Cleaning / Maintaining Ur RE

Washing

Wash every week (take it to a water center when there too much hard mud so that pressure cleaning can be done, ensure he does NOT directly spray on the bike…ask him to use his finger so that spray is not direct the water should flow like a garden spray).

You need

1. Bucket and shampoo

2. Good towel which is lint free

3. Old tooth brush and paint brush and Kerosene or Diesel

4. Oil or appropriate lubricant

5. Plastic cover

6. Adhesive tapes

7. Chamois leather (optional :)) 

Shampooing

Don’t use Nirma, Wheel, and Surf etc. They will just eat the latex coat (which gives the shine). The best solution is to use a Wax Based Car cleaning shampoo and the economic solution is to use a Shampoo like Sunsilk or Garnier if you prefer

 

1. Always choose a cool and shady place at the same time do not do this at night you might not see able to see the grim properly. Ensure that there is no direct sun light as sun light might leave hard to remove and ugly water stains.

2. Before you start the washing, take an old paint brush. Dip it in Kerosene or Diesel and apply to oil stained area or areas with strong grim such as under the chassis, crankcase etc. Kerosene or Diesel will ease the grim easily.

 

3. Pour the shampoo in the bucket and fill it if possible with warm water. Warm water removes stains and dust well than cold water.

 

4. Cover Silencer, Control Cables (handle bar), Spark plus unit with plastic covers to ensure that the water doesn’t get into it.

 

5. Remove keys and stick adhesive tape so that water doesn’t seep in.

 

6. Do spot stain checking and apply the washing shampoo to stain spots using toothbrush.

 

7. Start washing from top to bottom.

 

8. Wash her once and check for spots. If needed do it again.

 

9. Now spray plain water all over the bile again bottom to top.

 

10. Ensure that there no soap left.

 

11. Shake your bike or move it front and back to shake of excess water.

 

12. Now put her on side stand and let her idle for 5 mins and remove the plastic covers.

 

13. Now wipe her dry using Chamois leather.

 

14. Lubricate all joints.

 

Now your bull is spotless and clean

Polishes

1. ICI Silicon Polish (Rating: 3/5)

2. Zinc Chloride or Chalk Powder (2/5)

3. Mr.Metal (4/5)

4. Eagle One’s Mag, Chrome and Aluminium Polish (yet to be tested) 

 Aluminum

Polished Aluminum’s life (life of the gloss not the metal) is less as it tarnishes because of oxidation. It becomes dull very fast and water based stains if not wiped immediately will stay for long.

 

This is what I am doing currently. I am using “Autosol” polish for Aluminum (It’s available in hardware shops).

 

1. Apply it on the aluminum part and rub in circular motion. You will see the cloth turning black (will explain this later).

2. Once it’s really black, change it and use a clean cloth and buff it as much as you can. There are two schools of thought one which says leave the polish for 1-2 mins before polishing and the other which says don’t leave any gap. I prefer the second school. Will try the first school and update later.

3. Leave it to dry and apply some wax.