Next Saturday my brand new SV650S will be delivered. Since I won't have my safety course or license until the end of the month, all I can do before then is look at the bike and polish it.

So, my first question is, what's the best way to wash a bike in general? My second question is, should I do a delivery-type detail like you would on a car to make sure things are perfect to start with? If so, what kinds of steps and products do you suggest?

Thanks.

 

one of my fav details...
cause you can make a bike better than new pretty easily.
its only if you have spokes that it takes a really long time (and you dont have that problem)

best way is to remove the seat... from that point on its pretty similar to a car. except that you do an engine detail every time you wash the bike, unlike a car.
there are some specialty products that i like to use on bikes, and again mainly engine related. however, on some bikes you have metal cleaning issues (chrome, etc).

so i rinse, wash and use a blower (mainly cause of the engine and all the hidden places that water can go) and follow up with a big blue.

once dry, i inspect to see if i need clay or polish (yup you might even on a new bike). once i decide what the bike needs, i proceed.

for protection, i usually use a synthetic on the paint and always do a last application of carnauba that i rub by hand (meaning my hands). i love to feel the paint and its a great way to get all surfaces covered evenly.

here is one of my fav articles on this topic... note that he lifts his bikes. i do not. mine are done on the ground. i do have a "wheel roller" so that the bike can stay on the stand and i can rotate the wheels, but thats not necessary cause you can just push the bike around when you want to turn the wheels:

http://hawg-wash.com/detailinghog.html

 

Thanks for the tips and link.

So something like Jeff Werkstat PRIME and JETT followed by hand-applied P21S? Or are there better wax options?

 

just about any synthetic will work cause its such a small area that you have to do.

how much experience do you have with synthetics? if you have experience, a two stage synthetic is fine. if not i prefer a one stage (my fav one stage is called finish first- i can get more info if you want it).

 

I used the JW stuff on my S2000, but I want claim to be a pro (or even all that good of an amateur ). So if there is a product you'd suggest I'd love to hear more. I have some Klasse AIO on my shelf, would that be a better way to go prior to waxing?

What about wax? Do some go on better by hand than others?