Cleaning wheels - Yamaha FZ6 Forums - International FZ6 Motorcycle Community Forum

flyer34 · 01-13-2008, 08:58 PM

I've got 350 miles on the bike now. I washed it for the first time the other day and I noticed that I have chain lube all over the wheels. The lube is whatever the dealership used when they assembled it. I don't know what it is, but it's thick and doesn't come off very easy. What's the best way to clean it off? All of the wheel cleaners in the auto parts stores say 'not safe for motorcycle wheels'. Any suggestions?

bmccrary · 01-13-2008, 09:07 PM

Pig Snot. Its a motorcycle cleaner that my Dad carries, and it has worked well for me. We have used S100 for years, and it works very good, just do not let it sit long. Also after you clean it, get some Mother's Aluminum polish and a Mini Powerball and go to town.

-bryan

**Nelly** · 01-14-2008, 02:53 AM

I use an engine de-greaser (GUNK) first then soap and water.

au.FZ6N · 01-14-2008, 03:03 AM

degreaser here as well then soap + water then fine grade cut then polish with mothers clear coat crap i have in the garage

to clean my wheels properly i would ideally every 6 months take them off and clean them on the bench

and just soap + water once a month

the degreaser i use is called "koalacare" unfortunately has no koalas in it

this thread now will sit in the forefront of my mind as i have managed to neglect cleaning my ride for 6 months... and jesus it needs it

**reiobard** · 01-14-2008, 04:19 AM

i use the waterless bike cleaner (Hondapolish to be exact, but they make several different spray cleaners) and it works great on the whole bike and then if you spray it on and let it sit for a few mins it does a great job on the wheels too.

**grommit** · 01-14-2008, 05:19 AM

Soap and water. My sponge is designed to remove bugs and tar from the car and works fine on the wheels as well. Has a very open plastic net around it.

I have also found micro-fibre cloths work really well on cars and bikes. I got some from the motorcycle show last year.

CanadianFZ6 · 01-14-2008, 05:48 AM

WD-40 works exceptionally well as a rim cleaner. It really isn't much of a lubricant, anyway. I have been using it for years to clean grease and chain lube of of the rims and undercarriage of my bikes.

**dark_isz** · 01-14-2008, 06:21 AM

A friend of mine suggested spraying a rag with brake/contact cleaner and using that to clean my wheels. It worked pretty well, too.

**jsteinb95** · 01-14-2008, 07:11 AM

Turtle wax bug and tar remover.
It doesn't say anything about motorcycles, but it removes "bugs, tar, oil, grime, road film, tree sap, paint spots, stubborn stains and asphalt."
It works pretty good.

**reiobard** · 01-14-2008, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsteinb95

Turtle wax bug and tar remover.
It doesn't say anything about motorcycles, but it removes "bugs, tar, oil, grime, road film, tree sap, paint spots, stubborn stains and asphalt."
It works pretty good.

did you go out and read the bottle of that stuff?

01-13-2008, 08:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
flyer34 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milton, FL Bike: 2008 FZ6, Black Posts: 29 Rep Power: 4 Member #1044	Cleaning wheels I've got 350 miles on the bike now. I washed it for the first time the other day and I noticed that I have chain lube all over the wheels. The lube is whatever the dealership used when they assembled it. I don't know what it is, but it's thick and doesn't come off very easy. What's the best way to clean it off? All of the wheel cleaners in the auto parts stores say 'not safe for motorcycle wheels'. Any suggestions?

01-13-2008, 09:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
bmccrary Future Engineer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Bike: 2005 FZ6 Posts: 1,020 Rep Power: 17 Member #900	Pig Snot. Its a motorcycle cleaner that my Dad carries, and it has worked well for me. We have used S100 for years, and it works very good, just do not let it sit long. Also after you clean it, get some Mother's Aluminum polish and a Mini Powerball and go to town. -bryan Last edited by bmccrary; 01-13-2008 at 09:08 PM.. Reason: spelling

01-14-2008, 02:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nelly UK Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK Bike: 2005 FZ6 Silver & black Posts: 4,355 Rep Power: 53 Member #274	I use an engine de-greaser (GUNK) first then soap and water. __________________ "Some say......... His cardiac output is equal to the FZ6's 4 cylinders at 13,000rpm. All we know is he's called the STIG".:UK: Mods: K&N Airfilter, Datatool system 6 alarm, Bikerdude headlight harness, 12V power socket, Data tag, 15T Front sprocket, Speedo healer, Puig frame slders, front & back Crash bobbin axel sliders. "Dont ask me I got it from here"? Forum FAQs... My Resume...

01-14-2008, 03:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
au.FZ6N destroyer of worlds Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Perth, WA Bike: 2005 FZ6N Posts: 26 Rep Power: 4 Member #1156	degreaser here as well then soap + water then fine grade cut then polish with mothers clear coat crap i have in the garage to clean my wheels properly i would ideally every 6 months take them off and clean them on the bench and just soap + water once a month the degreaser i use is called "koalacare" unfortunately has no koalas in it this thread now will sit in the forefront of my mind as i have managed to neglect cleaning my ride for 6 months... and jesus it needs it __________________ FZ6N all that plastic on the S model is to make the fatties aerodynamic

01-14-2008, 05:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
grommit Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham, UK Bike: FZ6 S2 Posts: 1,520 Rep Power: 32 Member #488	Soap and water. My sponge is designed to remove bugs and tar from the car and works fine on the wheels as well. Has a very open plastic net around it. I have also found micro-fibre cloths work really well on cars and bikes. I got some from the motorcycle show last year. __________________ Emperor Dalek: "Daleks: WE SHALL RETURN! WE SHALL RETURN! WE SHALL RETURN!"

01-14-2008, 04:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
reiobard Postaholic Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Concord, NH Bike: 2007 FZ6 (The Faster Blue) Posts: 5,405 Rep Power: 73 Member #991	i use the waterless bike cleaner (Hondapolish to be exact, but they make several different spray cleaners) and it works great on the whole bike and then if you spray it on and let it sit for a few mins it does a great job on the wheels too.

01-14-2008, 05:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
CanadianFZ6 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Baden, Ontario Bike: '07 FZ6, '08 Bandit 1250, '08 V-Strom 650 Posts: 521 Rep Power: 20 Member #903	WD-40 works exceptionally well as a rim cleaner. It really isn't much of a lubricant, anyway. I have been using it for years to clean grease and chain lube of of the rims and undercarriage of my bikes.

01-14-2008, 06:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
dark_isz Fire Bringer™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Charleston, SC Bike: 2007 Yamaha FZ6, 1983 Honda cb650sc Nighthawk Posts: 222 Rep Power: 8 Member #182	A friend of mine suggested spraying a rag with brake/contact cleaner and using that to clean my wheels. It worked pretty well, too. __________________ 2007 Yamaha FZ6 - mods: Uncaged Frame Sliders, Tankslapper Tanktop Protector, Progrip tankpad, Sylvania Silverstar headlights, Dual Headlight Mod, Puig Racing Windshield, Garmain 2610GPS with RAM mount, ProGrip 719's, Yamaha Blue Seat pod fairing things, Black Spraypainted Radiator guards, Givi V46 and rack, Addmorelighting V46 lightkit, Comagination Brake light flasher, Pazzo long Blk/Titan levers, Caterpillar O-ring throttle lock

01-14-2008, 07:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
jsteinb95 Forum Queen Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Redlands CA Bike: 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 4,299 Rep Power: 10 Member #715	Turtle wax bug and tar remover. It doesn't say anything about motorcycles, but it removes "bugs, tar, oil, grime, road film, tree sap, paint spots, stubborn stains and asphalt." It works pretty good.

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