Washing your bike

[JT]

I just go to the drive thru car wash. HAHA I wish. I try to wipeit down every few days so it never gets to the point of needing a hose. but aslong as you lube the chain once you do use the hose you should be fine

 

[dart1963]

Giving washing the 6R is very much like washing a car.

1 - Water your bike down with a water hose (do not use high pressure hose).
2 - Soap using microfiber for any high gloss areas (plastics and tank) and any old rag for the rims, swing arm, and other rough areas.
3 - Rinse with water hose.
4 - Dry up with microfiber cloth

At this point I usually take a slow rider around the block to get air to dry any water left in the hard to reach areas and warm up the chain a bit for the next step.

5 - Clean and lube the chain
6 - You're Done!

You don't have to worry about covering anything on the bike. This machine is expected to ride through rain, so a bit of water wont hurt it.

I usually pass on riding right after to dry it... I just grab the leaf blower.... shortly after I started doing that, I actually saw it recommended in a motorcycle mag as a quick dry solution...

oh, just make sure you don't have a blower full of stink bugs first.... fortunately, I was blowing leaves first, so they all got spread on the lawn, not my bike

 

[Chucker]

Dry: electric leaf blower. No kidding - it quickly drives the water right off for a spot-free shine.

Right on! This is what I use and it works great! I chamois afterwards, but this gets the water out of all the knooks and crannies.

 

[RooKie]

I usually pass on riding right after to dry it... I just grab the leaf blower.... shortly after I started doing that, I actually saw it recommended in a motorcycle mag as a quick dry solution...

oh, just make sure you don't have a blower full of stink bugs first.... fortunately, I was blowing leaves first, so they all got spread on the lawn, not my bike

Good tip. Unfortunately I don't get foliage in my apartment so it would be a bit of a waste

 

[alaskanflyboy]

I've always heard that it's best to put something over the exhaust to keep too much water from entering the system since it may linger in the muffler for a while. I assume the fear is rusting it out. Yes the bike is designed to handle rain, but the exhaust angles back to prevent a lot of moisture from entering; and unless you live in the tropics, you'll never see rain as heavy as a hose spray.

I typically slide a clean quart-size Ziplock bag over the exhaust when hosing it down, and clean the exhaust by hand rather than hose afterward.