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Cruiser
Posts: 64
St. Louis, MO United States | Wanted to know how often some of you clean the rear wheel since it is difficult to get to. My bike is an 09' and the wheel is pitting from the brake dust. I have cleaned it but what a pain to get to it.
Would putting it on a lift make it any easier? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | ...rain usually does it for me... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 95
Alberta, Canada | I take mine to a car wash and use the high pressure wash/rinse. Only have to do it a couple of times a riding season. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Almost never. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Any thing to get the rear wheel off the ground like a lift. Simple green and a long reach brush and rags.
Once ever two weeks. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | john frey - 2011-06-09 11:19 AM
Any thing to get the rear wheel off the ground like a lift. Simple green and a long reach brush and rags.
Once ever two weeks.
Would love it if you could show me that a few times on my rear wheel.  |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Cap'n Nemo - 2011-06-09 12:08 PM
...rain usually does it for me...
+1 |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Rear wheel? We have a REAR wheel?
.... damn, I've got to start paying attention
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | There is a trick to it. The way I do it is by putting a block of wood under the back tip over with the bike on its side then I take another 2x4 that I cut +- about 3 feet long and I tip the bike until the front tipover is on the ground and wedge the 2x4 under the other back tipover. The back wheel now moves free. I have a wash sponge that fits over my hand to make it easyer to get into the wheel. You can do the front the same way by putting a block of wood under the front tip over. The wheel turns. I am also demoing a set of dustless brake pads for my local dealer. I only have a couple hundred miles on them so far but ill let you know how good they are. |
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Tourer
Posts: 576
, IA | seldom a lift? do not let it fall over like that other guy |
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Cruiser
Posts: 64
St. Louis, MO United States | FastFred,
Darn good info. Thanks will try... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Once a month or so but I have a lift in my garage. |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | When my wife says it needs to be cleaned, she cleans it.... all I do is roll the bike back and forth. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Trained the vagrant neighborhood cat to piss on mine......... |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Cometman - 2011-06-09 1:53 PM When my wife says it needs to be cleaned, she cleans it.... all I do is roll the bike back and forth. WHOOO HOOO !!!! I LIKE it ! Co-Pilot training coming up ..... |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| My Vision in only a month old and I have cleaned the rear wheel 3 times thus far and it is a pain in the ass!! But as long as my old body holds out I will lie down on my little rug I keep for this purpose and wipe her down as needed...It was fairly simple on my VTX, no bags, and not to bad on my Kingpin Tour, but this new one will keep me busy I am sure....Mabye the car wash idea is coming soon........ |
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut | Careful with the high pressure water that you keep it away from the axle seals, water doesn't lubricate bearings too well. I bought a bike jack at sears and just get it up enough to clear the rear wheel, wedge a board under the front to stabilize and then lay down on a mat and use a wash mitt. |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| SteveS I have a sears bike jack and have not used it for a long time...Could you explain to this old timer in a little more detail how you wedge the front and how and where you place the jack to raise rear wheel.....Thanks as I really do not want to use a car-wash pressure hose as I have never used water on any of bikes in over 30 years..... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 133
, AR United States | I went to the Victory dealership at 1yr to get a long overdue new rear tire. The mechanic cleaned the brake dust and tire residue (yes it was that bad) off the wheel then he grabbed a bottle of some Victory polish stuff and shined up one side of the wheel which made it look fantasitic. He asked if I minded him doing that, I think it was a new product he was trying to demonstrate. I told him he could do the whole bike, but he stopped at one side of the wheel. Maybe next year he will do the other side... |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | I recommend only using car was soap, I use Meguire's, on the aluminum parts. I will often just wash the part of the wheel I can get to but as bug season approaches I wash off the bike fairly often, hit it with a leaf blower and spray some wax-as-u-dry on a chamois to get the rest of the water off. Using non-acidic cleaners, agin nothing stronger than a good car wash soap helps in the wheels ability to shrug off dirt. |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | My wife said to try Simple Green on the rims, it cuts the grease. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 117
Kansas City, MO | send me the cat |
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | I have the Ness bash plate on the bike and it is perfect for using a jack. The bike is super stable and I can jack it up a foot in the air. Then I use a creeper and car wash and do the whole bottem of the bike. Really makes it easy. Also I store the bike up on the jack over winter to unload the suspension and keep the tires off the ground. I usually do the underside and wheels every other wash. Works out to twice a month or so.
Edited by handyhiker 2011-06-10 3:31 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Cometman - 2011-06-09 4:53 PM
When my wife says it needs to be cleaned, she cleans it.... all I do is roll the bike back and forth.
What a lucky man !! |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | Yeah, she is better on her knees than I am |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | handyhiker - 2011-06-10 3:29 AM
I have the Ness bash plate on the bike and it is perfect for using a jack. The bike is super stable and I can jack it up a foot in the air. Then I use a creeper and car wash and do the whole bottem of the bike. Really makes it easy. Also I store the bike up on the jack over winter to unload the suspension and keep the tires off the ground. I usually do the underside and wheels every other wash. Works out to twice a month or so.
I did a search on Ness Bash Plate and found zero you have a part number and any pictures of it ? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Ness skid plate...
http://www.hmd520.com/category/NESS-ACCESSORIES-4
HMD gives Vision-Riders.com members 10% off.
Edited by Nozzledog 2011-06-10 1:17 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | Thanks |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Ness skid plate here a lot cheaper! On Ness site $219, HMD site $284 CruiserCustomizing $179!!
http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/detail.cfm?Category_ID=59&manufac... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Good carch! I didn't notice how much HMD was charging. Way too much. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Yea, that they charge more than the Ness site was a real surprise. I didn't expect that when I checked the internet. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | That's a little disappointing. I have $150 in store credit there, have been waiting for him to put out his heat diverter for 6 months now. Finally gave up and bought lowers.
If anyone needs to buy something from him, maybe we can work something out to use up my credit.
Back on topic, my rear wheel gets cleaned every 2500 miles, when I give it to my dealer for it's pre-paid service.
Edited by Nozzledog 2011-06-10 4:57 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Whats this rear wheel cleaning activity you speak of??????? ;-P |
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut | Opa, The way I do it is to prop the bike towards vertical with a 2x4 under the kickstand. Coming in from the bikes right side, I line the left rail of the jack with the back of the crankcase-even with the oil filter gasket. Slide it under but make sure it stops about an inch before the shifter linkage. Jack her up a little and keep check of the balance then jack it up just enough to slip a 2x4 under the front tire and slip another 2x4 under the kickstand. Then I lower it just a bit against the 2x4s to stabilize it-rock it to make sure and scrub away. Just make sure you don't yank on it when you try to get up. Rotate the wheel & gently clean & rinse. I know some guys here had talked about the jack being tough to lower slowly so practice with some cinder blocks or something safe first. Make sure someone is around just in case. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut | I just happened to see this on the harbor freight site. Can't vouch for it but it looks like it could simplify the experience. http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-cleaning-stand-98800....
Edited by SteveS 2011-06-11 4:13 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 185
Rhode Island | SteveS - 2011-06-11 4:07 PM
I just happened to see this on the harbor freight site. Can't vouch for it but it looks like it could simplify the experience. http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-cleaning-stand-98800....
I tried one and it doesn't work too good with this heavy of a bike.
Jim |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I've got one too. Not that great. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | Every time I get back from a ride I use a small spray bottle with water, on the rear wheel and wipe clean with paper towel.
Amazingly, there is a lot of brake dust, but doing this keeps it much cleaner.
I made up wooden stands to rest the right tipover point on, to get to the left side better.
Takes me all of 5 minutes to give it this going over. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | Fastfred - 2011-06-09 1:13 PM
There is a trick to it. The way I do it is by putting a block of wood under the back tip over with the bike on its side then I take another 2x4 that I cut +- about 3 feet long and I tip the bike until the front tipover is on the ground and wedge the 2x4 under the other back tipover. The back wheel now moves free. I have a wash sponge that fits over my hand to make it easyer to get into the wheel. You can do the front the same way by putting a block of wood under the front tip over. The wheel turns. I am also demoing a set of dustless brake pads for my local dealer. I only have a couple hundred miles on them so far but ill let you know how good they are.
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | a couple others. Keep in mind you could scuff your tip overs a little. You also should know the right way to set down and lift your bike ( good demo's on you tube)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | LOL, Cometman! I will be cleaning mine this week. I usually put it on the bike lift to do it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | more power too you FF. It looks like a diaster waiting to happen, maybe not for you, but others that think it's okay to do this and doesn't understand the whole thing. Laying it on the side is one thing, proping with a 2X4 is another. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | It works good. What can I tell ya |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | it is only leaning it. you could pivet it with your hand its not holding the lb of the bike. When you put the 2x6 under the back tipover the bike rocks back and forth the board proping it up just keeps it from rocking back when you spin the wheel. Try it! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | another view. You only put the board under the back tipover to clean the back. Keep bike in nutral and tire spins free. I am on my 2nd Vision with over 60K miles and I have never had a problem doing it.
Edited by Fastfred 2011-06-13 9:42 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 72
| Cometman rare form today on wife comments.... Does she read this forum? Might want to double check that air pressure before next ride. Look forwqard to hooking up with you all again for a ride soon, wife needs to get out of house her mom who lives with us is driving her well you know.
Peace,
PCNova |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Does it work if you're darkside? |
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