Member Contributer Skids Posted April 12, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted April 12, 2015 First wash of my new 1200 since I bought her. Wow.....a lot harder and more effort to clean than either of my other 2 VFRs. There are so many nooks & crannies to not only clean out but then dry afterwards. A whole new washing routine which I will have to get used to. One question: How do you clean/dry inside those little spaces between the front fairing and the screen, as in the photos below? It's been sunny today and you can see that the water has dried and formed rings. Normally I use a chamois leather to stop this but I can't get anything inside there to dry it. I even tried using the blow function of our garden leaf blower to try to blow the water out but that didn't work either. Was also wondering if any of the aftermarket screen makes this easier? Does anyone have any other tips to make cleaning/polishing the beast any easier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoystonRocket2 Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I told you it's nigh on impossible to get it there ;-), I'd be interested to hear of any tricks for that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamzombie Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I seem to recall someone saying they used a wash cloth wrapped around a reformed metal clothes hanger, but I can't find the post ATM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gloryracing Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I removed the shield, painted the area flat black with a rattle can...problem solved and looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianF Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I remember reading on here that someone blew them out with compressed air. I personally use a towel on the end of a screwdriver -- thought I've always wanted to cut out those sections and see how the air would flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrenk Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I use my air compressor to blow the water out. Not perfect, but not as bad as your pics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Cogswell Posted April 12, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted April 12, 2015 I have one of these that are purpose made to dry cars and bikes. Sort of like a vacuum cleaner that runs backwards - it filters the air so there's no debris hitting the surfaces and is also heated so it helps the water evaporate quickly. It will get water out of all sorts of places you didn't know it collects on the bike. Works great. They can be found for about $160 shipped on ebay or Amazon. Search on "Metro Blaster". There's also a smaller hand held version that's about $70. It helps when it's a Christmas gift . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAWA Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 That should work!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satariel Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I do not clean that at all cuz the bike is dirty again very next day - instead of washing it every day - ride it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fasty Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 satariel LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allyance Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 You might try a spray bottle with distilled water to rinse clear parts, no minerals, plus a little wetting agent like for dishwashers to avoid spots, then buy a can of compressed air at you your local computer store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Polarbear Posted April 12, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted April 12, 2015 I do not clean that at all cuz the bike is dirty again very next day - instead of washing it every day - ride it! +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volfy Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I blow compressed air over my whole bike after washing, expecially the brakes and the engine where little pools of water might collect. Can't get those two little pockets under the screen spotless, but usually clean enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lshark Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 i use my air compressor, since i installed the Zero Gravity shield in Dark Smoke you can't see it any more but i still always blow dry the whole bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted April 13, 2015 Author Member Contributer Share Posted April 13, 2015 You might try a spray bottle with distilled water to rinse clear parts, no minerals, plus a little wetting agent like for dishwashers to avoid spots, then buy a can of compressed air at you your local computer store. I like that idea. Maybe I need to buy a small compressor; it would help with maintaining tyre pressure too, rather than the small, bike-powered one I use now. I have one of these that are purpose made to dry cars and bikes. Sort of like a vacuum cleaner that runs backwards - it filters the air so there's no debris hitting the surfaces and is also heated so it helps the water evaporate quickly. It will get water out of all sorts of places you didn't know it collects on the bike. Works great. They can be found for about $160 shipped on ebay or Amazon. Search on "Metro Blaster". There's also a smaller hand held version that's about $70. It helps when it's a Christmas gift . . . Unfortunately over £200 in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rider14 Posted April 13, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted April 13, 2015 I usually only wash the bikes after I get caught in the rain... and then it's really only a wipe down. I'm all for the ride it don't wash it team, but with this bike I have wiped it down more than the two times I was caught in crappy weather... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matmbl Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Doesn't it get washed when it's serviced? I guess that's a problem if you do your own servicing Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer luvtoleanit Posted April 25, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted April 25, 2015 I wouldn't let a dealer wash my bike. A the scratches on the windscreen alone..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted May 1, 2015 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 1, 2015 Well thanks to all the advice on here and on a recommendation from a fellow 1200 owner not on here (yet), I bought one of these off ebay for about £60/US$90. Washed the bike this afternoon and it did a brilliant job of clearing the water out of the numerous nooks & crannies on the 1200. Recommended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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