnt a new tip recently for removing the glue left behind after removing decals / stickers. Spray with furniture polish & leave for a minute. Wipe away effortlessly. Simple but true. No elbow grease needed.
one of the better videos.. good job dude.
Who watching this in 2018..?
Hi there
No, WD40 doesn't affect rubber like most degreasers do. It's perfectly safe, I've used it on O-ring chains for years with no problems.
Kind regards
Nick Hine
I get it from the local motor factors EK Brakes. They supply garages etc rather than the general public, but will still sell over the counter to you.
Kind regards
Nick Hine
Never thought about the duct tape thing... Brilliant!
Hi there
I've yet to have WD40 penetrate O-rings and I've cleaned my chains for years with it. It's not to do with the viscosity of the fluid in this case. If your O rings seal then neither kerosene or WD40 will pass. If they're old and worn then both WD40 and Kerosene will pass.
Cheers
Nick Hine
Nick, top vids from a fellow 'cleaning freak'. I use my CBR daily in the crappy British weather and hate when it's caked in muck so it's cleaned at least weekly with tons of WD40. Have you any advice on ACF50 or FS365? I know ACF is pricey but if the hype is believed I can spray it on and leave it for weeks knowing the crap is not touching the bike. Any thoughts or experience of this stuff or is the best way to wash and cover the bike in WD every couple of days? Cheers mate.
Hi there
Yes they're disposable latex gloves, we sell them on our online shop but you'll be able to get them from most motor factors too. They stop oil getting engrained into your hands.
Cheers
Nick Hine
To remove glue from paintwork after removing stickers. Use upvc solvent cleaner. The stuff window installers use to clean upvc. It removes any sticker glue,oil,gease and it wont ruin your paintwork. Ive used it many times. It smells just like sweets. Like the old pear drop sweets.It will also remove rubber tire marks off your drive/block paving.Its great for cleaning up motorcross or atv plastics aswell.
Oh my God! I was just looking for a video to explain how to properly clean a naked bike, not how to restore a motorcycle! Wow that thing needed a lot of cleaning!
Hey there, can you give me a list of the all the cleaning products you use in this video series?
Thanks alot!
very informative and well put together!
What do you use to clean under the seats and around the battery area???? Its very dusty and dirty down there.
My bike is only a couple of months old so there isn't any built up dirt but i want to keep it good and clean. The parts i worry about cleaning are the engine and breaks. Is there a cleaner for these parts that i can use that wont cause dammage if i accidently get it on the wrong part of the bike?
I can't deny you have a point. But you're not taking into account my mental issues and the fact I'm a sad tw*t!
Cheers
Nick
what should i use to get all the grease from the chain on my rear tire off with? Should i use break cleaner? THanks.
There's an alternative to buffing the paint off your bike attempting to remove dried on glue.Look for Goof-Off or Goo-Gone. Both are solvents (hydrocarbon based) designed especially for removing glue, overspray and tar from paint. They're safe for plastics and don't leave a greasy residue behind.
Thanks for the kind words and for your product recommendations. I guess everyone will always have a favourite polish. I do have to say that WD40 is still a truly wonderful invention that in terms of effectiveness and kindness to surfaces has yet to be surpassed.
Kind regards
Nick Hine
is there any way to remove scratch??? plz tell
can i use Nu Finish, a car wax, to wax all painted parts on my bike? also, is all purpose lubricant safe to use on the bike (paints, plastics, forks, everywhere)to clean and prevent rust? thanks, cheers
I bought a 99 cbr250 today and was looking for such a video. It is a mess. Nice coincidence nice video
I've tried them all, and NOTHING ticks as many boxes as WD40. You could leave it on just about any surface (O-rings for example) indefintely and it would not damage it. Try that with modern degreasers.
As for rubbing compound, again sometimes removing material is the only way to get rid of marks in the paint. It's low tech and it works.
Regards
Nick Hine
Nice video, well done
Isn't WD40 bad for O ring chains? Obviously you'd wash it off and lube the chain after you've finished but is using it on chains okay? I've heard it swells and deteriates the rubber?
Great video! I learned quite a bit here. Thank you very much.
Hi matey,
I've yet to find a significant difference between ACF50 and Duck Oil. Buying duck oil from a proper trade motor factors in a 5 litre tin is the most cost effective route, about £15 a pop. If anyone knows why ACF50 is so much better I'd like to hear it. So far it seems a very techie sounding name, a high price and a 'as used in the aviation industry' sticker seems to have turned it into a liquid with the ability to 'walk on water'. Time will tell.
Cheers
Nick
Hi there
I use a rag and WD40 usually.
Cheers
Nick Hine
you could use PBblast as an alternative to WD40 as well. and i have used PBblaster to remove stickers
holy molly! the dirt are like inch thick!
Thanks for the video.
It seems odd that you said "inch of crud" rather than centimeters of crud.
how do you manage to survive british winters while ridding a bike?
Hi there.where can i find the wd40?how will i ask for it ?
Brilliant bid. Onto the next:)
Strangely enough you can use peanut butter for taking of you stickers, rub it on, let it soak in for a while and take of the stickers. I didn't believe it also when somebody told me, but it works !
... and WD-40, and mayonnaise.
for sticker residue you can just spray wd40 over it and wipe it off with a towel, works like a charm
@dvrom
Simple Green is good for light grime, but it won't do a damn thing to thick grease, oil, and grime that will accumulate places like your chain and under the covers. You'll need something petroleum based like pure Kerosene or WD-40. You have to be the only person on the planet with a bottle of Simple Green that will cut through grime faster than WD-40.
great video
very helpful video! thank you! keep up the good work!
No, WD40 is Kerosene based so doesn't deteriorate O rings.
Rinsing with cold water can slow down salts reaction to metal, but there is really very little you can do to stop corrosion. Triumphs aren't protected very well, but neither are any bikes anymore. The solution is to move to a country where they don't grit the roads and destroy our lovely things.
Regards
Nick Hine.
You should not use WD40 on your chain. It will penetrate the O Rings and disolve the lubricants behing them. Kerosene is thicker than WD 40 and will not penetrate the O Rings.
Great, thanks.. what i needed..
// Danmark
Bike????
You'll see why when you've seen the others. Obviously you don't leave it on your discs unless dying is your top priority!
Regards
Nick Hine
Good basics to start from thanks very much
if you dont want to waste wd40 use simple green general purpose cleaner, i use it on my bike and its safe on electrics rubber ect and works as good if not better than wd40.
Thanks man, nice video's, helped alot!
I'm just old enough to work in miles and inches and gallons and feet and stone etc etc....
Cheers
nick
What next?
I see you spraying liberal amounts of "WD40" type stuff over your brake callipers
A word of advice, if I may....
Stop spraying that stuff over the calipers as it will attack the seals. They are specifically designed to resist brake fluid and almost any other oil based substance will lead to their failure. Use a brake+parts cleaner for these items and you won't find you have no brakes when you need them most.
WD40 is great for all other areas but NEVER on the brake calipers.
roythearcher I
roythearcher nonsense wd40 doesn't damage rubber at all its an anti grease so it dispels everything including other lubricants water etc but doesn't damage rubber seals etc
Don't believe that. WD40 can basically be used for everything as far as I know. Never heard anyone having a seal braking due to WD40.
probably because they don't spray WD40 on them!
It is a mild degreaser and a lubricant solution..So basically spraying it all over the calipers is asking for trouble because WD40 can affect the seals and also leave a thin film over the disc and pad..So when you hit the brakes your grip is gonna be so shit you wished you never sprayed it on the brakes..There was a test done at my local Yamaha factory service center where they showed how WD40 damage the chain O ring if you use only that to clean and lubricate it..They also further reinforced that WD40 left on any rubber part will have serious problems, as over time and constant use of WD40 and nothing else the rubber degrades faster..Also since WD40 is a kerosene based liquid with lubricating additives it ain't the choice in high temperature areas like the brakes and engine zone..
lol you take such care, all i do is power was it =/
Excellent Thanks..
I think him spraying WD40 on the brake disks was a mistake for sure :O - Rather than WD40 use Tire foam. This will dissolve everything and is kind to everything on the bike - try and get non-silicone based but otherwise just don't spray it on air intakes.
There is nothing finer.
@grantpfam
Gallon-sized Zip-Lock bags work just as well.
WD40?! Good Lord, are you serious?! The stuff is sold EVERYWHERE in the US: hardware stores, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, hell, even grocery stores sell the stuff now :)
@blackvinnie1
If a power washing is all that you need, then your bike probably isn't nearly as filthy as the one in the video. That bike literally has inches of crap packed tight in crevices. He's going through all of this extra care because whoever owned that bike didn't do anything in the way of cleaning maintenance for what looks like a decade.
And I'd be careful using a high powered water stream on your bike. You could force water into your electronics or force grease out of a bearing.
one word of advice: don't let your bike get like this in the first place
Yeah that's what i thought. But then as long as you remember to wipe it off properly, it shouldn't be a problem. That said, i'd still avoid doing it i think.
Wonder how many of accidents were produced after watching this...
Thanks very much.
i would use compressed air before WD40 it works the best
Great video :)
Thanks for this :)
Voted HOT!!!!!!
@TheOfficialDJMusic
That's a two year old comment. I'd hope he's found some by now.
aww man now ill have to a a chinease take away just so i can clean my bike ghaaa the things i do for a clean bike
excellent video Nick, that's bike-cleaning-porn at it's best =)
Cheers
Today I tried it and my grandfather said I didn't need WD40 because it works with benzine and I tryed it and its true!
You cannot use WD40 of rubber components... they tend to crack
2022 watching
Impressive that corrosion did't destroyed it
Jolly good
you sound like Richard Hammond
Thank you very helpful
Thank you!!
nice~
Hi
Almost exclusively Autoglym products, check the motorcycle side of their website, and of course my beloved WD40!
Regards
Nick Hine
Omg Why is it so dirty
Welcome to the UK, where the weather is just good enough to ride motorcycles and perfect for destroying them.
Nice
WD40 on brake discs?
Are you mad?!
noooooooo!!!! y did u put wd40 on ur chain thats sooooo bad, say bye bye 2 mister o ring
"Cooking compound"?????? Please elucidate.
cleaning
dechavving? :D