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Newbie maintenance question


Toni84
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Hey everyone.


Just looking for some advise, just got my first bike, brand new but don’t have a garage/shed so have been using a cover (seems to get a certain amount of condensation underneath anyway 😡)


I will be using the bike through the winter for commuting so want to keep it as well maintained as I can obviously.


Just got some ACF50 and will be washing and applying this weekend hopefully.


I see so much complex washing advise and 100’s of products, it’s so confusing!


I just want to know (simply) what I need to do each time. I’m assuming washing with a bike/car product drying with a micro fibre cloth and lube chain each time I wash it?


I think I’m ok with the ACF50 application there are plenty of videos for that.


What do you guys do/use to keep your bikes looking good?

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Let's not get into another chain lube marathon debate but I understand that WAX style chain lube is better than the sticky stuff in wet weather . I totally agree with the previous advice though . Smother the bike with ACF50 and don't touch it until the summer . Let the filth build up and form a protective shell . You can even spray more ACF50 on top of the dirt . You just have to have faith that underneath , your bike is still gleaming . Just a footnote . Back in the day when I used to ride in the winter I actually used to use chain lube as a protective coating all over the bike . Worked for me ! And don't forget to get a can or two of the well known SOLVENT called WD-40 to get all the crap off in the spring . 😉

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Guest Richzx6r

Let's not get into another chain lube marathon debate but I understand that WAX style chain lube is better than the sticky stuff in wet weather . I totally agree with the previous advice though . Smother the bike with ACF50 and don't touch it until the summer . Let the filth build up and form a protective shell . You can even spray more ACF50 on top of the dirt . You just have to have faith that underneath , your bike is still gleaming . Just a footnote . Back in the day when I used to ride in the winter I actually used to use chain lube as a protective coating all over the bike . Worked for me ! And don't forget to get a can or two of the well known SOLVENT called WD-40 to get all the crap off in the spring . 😉

 

But when do YOU clean and lube your chain Bob :P

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Let's not get into another chain lube marathon debate but I understand that WAX style chain lube is better than the sticky stuff in wet weather . I totally agree with the previous advice though . Smother the bike with ACF50 and don't touch it until the summer . Let the filth build up and form a protective shell . You can even spray more ACF50 on top of the dirt . You just have to have faith that underneath , your bike is still gleaming . Just a footnote . Back in the day when I used to ride in the winter I actually used to use chain lube as a protective coating all over the bike . Worked for me ! And don't forget to get a can or two of the well known SOLVENT called WD-40 to get all the crap off in the spring . 😉

 

But when do YOU clean and lube your chain Bob :P

 

If you are referring to my Kawasaki motorcycle then I clean and lubricate my chain as frequently as I see fit . I have long since abandoned any rigid maintenance schedules preferring instead to be guided by instinct and erring on the side of caution by doing things more frequently than they really need to be done . And this is no hardship because I derive as much pleasure from working on my bikes as I do riding them . The Harley though , as I'm sure you well know , has a Kevlar belt that is almost maintenance free and these are reported to last in excess of a hundred thousand miles . The only threat to a drive belt is the possibility that a sharp piece of debris could get wedged between it and the pulleys . For this reason it is shielded by a lower as well as an upper belt guard . Thankfully a Harley belt is no more expensive than a top specification chain and unlike the bigger Harleys , is very easy to fit on a Sportster .

Polish_20191220_160747722.thumb.jpg.0935ed92e3f391f6d3d77814fefad052.jpg

A textbook example of good chain care.

Edited by fastbob
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Guest Richzx6r

Let's not get into another chain lube marathon debate but I understand that WAX style chain lube is better than the sticky stuff in wet weather . I totally agree with the previous advice though . Smother the bike with ACF50 and don't touch it until the summer . Let the filth build up and form a protective shell . You can even spray more ACF50 on top of the dirt . You just have to have faith that underneath , your bike is still gleaming . Just a footnote . Back in the day when I used to ride in the winter I actually used to use chain lube as a protective coating all over the bike . Worked for me ! And don't forget to get a can or two of the well known SOLVENT called WD-40 to get all the crap off in the spring . 😉

 

But when do YOU clean and lube your chain Bob :P

 

If you are referring to my Kawasaki motorcycle then I clean and lubricate my chain as frequently as I see fit . I have long since abandoned any rigid maintenance schedules preferring instead to be guided by instinct and erring on the side of caution by doing things more frequently than they really need to be done . And this is no hardship because I derive as much pleasure from working on my bikes as I do riding them . The Harley though , as I'm sure you well know , has a Kevlar belt that is almost maintenance free and these are reported to last in excess of a hundred thousand miles . The only threat to a drive belt is the possibility that a sharp piece of debris could get wedged between it and the pulleys . For this reason it is shielded by a lower as well as an upper belt guard . Thankfully a Harley belt is no more expensive than a top specification chain and unlike the bigger Harleys , is very easy to fit on a Sportster .

 

Aye I kno mate I was just pulling ya leg as I know it's a topic that has been extensively covered on here :thumb:

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If you put ACF50 on you don't wash it, you just leave it and wash it off after winter.

 

Yeah, I mean I will be washing before applying the ACF50 then should be good for the winter :)

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I would hate to leave a new bike outside, it's cruel for one, how would you like it? Can you get it in the house?

😎

 

Haha! I would't like it much, but I would feel better knowing that I had a cover on ;)


If I could get it in the house I would! unfortunately there are steps going up to our houses and the bike weighs a tonne (slight over exaggeration) so I can't :(

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Keep it simple. I bought a big bottle of acf and apply about 3 times over the winter. The acf should provide a good level of protection even after washing. I commute over the winter and usually use rhino goo (similar to muc off) to get the worst dirt off then snow foam and rinse with my pressure washer on a low pressure setting to avoid any damage to seals etc.

You can get acf grease which is a great addition for protecting exposed bolts etched

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Keep it simple. I bought a big bottle of acf and apply about 3 times over the winter. The acf should provide a good level of protection even after washing. I commute over the winter and usually use rhino goo (similar to muc off) to get the worst dirt off then snow foam and rinse with my pressure washer on a low pressure setting to avoid any damage to seals etc.

You can get acf grease which is a great addition for protecting exposed bolts etc

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