UPDATE 10 OCTOBER 2022. SIX NEW PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN TESTED THAT ADD A NEW BEST BUY: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-maintenance-and-servicing/best-motorcycle-cleaner
I’ve spent the last 20 years in the cleaning and restoration industry and been part of end user product testing. I have to say that’s probably the most thorough and best consumer advice video I’ve seen on cleaning products and you should be proud of this video considering that you also came to the right conclusions! Well done and keep up the good work. By the way, I’ve been using fairy liquid for years now and it works a treat with no corrosion and my hands are so soft 🤣
I washed my new Royal Enfield with Fairy washing up liquid, good result, only lots of water drying stains even though I took it for a good ride afterwards. So I have an electric leaf blower arriving today, £33 compared to double that for a pet dryer.
I worked for a Ph.D. Chemist many years ago. He always said that the only difference between a safe chemical and a poisonous one was the concentration. Even water is fatal if you drink too much of it. So, basically everything is dangerous with high enough concentration or long enough exposure. Nothing is “totally safe” and we need to always keep that in mind.
I can’t of been the only one to be thinking “come on washing up liquid” before it was given a special mention. Don’t use it myself but what an underdog story 😂
As it is a corporate channel that's part of Bennett's marketing I'm sure, hard to see it really as "hidden" ;) But yeah I agree though. Especially I like it as it's corporate channel that ACTUALLY gives you something useful. I'd go so far as to say it's at least one of the best motorcycle publications out there. I mean, I learn more from this channel than much of the dedicated motorcycle media house channels.
Absolute legend. Fantastic test, I *HATE* cleaning bikes but you've actually made me want to do it as well as you do. Can't offer higher praise than that.
@@writestuffmedia Thanks mate! I'm just gutted nobody has noticed the hidden theme to the corrosion protectants video! ruclips.net/video/wBgF07I7TQM/видео.html
I knew there was some level of Doctorate behind your work. It would be so helpful if motorcycle manufacturers offer these cleaning products tailored to the materials they use.
i bought a thing of that pink 'Muck Off' stuff and it actually works pretty good. it cleans the $hit off and polishes it at the same time. i really like it
Bloody behemoth of a video, your tests are always so great ! Shouldn't have taken down the previous video, just make it clear there's an update Can't wait to see your future tests
Just getting back to motorcycling after a decade and a half away. Your videos are a fantastic resource for information on what's available now, and how good they are, in all things bike related. Almost all my buying decisions from the bike I bought, to the cleaners I''ll use have been informed by watching your videos. And incase your employer doubts the value of your efforts; made me get my insurance with Bennets too!! Keep up the good work.
hands down the best channel I have found that takes so much care into your videos and actually does all the science and gives you all the data you could possibly ever ask for , I appreciate the amount of work you put into these videos , please never stop this high level of work, im pretty sure I can speak for the rest of us when I say it really helps us a lot and spreads awareness of alot of misconception about some products.
I just discovered your outstanding video. What a superb job you did. As a (now retired) university professor, I give you an A+ for your comprehensive and scientific approach and for your clear, informative and enthusiastic explanations. If you consider the tens of thousands of pounds one can pay for a bike, spending a 100 pounds or less on the best cleaning products is an excellent investment. Thank you for the time and effort you put into the project. Fabulous!
Really impressed by your back to back tests (not just this one), I now have a potential new new bike cleaning regiment. You have no idea how happy the washing up liquid result makes me. The XCP is a new one to me. The last bike I owned was 30 years ago and rust was simply a fact of ownership, I'll be looking into this further. Thank you for all the hard work.
Thanks for the great effort: very informative. I have been using S100. I trust it because of my experience in the Porsche air cooled world. It was the only wheel cleaner that would not damage the anodized aluminum finish on the forged Fuchs wheels.
Brilliant really enjoyed that… very interesting about washing up liquid… One little trick I use to make my plastics and really pop is using Wetting a rag with WD40 and rubbing it in… works great on wheel rims to and cleans away chain fling in a jiffy 👍🏻😊
Have being washing bikes for decades and I use fairy, a warm bucket of water and a few different size brushes Sometimes gunk degreaser on some parts & a quick polish & wax on necessary parts & metal polish on the obvious - cheers John good effort
Love this channel. Makes me wanna choose Bennett’s as my insurer for next year, unfortunately they weren’t able to match my premium. Anyway, love the videos, great channel
If it is ever a possibility that you and Project Farm could do a collaboration of some sort, that would absolutely blow up the internet. Thanks for your hard work!
That would be fantastic, though I can't think of anything I could do that could be of benefit to Project Farm; that guy is the gold standard! Unfortunately I also have loads of other stuff in my job outside of videos, so just can't do as many huge projects as he does.
Great video. Funny enough I mention washing up liquid in my cleaning video as it was all I used to use. I’ve recently discovered Auto Finesse Citrus Power as a Pre-Wash and then Meguairs Snow Foam. I’m also talking about cleaning exhaust pipes so I won’t give my favourite product away just yet! As someone who loves cleaning their bike, I really enjoyed watching this. Thanks for all the effort! 😁👍
Honestly Im the kind of guy that cries whenever the bike gets a spec of dirt on it, let alone having to ride it all seasons to work and back on salt-roads of the north, end up giving up half the time, but hey great video very detailed thank you kindly!
Road salt is the Devil's work when it comes to bikes. I've had to rebuild calipers and even had a perforated oil filter because of it. Shocking stuff! Now use the Urban Misery Wagon (car) when they've spread that chemical nightmare on the roads.
Amazingly nerdish! Thanks a lot! How about a video about how to care for you bike during a one week Trans Euro Trail ride, without access to blow dryers and more? That would be awesome!
Amazing work put into this and great scienctific backup.. I've used furniture polish spray such as Pledge or Mr Sheen with wax in it for years on bikes plastics and bodywork. Spray on a clean bike, polish with a microfibre cloth, it makes the bodywork and plastics shine, fills in tiny scratches, is hydrophobic and makes getting bugs off later much easier. So after a ride spray on a bit more, wait a short while and wipe off road spatter/bugs etc. We warned! Dont polish your seats as you and your pillion may end up on the tar! Paper towels should never be used on polycarbonates, screens, helmets and visors or any polished surface as they are abrasive and will dull said surfaces.. same with TFT computer screens and TV screens ..micro fibre only!
Just put a deposit down on a 2017 Kawasaki Z650, with only 126 miles on it! Closest thing to a new bike as I might ever get :) I wanna take care of this thing so thank you for the informative video.
Brilliant review thanks. Glad my cleaning regime is safe, I used the old Muc off which didn’t foam, but the new stuff diluted 1 part Solution to 2 water works much better. Looking forward to the chain cleaner and lube tests and hoping again I’ve chosen correctly with SDOC. I like the small cans for touring and the big ones in the garage. I’ve a Bruhl blower / heater coming soon and really enjoy cleaning the bike, something I used to find a real chore. Keep up the reviews, thanks again.
Thanks very much! Chain cleaners will be a while, but the lubes test is in progress... that's a big one in organisation, and I'm using an independent lab for the testing I can't do, so it's been a real challenge. Cheers, John
I deeply appreciate this. I love that there is so much care put into this. It allows me to pass the TLC onto my bike. This is sincerely awesome. Thank you 🏍❤️
Great video and great recommendations have been riding bikes since eleven but didn't realise the harm a wrong cleaner could really do to your bike and having just bought a brand new royal Enfield this year I wanted to try and look after it as best I can your video really shows this and I will be following your recommendations . Cheers Derek
Aldi dish soap on the list for next time. The purists may wince, but I use white spirit, in a spray bottle to squirt around the rear wheel after most rides, then wipe off the dirt and chain lube with a cotton cloth, works a treat and no bad reactions to date.
Excallent and informative. Now where did I leave that washing up liquid! Note, as an alternative, I use a cheap Titan wet/dry Vacuum (on blow obviously), rather than a bespoke bike dryer. Used on my road/off road bikes and my car, with excellent results, it blows warm air by default and cost £40!
Excellent as ever. Something you might like to look at and perhaps comment on are ceramic coatings. There is a whole wealth of investigation to be done there and also directly related to both cleaning and rust proofing bikes....just an idea😊
Thanks very much! I have tried one professionally-applied ceramic coating and wasn't that impressed, the water-beading not lasting particularly well. I am still thinking about way to do more with them though. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial I am about yo have one applied by an independent on my brand new bike. They reckon it will give 10years cover. Its cheaper than the one offered by the dealer which only gave 3years and only covered the paintwork. This is supposed to cover EVERYTHING and mean the application of xcp /acf etc is un-necessary. We shall see! If you fancy a trip out to see the process or the bike afterwards and again at some point down the line you'd be welcome to. I'm sure they wouldn't mind but I'd need to check with them First. They're booked in on the 18th
@@mattprice3335 I'd definitely be interested to hear how you get on - drop me a line on email (it should be on BikeSocial), or use our Facebook page and PM on there, asking for me. facebook.com/bennettsbike
@@mattprice3335 what I've noticed with SiO2 coatings is that they do not like even a moderately long run in the rain (even spring to autumn). So on my bike which I ride daily it lasted around 2 months and on my car it was wearing off in 3 months. The response I got is that *all* SiO2 products need maintenance application which is provided by specific SiO2 branded cleaners - essentially topping up the surface coating. Therefore your 3 -10(!!) year protection comes with a big *BUT*. (I like big buts, but not in terms and conditions). For me wax is better, but I enjoy the process of cleaning and applying it too.
@@ixifutureproof9286 That's all well and good....but the coating I am having applied isn't SiO2 based so I'm hoping your comments are rather redundant. Polisilazane based ceramic coatings are (apparently) a different animal. I guess I'll see but I appreciate your comment.
I use paraffin to clean the rear wheel, because this wheel gets all the crud and fling off from the chain oil. I don't think paraffin has any affect on the paint on the wheel. I wash the paraffin off after. Does anybody else to do this or have a better way?
A product that I use after cleaning to rinse of the bike. Finish Rinse Aid for dishwashers. I fill a 6 liter pressure sprayer and add a squirt . It smells nice and It stops streaking from tap water. Which is a problem here. I'm hoping it's safe on plastic.. could you test it properly
Yup, Dr Downpipe + Magnum + XCP + wax, that's what I do now (changed to Magnum following your previous, excellent video, thanks). Not many exotic plastics on my 40 year old bike though
Excellent review as usual from Bennets. You may not have to spend a fortune to get a great wash, but you still need a lot of products, a lot of time, and quite some private space with run-off for the dirty water. Not a great combination for those of us who live in apartments in the big city ... I take my bike to a "professional" bike wash, but I have no idea what products they use, I just know that it costs me a pretty penny each time I go there.
Hopefully this video showed that all you need is a hose, brush and washing up liquid in a spray bottle), but the apartment thing is a real problem. Though one option could be to use a garage forecourt's jet wash area, then take your own brush and cleaner - just use the lance for rinsing. Keep you distance around electrics and bearings and there's no reason not to use a pressure washer. I'd avoid the brush though as it'll have picked up no end of grit. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Yes to the soap and brush, but I had also just watched the video on anti-corrosion products (which you had no way of knowing) thus my comment ...
Bilt Hamber Surfex HD. Can be used down to 1:200 mix and lasts ages. Not PH neutral though, but is non toxic, solvent free and biodegradable. Water based and with it being being able to be diluted so much, your PH will be closer to your water. No motorbike in the name though, so might get overlooked. Would also mention their snow foam and auto wash, which are both brilliant options for the bike. The auto wash is also highly concentrated and has anti corrosion properties also.
I'd simply stress that I tested some cleaning products that have a good reputation in the car world, and in my testing they were not compatible with the materials used on bikes.
Bilt hamber auto wash. By far the best shampoo I've ever used and genuinely helps fight corrosion. Can tell because unlike other shampoos the brake discs on my car don't flash rust orange.
Great well researched comparisons, I used to use Waxoil on my VFR 750 back in the day when I rode all year round, now I still ride all year but use ACF-50
From my experience, i treat cleaners like one would with radiation Exposure time, concentration makes things go bad. Rinsing with lots of water helps a lot Since i do hobby detailing on cars, i have a ton of cleaners for every part and for every material. But everything is "car" orientated After 2 years of cleaning my bikes(and the ones of my mates) with automotive equipment, nothing bad happened to plastics, anodizing etc I have to emphasize that i use the lower conentration and milder mixtures whenever possible If a shampoo says between 1:20 - 1:40 ratio i go for 1:40. Less concentrarion. If i need more cleaning, i go for a second round
I love your videos, I’ll still always watch them, but I’d also be just as happy if you decided to post saying; this is the cleaner I’ll be using, this is the lube. Etc etc. And because of your thorough testing, and your integrity, if you then told me you’d got cheaper links, I’d be happy to purchase them. Like I said, it would still be good to see the videos, and would still be good to see your reviews, however it would also be better for you and us to get cheaper links after the testing, if that makes sense :)
Thanks! We do have 100s of discounts at www.bikesocial.co.uk/join, but they're not linked at all to the reviews as I think it's vital to keep that clear integrity. Sometimes there are products in there that I've recommended, sometimes not. Also, I use the Aldi washing up liquid... you're not going to get that any cheaper! Finally, brands that don't do well in these tests do sometimes get very vocal in acussing us of being in the pocket of whoever did well. It's happened before and I'm sure it'll happen again. Cheers, John
I live in a city and do not have access to running water in a way that I can wash and rinse off my bike. Trying to think of an efficient and effective way to wash away road grime and dirt off my bike.
First job clean the chain and rear wheel with a paraffin rag to get rid of chain wax and rinse well.I tend to hose the bike down then liberal use of mucoff, agitate worst dirt with a stiff brush other areas with soft brush then hose bike down again. Snow foam from the Karcher leave for a few minutes then hose down again and use whatever car shampoo is on special with a couple of wash mitts and dry with microfbre drying towels. I'm currently using cheapo Astonish car polish seems to work well and only costs a fiver! Don't think I've ever waxed a bike I've owned because of the residue builds up in all the wee footery bits the cloth can't reach. ACF 50 the bike and wipe the cycle parts down and the use the same cloth on the plastics brings them up like new on my cb650r
Sounds great! Personally I'd probably do the snow foam before the Muc-Off and brushing as I'd want it to dwell and loosen some of the dirt first, but nice work! Cheers, John
@@captainaverage721 Ultimately though, I reckon that as long as people are aware of material compatibility, if there's a cleaning method or product that works for you, stick with it! Cheers, John
@@roscoeskipper7846 They also did one claiming it took four and a half minutes to cut through a 7mm chain, which put me off their content. ruclips.net/video/YKO1yudGVNg/видео.html
It may not be available in the UK, but in the US it is hard to beat Dawn dishwashing liquid. This is fairly inexpensive, quite safe and quite effective on grease and tar. It is safe enough that wildlife rescue organizations use it to clean animals that have been the victims of oil spills. The only downside to Dawn is that it can be rough on waxes. I generally use Dawn in the spring to get my cars and bikes clean, wax them and then use automotive “car wash” solutions for normal cleaning during the riding season. These solutions aren’t as capable as Dawn, but remove light dirt and are easier on wax.
Spray down with simple green, pressure wash, scrub with automotive car soap and microfiber, rinse... dry and finish with a spray wax like Turtle Wax ICE. My 1998 Yamaha Blaster still looks showroom...
My current motorcycle cleaner is a combination of Cleen Green and Dishwashing Liquid, as both are great degreasers. For chain I use it to clean away the excess kerosene before rinsing and relubing the chain.
Cracking video and great to see that Aldi washing up liquid gets a mention. I tend to stick to baby shampoo on the bodywork and a good quality degreaser on the wheels. Good to get the extra information about things that I previously didn't think mattered that much!!
After every ride I clean my matte black mt10 with windolene spray on wipe off, leave to dwell for a moment on flys. 2 years 6000 miles no problems when on anodised parts.
Nice one! Matte paints can be a pain to keep looking good. I actually opted for a gloss MT-10 when I bought mine, rather than the matte one I could have had a better deal on, just because I didn't want to try to keep it looking good. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial i love the look of matte paint but it's a nightmare, if I could choose i would have choose gloss but 2019 was matte black, maybe one day I may have it painted.
I have a 2003 bmw r1150rs and I use wurth degreaser and kerosene on exhaust to get tar off meguiars rim cleaner, auto gel snow foam, meguiars classic shampoo and conditioner then leather shammy and air compressor to blast water out of hard to reach places. I live in ireland and when I am it is hard to get bike cleaners.
Just an additional thought, we know more about what's in the cleaners, but unfortunately we don't know what's in the dirt (all sorts of diluted chemicals from the Rd.) that's eating the bike away. So possibly the cheap cleaner used regularly is preferable to the expensive cleaner used on a random basis. That might sound obvious, but be interesting to know what's in the dirt?
That's a very good point. For this I couldn't test every kind of dirt, but certainly winter riders will want to rinse the bike very regularly due to the road salt that'll be deposited on it. Cheers, John
UPDATE 10 OCTOBER 2022. SIX NEW PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN TESTED THAT ADD A NEW BEST BUY: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-maintenance-and-servicing/best-motorcycle-cleaner
Do you have a best for dirt, mud and salt? Or if they are on your best list, it doesn't matter?
Jungle gel and the modular insect seem the most promising.
@@houjous5131 I'd say that the best on there are the best overall, so no need to narrow down to the type of dirt
Before thus video I used various car washes on my bike, what an eye opener. Currently use Pro Green MX Snow Foam & After Shine brilliant stuff. Thanks
@@bennettsbikesocialis your video regarding o-ring cleaners(bike chain) gone?
I’ve spent the last 20 years in the cleaning and restoration industry and been part of end user product testing. I have to say that’s probably the most thorough and best consumer advice video I’ve seen on cleaning products and you should be proud of this video considering that you also came to the right conclusions! Well done and keep up the good work. By the way, I’ve been using fairy liquid for years now and it works a treat with no corrosion and my hands are so soft 🤣
Thanks SO much! All the best, John
I washed my new Royal Enfield with Fairy washing up liquid, good result, only lots of water drying stains even though I took it for a good ride afterwards.
So I have an electric leaf blower arriving today, £33 compared to double that for a pet dryer.
Tipping my hat in recognition of the time, effort and attention to detail - cheers
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Are you a Bennetts employee? 😂😂😂
The way 2021 is going I just use a duster to wipe the dust off my bike no need to clean it 👍 great video
Not long until 29 March... It'll be worth the wait! Cheers, John
I worked for a Ph.D. Chemist many years ago. He always said that the only difference between a safe chemical and a poisonous one was the concentration. Even water is fatal if you drink too much of it. So, basically everything is dangerous with high enough concentration or long enough exposure. Nothing is “totally safe” and we need to always keep that in mind.
You just won a subscriber. Congratulations on a thorough and honest series of tests. Aldi Magnum washing up liquid -well who knew?
I can’t of been the only one to be thinking “come on washing up liquid” before it was given a special mention. Don’t use it myself but what an underdog story 😂
I knew it didn't have salt in it, but I wasn't expecting such a good result. Cheers, John
My daily bike (Thunderace) is now going to get 'treated' to Aldi washing up liquid. A surprising result...
@@Faithinthedock Thunderace's still look absolutely stunning. Nice one!
@@bennettsbikesocial Thanks alot. There's something appealing about a bike with dials and carbs. 😁😎
My red 95 VFR750 (the Testarossa of bikes) is lovingly washed with dish soap after long days of murdering bugs.
This channel is a hidden gem. ❤️
Thanks very much! All the best, John
As it is a corporate channel that's part of Bennett's marketing I'm sure, hard to see it really as "hidden" ;) But yeah I agree though. Especially I like it as it's corporate channel that ACTUALLY gives you something useful. I'd go so far as to say it's at least one of the best motorcycle publications out there. I mean, I learn more from this channel than much of the dedicated motorcycle media house channels.
@@AleksiJoensuu I damn near agree with you :D
The amount of work put in this video deserves a lot of views
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Dude you put waaaaayyyyy more work into these vids than you’re getting credit for. Big like from California bro 🤘
Thanks very much - hopefully it'll pick up some views! Cheers, John
amazing content! as a researcher myself it's great to see ppl performing more accurate testing methodologies.
Thanks! All the best, John
Absolute legend. Fantastic test, I *HATE* cleaning bikes but you've actually made me want to do it as well as you do. Can't offer higher praise than that.
PS nice use of the Wilhelm scream 😉
@@writestuffmedia Thanks mate! I'm just gutted nobody has noticed the hidden theme to the corrosion protectants video! ruclips.net/video/wBgF07I7TQM/видео.html
I knew there was some level of Doctorate behind your work. It would be so helpful if motorcycle manufacturers offer these cleaning products tailored to the materials they use.
i bought a thing of that pink 'Muck Off' stuff and it actually works pretty good. it cleans the $hit off and polishes it at the same time. i really like it
*Muc off.
Been using neat fairy liquid and a paint brush washed off with warm water on mtb motorcycle and cars for years ,
Another excellent vid , top work .
Starting to become my go-to channel for bike advice, keep up the good work guys 👏
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
I can honestly say I use Bennetts insurance for my bike because they fund your work. Just so well thought out and done.
Thank you SO much! Hope my boss sees this! Cheers, John
You’re not the only one!!
Hahaha wait till they pass you on to the 4th dimension company for claim management. You'll be screwed in no time !!!
Love the detail and extent you go to, plus the addition of expert advice and comment 👍
Bloody behemoth of a video, your tests are always so great ! Shouldn't have taken down the previous video, just make it clear there's an update
Can't wait to see your future tests
These ultra-thorough Bikesocial reviews are so needed these days - far more helpful than the "top" this or "best" that from youtube celebs. Well done!
Thanks SO much! Cheers, John
Just getting back to motorcycling after a decade and a half away. Your videos are a fantastic resource for information on what's available now, and how good they are, in all things bike related. Almost all my buying decisions from the bike I bought, to the cleaners I''ll use have been informed by watching your videos. And incase your employer doubts the value of your efforts; made me get my insurance with Bennets too!! Keep up the good work.
hands down the best channel I have found that takes so much care into your videos and actually does all the science and gives you all the data you could possibly ever ask for , I appreciate the amount of work you put into these videos , please never stop this high level of work, im pretty sure I can speak for the rest of us when I say it really helps us a lot and spreads awareness of alot of misconception about some products.
That's really, really kind - thanks SO much! All the very best, John
The time, effort and detail here is fantastic. Thanks
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
I just discovered your outstanding video. What a superb job you did. As a (now retired) university professor, I give you an A+ for your comprehensive and scientific approach and for your clear, informative and enthusiastic explanations. If you consider the tens of thousands of pounds one can pay for a bike, spending a 100 pounds or less on the best cleaning products is an excellent investment. Thank you for the time and effort you put into the project. Fabulous!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that! All the best, John
Really impressed by your back to back tests (not just this one), I now have a potential new new bike cleaning regiment. You have no idea how happy the washing up liquid result makes me. The XCP is a new one to me. The last bike I owned was 30 years ago and rust was simply a fact of ownership, I'll be looking into this further.
Thank you for all the hard work.
Thanks! All the best, John
Thanks for the great effort: very informative. I have been using S100. I trust it because of my experience in the Porsche air cooled world. It was the only wheel cleaner that would not damage the anodized aluminum finish on the forged Fuchs wheels.
It's scary how much damage some products can have the potential to cause. Cheers, John
Excellent 👏👏 Back in the saddle after 30 years away and this vid taught me tons about how to look after my new pride and joy 👍 Thanks
You really did some hard work here mate! Thank you so much!
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Brilliant really enjoyed that… very interesting about washing up liquid… One little trick I use to make my plastics and really pop is using Wetting a rag with WD40 and rubbing it in… works great on wheel rims to and cleans away chain fling in a jiffy 👍🏻😊
Have being washing bikes for decades and I use fairy, a warm bucket of water and a few different size brushes Sometimes gunk degreaser on some parts & a quick polish & wax on necessary parts & metal polish on the obvious - cheers John good effort
Love this channel. Makes me wanna choose Bennett’s as my insurer for next year, unfortunately they weren’t able to match my premium. Anyway, love the videos, great channel
Cheers, and sorry to hear that! Hopefully next year!
If it is ever a possibility that you and Project Farm could do a collaboration of some sort, that would absolutely blow up the internet. Thanks for your hard work!
That would be fantastic, though I can't think of anything I could do that could be of benefit to Project Farm; that guy is the gold standard! Unfortunately I also have loads of other stuff in my job outside of videos, so just can't do as many huge projects as he does.
Great video. Funny enough I mention washing up liquid in my cleaning video as it was all I used to use. I’ve recently discovered Auto Finesse Citrus Power as a Pre-Wash and then Meguairs Snow Foam. I’m also talking about cleaning exhaust pipes so I won’t give my favourite product away just yet! As someone who loves cleaning their bike, I really enjoyed watching this. Thanks for all the effort! 😁👍
I'm half way through, and I already got more information than I needed... Just the way I like it!
Thanks my friends!
And yes... I am gonna finish. Good stuff!
@@one-of-us9939 Thanks very much! I do worry that my videos tend to go on a bit much! Cheers, John
The best ever. I wish you were in the USA to show some of those products because your effort for this vid is amazing
Thanks so much! Cheers, John
Honestly Im the kind of guy that cries whenever the bike gets a spec of dirt on it, let alone having to ride it all seasons to work and back on salt-roads of the north, end up giving up half the time, but hey great video very detailed thank you kindly!
Thanks very much! Ride safe, cheers, John
Road salt is the Devil's work when it comes to bikes. I've had to rebuild calipers and even had a perforated oil filter because of it. Shocking stuff! Now use the Urban Misery Wagon (car) when they've spread that chemical nightmare on the roads.
Amazingly nerdish! Thanks a lot! How about a video about how to care for you bike during a one week Trans Euro Trail ride, without access to blow dryers and more? That would be awesome!
Amazing work put into this and great scienctific backup.. I've used furniture polish spray such as Pledge or Mr Sheen with wax in it for years on bikes plastics and bodywork. Spray on a clean bike, polish with a microfibre cloth, it makes the bodywork and plastics shine, fills in tiny scratches, is hydrophobic and makes getting bugs off later much easier. So after a ride spray on a bit more, wait a short while and wipe off road spatter/bugs etc. We warned! Dont polish your seats as you and your pillion may end up on the tar! Paper towels should never be used on polycarbonates, screens, helmets and visors or any polished surface as they are abrasive and will dull said surfaces.. same with TFT computer screens and TV screens ..micro fibre only!
What a legend you are. These 2 uploads are probably unique, certainly enjoyable and very useful. Many thanks ;)
Thanks! All the best, John
Fantastic vid.....I really wasn't expecting that from washing up liquid, the forum "experts" won't like this at all lol
Wow, really impressed with the work gone into investigating these bike products. Well done. You got my subscription.
Incredible rest. Thanks for the effort and clarity.
Thanks for watching! Cheers, John
Just put a deposit down on a 2017 Kawasaki Z650, with only 126 miles on it! Closest thing to a new bike as I might ever get :)
I wanna take care of this thing so thank you for the informative video.
Brilliant - enjoy! Cheers, John
Brilliant review thanks. Glad my cleaning regime is safe, I used the old Muc off which didn’t foam, but the new stuff diluted 1 part Solution to 2 water works much better. Looking forward to the chain cleaner and lube tests and hoping again I’ve chosen correctly with SDOC. I like the small cans for touring and the big ones in the garage.
I’ve a Bruhl blower / heater coming soon and really enjoy cleaning the bike, something I used to find a real chore.
Keep up the reviews, thanks again.
Thanks very much! Chain cleaners will be a while, but the lubes test is in progress... that's a big one in organisation, and I'm using an independent lab for the testing I can't do, so it's been a real challenge. Cheers, John
I love all the effort you put into these films, buying new clothing soon and I now know a lot more what to out for ❤
Fantastic level of attention to detail! Hope it's still valid 2 years on... Just ordered a few of the things you recommend. Thanks.
This channel deserve much more subs.
Best cleaning video on the internet. Cheers
Apply scrub rinse done.
Have never given it much thought and will not begin to.
I deeply appreciate this. I love that there is so much care put into this. It allows me to pass the TLC onto my bike. This is sincerely awesome. Thank you 🏍❤️
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Great video and great recommendations have been riding bikes since eleven but didn't realise the harm a wrong cleaner could really do to your bike and having just bought a brand new royal Enfield this year I wanted to try and look after it as best I can your video really shows this and I will be following your recommendations .
Cheers Derek
Glad it helped! Cheers, John
Aldi dish soap on the list for next time. The purists may wince, but I use white spirit, in a spray bottle to squirt around the rear wheel after most rides, then wipe off the dirt and chain lube with a cotton cloth, works a treat and no bad reactions to date.
Wow what a superb educational video you really pulled out all the stops great tutorial all the best
Thanks very much! All the best, John
That was a great item. Really enjoyed the attention to detail and thorough approach. Top effort. Nice work.
Thanks! Cheers, John
I've rewatched this so many times, great video.
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Thank-you for taking the time to make this video
Excallent and informative. Now where did I leave that washing up liquid! Note, as an alternative, I use a cheap Titan wet/dry Vacuum (on blow obviously), rather than a bespoke bike dryer. Used on my road/off road bikes and my car, with excellent results, it blows warm air by default and cost £40!
I've got one of those - very handy! Another option is a pet dryer; they tend to be more powerful than the Titan. Cheers, John
Love the project farm shoutout, nice video, thumbs up.
Superb John, thanks for your effort in making this! Reminds me of your rust proofer video which was equally as scientific and fantastic.
This video deserves more views and likes really
I've been using washing up liquid since the 70s no problem at all. I also use muck off and good old gunk.
You need to include Motoclean on one of these videos
The money I’ve spent over the years on detailing gear. Now I’m going to Aldi
Pick up some of their moody Pringles too - they're lovely! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial not sure how good of a degreaser Pringles will be but I’ll give it a shot 😂
@@Bladebars Probably not that great, and I'm pretty sure they're quite heavy in sodium chloride!
Excellent as ever. Something you might like to look at and perhaps comment on are ceramic coatings. There is a whole wealth of investigation to be done there and also directly related to both cleaning and rust proofing bikes....just an idea😊
Thanks very much! I have tried one professionally-applied ceramic coating and wasn't that impressed, the water-beading not lasting particularly well. I am still thinking about way to do more with them though. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial I am about yo have one applied by an independent on my brand new bike. They reckon it will give 10years cover. Its cheaper than the one offered by the dealer which only gave 3years and only covered the paintwork. This is supposed to cover EVERYTHING and mean the application of xcp /acf etc is un-necessary. We shall see! If you fancy a trip out to see the process or the bike afterwards and again at some point down the line you'd be welcome to. I'm sure they wouldn't mind but I'd need to check with them First. They're booked in on the 18th
@@mattprice3335 I'd definitely be interested to hear how you get on - drop me a line on email (it should be on BikeSocial), or use our Facebook page and PM on there, asking for me. facebook.com/bennettsbike
@@mattprice3335 what I've noticed with SiO2 coatings is that they do not like even a moderately long run in the rain (even spring to autumn). So on my bike which I ride daily it lasted around 2 months and on my car it was wearing off in 3 months. The response I got is that *all* SiO2 products need maintenance application which is provided by specific SiO2 branded cleaners - essentially topping up the surface coating. Therefore your 3 -10(!!) year protection comes with a big *BUT*.
(I like big buts, but not in terms and conditions).
For me wax is better, but I enjoy the process of cleaning and applying it too.
@@ixifutureproof9286 That's all well and good....but the coating I am having applied isn't SiO2 based so I'm hoping your comments are rather redundant. Polisilazane based ceramic coatings are (apparently) a different animal. I guess I'll see but I appreciate your comment.
I use paraffin to clean the rear wheel, because this wheel gets all the crud and fling off from the chain oil. I don't think paraffin has any affect on the paint on the wheel. I wash the paraffin off after. Does anybody else to do this or have a better way?
Paraffin proved totally safe in my testing. Meths on paint is a very different matter... Cheers, John
I've used WD40 and GT85. Both are mostly paraffin by composition and make life easier when cleaning the wheels later on!
Does paraffin can be substituted with Turpentine??? Or this is completely different chemical? Thanks
@@aleksrodins Paraffin and turps (or turpentine spirit) are different things, and as I didn't try that I'm afraid I can't help, sorry! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Thanks!
I was worried a 30 min vid would be a bit faffy. But this was dense with detail right the way through - love the content
Brilliant - thanks Don! Cheers, John
A product that I use after cleaning to rinse of the bike. Finish Rinse Aid for dishwashers. I fill a 6 liter pressure sprayer and add a squirt . It smells nice and It stops streaking from tap water. Which is a problem here. I'm hoping it's safe on plastic.. could you test it properly
Yup, Dr Downpipe + Magnum + XCP + wax, that's what I do now (changed to Magnum following your previous, excellent video, thanks).
Not many exotic plastics on my 40 year old bike though
Good work! Doesn't matter how old it is, just how much you love it. Cheers, John
Damn it... How am I supposed to get work done after I discovered your channel? So much good info!
Thanks! All the best, John
I hope Bennett's are paying you well. Another thorough and informative video. Well played.
Thanks very much! Glad you liked it! Cheers, John
Excellent review as usual from Bennets.
You may not have to spend a fortune to get a great wash, but you still need a lot of products, a lot of time, and quite some private space with run-off for the dirty water. Not a great combination for those of us who live in apartments in the big city ...
I take my bike to a "professional" bike wash, but I have no idea what products they use, I just know that it costs me a pretty penny each time I go there.
Hopefully this video showed that all you need is a hose, brush and washing up liquid in a spray bottle), but the apartment thing is a real problem. Though one option could be to use a garage forecourt's jet wash area, then take your own brush and cleaner - just use the lance for rinsing. Keep you distance around electrics and bearings and there's no reason not to use a pressure washer. I'd avoid the brush though as it'll have picked up no end of grit. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Yes to the soap and brush, but I had also just watched the video on anti-corrosion products (which you had no way of knowing) thus my comment ...
Wow, awesome stuff. ACF-50 I think should be a considered supplement.
Fairy Washing up liquid, 100% been using on cars bikes mountain bikes for the last 20 years plus, never had any problems and it's safe on your skin 👍🏻
Fantastic video/s, thanks for taking the time and effort to go into so much detail, I have learnt loads from both videos👍
Brilliant - thanks very much! Cheers, John
Bilt Hamber Surfex HD. Can be used down to 1:200 mix and lasts ages. Not PH neutral though, but is non toxic, solvent free and biodegradable. Water based and with it being being able to be diluted so much, your PH will be closer to your water.
No motorbike in the name though, so might get overlooked. Would also mention their snow foam and auto wash, which are both brilliant options for the bike. The auto wash is also highly concentrated and has anti corrosion properties also.
I'd simply stress that I tested some cleaning products that have a good reputation in the car world, and in my testing they were not compatible with the materials used on bikes.
Very interesting. I thought that washing up liquid can dry out the oils in rubber parts causing the rubber to prematurely degrade.
There's a lot of fear about it. Ironically it was some of the car-specific cleaners that proved to have the most potential to cause damage!
Bilt hamber auto wash. By far the best shampoo I've ever used and genuinely helps fight corrosion. Can tell because unlike other shampoos the brake discs on my car don't flash rust orange.
Great well researched comparisons, I used to use Waxoil on my VFR 750 back in the day when I rode all year round, now I still ride all year but use ACF-50
From my experience, i treat cleaners like one would with radiation
Exposure time, concentration makes things go bad. Rinsing with lots of water helps a lot
Since i do hobby detailing on cars, i have a ton of cleaners for every part and for every material. But everything is "car" orientated
After 2 years of cleaning my bikes(and the ones of my mates) with automotive equipment, nothing bad happened to plastics, anodizing etc
I have to emphasize that i use the lower conentration and milder mixtures whenever possible
If a shampoo says between 1:20 - 1:40 ratio i go for 1:40. Less concentrarion. If i need more cleaning, i go for a second round
Thanks, excellent & very thorough video. Appreciate the effort you put in. My tuppence worth: SDoc 100 Gel & MuckOff are my favourite bike cleaners.
I love your videos, I’ll still always watch them, but I’d also be just as happy if you decided to post saying; this is the cleaner I’ll be using, this is the lube. Etc etc. And because of your thorough testing, and your integrity, if you then told me you’d got cheaper links, I’d be happy to purchase them. Like I said, it would still be good to see the videos, and would still be good to see your reviews, however it would also be better for you and us to get cheaper links after the testing, if that makes sense :)
Thanks! We do have 100s of discounts at www.bikesocial.co.uk/join, but they're not linked at all to the reviews as I think it's vital to keep that clear integrity. Sometimes there are products in there that I've recommended, sometimes not. Also, I use the Aldi washing up liquid... you're not going to get that any cheaper!
Finally, brands that don't do well in these tests do sometimes get very vocal in acussing us of being in the pocket of whoever did well. It's happened before and I'm sure it'll happen again.
Cheers, John
You just saved me 300 dollars and having to go to univversity just to learn about all the stuff I don't need. Thanks.
I live in a city and do not have access to running water in a way that I can wash and rinse off my bike. Trying to think of an efficient and effective way to wash away road grime and dirt off my bike.
Always used a bit of washing up liquid, unless it needs a bit more of a proper degreaser like the chain etc.
First job clean the chain and rear wheel with a paraffin rag to get rid of chain wax and rinse well.I tend to hose the bike down then liberal use of mucoff, agitate worst dirt with a stiff brush other areas with soft brush then hose bike down again. Snow foam from the Karcher leave for a few minutes then hose down again and use whatever car shampoo is on special with a couple of wash mitts and dry with microfbre drying towels. I'm currently using cheapo Astonish car polish seems to work well and only costs a fiver! Don't think I've ever waxed a bike I've owned because of the residue builds up in all the wee footery bits the cloth can't reach. ACF 50 the bike and wipe the cycle parts down and the use the same cloth on the plastics brings them up like new on my cb650r
Sounds great! Personally I'd probably do the snow foam before the Muc-Off and brushing as I'd want it to dwell and loosen some of the dirt first, but nice work! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Thats a fair shout I'll give it a try
@@captainaverage721 Ultimately though, I reckon that as long as people are aware of material compatibility, if there's a cleaning method or product that works for you, stick with it! Cheers, John
Nice selection... but I'm all about my technicians choice of ceramic detail spray. Great test super insightful!
Thanks really good.Washing up liquid from here on .looking forward to the chain cleaner and lube test.
Thanks! The chain cleaners will be a little while off but the lubes test is very much in hand. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Fortnine did a great vid on chain cleanup.
@@roscoeskipper7846 They also did one claiming it took four and a half minutes to cut through a 7mm chain, which put me off their content. ruclips.net/video/YKO1yudGVNg/видео.html
It may not be available in the UK, but in the US it is hard to beat Dawn dishwashing liquid. This is fairly inexpensive, quite safe and quite effective on grease and tar. It is safe enough that wildlife rescue organizations use it to clean animals that have been the victims of oil spills. The only downside to Dawn is that it can be rough on waxes. I generally use Dawn in the spring to get my cars and bikes clean, wax them and then use automotive “car wash” solutions for normal cleaning during the riding season. These solutions aren’t as capable as Dawn, but remove light dirt and are easier on wax.
Great video! I'm wondering which of these I can find at American auto shops...
Spray down with simple green, pressure wash, scrub with automotive car soap and microfiber, rinse... dry and finish with a spray wax like Turtle Wax ICE. My 1998 Yamaha Blaster still looks showroom...
Plexus for the painted and plastic surfaces. Dish detergent and water for the lower areas.
Yet to be disappointed by one of your videos, great work.
Thank you very much! All the best, John
Thank you for your work!!! Using S100 products they work well!!
My current motorcycle cleaner is a combination of Cleen Green and Dishwashing Liquid, as both are great degreasers. For chain I use it to clean away the excess kerosene before rinsing and relubing the chain.
Cracking video and great to see that Aldi washing up liquid gets a mention. I tend to stick to baby shampoo on the bodywork and a good quality degreaser on the wheels.
Good to get the extra information about things that I previously didn't think mattered that much!!
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
What I got from this?
Fairy liquid it is then.
No complaints about salt but it will strip polish
I was always told that washing up liquid was corrosive to rubber hence why they say don't use it on cars
After every ride I clean my matte black mt10 with windolene spray on wipe off, leave to dwell for a moment on flys. 2 years 6000 miles no problems when on anodised parts.
Nice one! Matte paints can be a pain to keep looking good. I actually opted for a gloss MT-10 when I bought mine, rather than the matte one I could have had a better deal on, just because I didn't want to try to keep it looking good. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial i love the look of matte paint but it's a nightmare, if I could choose i would have choose gloss but 2019 was matte black, maybe one day I may have it painted.
@@Baphomet_biker Or wrapped?
I have a 2003 bmw r1150rs and I use wurth degreaser and kerosene on exhaust to get tar off meguiars rim cleaner, auto gel snow foam, meguiars classic shampoo and conditioner then leather shammy and air compressor to blast water out of hard to reach places. I live in ireland and when I am it is hard to get bike cleaners.
I bet you have an Aldi though! Cheers, John
Just an additional thought, we know more about what's in the cleaners, but unfortunately we don't know what's in the dirt (all sorts of diluted chemicals from the Rd.) that's eating the bike away.
So possibly the cheap cleaner used regularly is preferable to the expensive cleaner used on a random basis. That might sound obvious, but be interesting to know what's in the dirt?
That's a very good point. For this I couldn't test every kind of dirt, but certainly winter riders will want to rinse the bike very regularly due to the road salt that'll be deposited on it. Cheers, John