Hello everyone, recently got myself a pretty tidy speed triple which I intend to ride all year round (commute to work) with the recent good weather it’s been a breeze. After a couple commutes in the rain however I see how dirty the bike gets and looking for any hints tips maybe a “winter set up” guide on tyres etc to try and keep it it’s current tidy condition. Any help would be great thanks.
@Scotty4545 Welcome to the family. Lots of people give there bike a spray of ACF50 i think its called. Doesn't keep them cleaner but easier to clean and protects from the salt
ACF treatment is certainly worth while, it's one of the first things I do to new bikes when I get them home. I also painted certain fasteners and fittings underneath the bike with engine enamel as OEM plating is crap. If the bike's already dirty, give it a GOOD clean first, body panels off etc, then a good misting with the ACF when dry. Just wipe off any excess and as said, keep it away from brakes and tyres. A good wax polish on plastic parts also helps keep them shiny. Salt water won't corrode plastic but it can dull the finish. I also fitted a front mudguard extender and made up some extra protection from rubber sheet to protect the rear of the engine from rear wheel spray and debris. All this prevents the bike dissolving in Winter and helps make cleaning the bike easier but you still have to put in the cleaning time when the salt goes down.
The best way to apply ACF50 (and the chepest way to buy it) is to get the four litre bottles and spray it on with a compressor and a cheap paint gun so it's just a fine mist, and then buff it in with a cloth like polish. It goes on far too thick from the aerosol cans, but the cans are good for spot-spraying awkward to get at fasteners. It's almost impossible to keep it off the brake discs entirely so I always run a cloth with brake cleaner on it round them afterwards. Another thing to invest in is an electric hot air bike dryer. Putting a wet bike away to sweat overnight in a cold garage is a surefire way to turn it orange. If you come home in the rain, dry it off before putting it to bed, and if te roads are salty, rinse and dry. I'd also wash and dry the bike regularly at weekends and reapply the ACF 50 after every wash. Also, pay attention to external moving parts and bushes. Lever and pedal linkages, swinging arm bushes, shock mounts etc, and give them a squirt of water dispersing penetrating oil after each wash. I prefer GT 85 to WD40 as it's kinder to rubber. If you want to ride a bike year-round in all weathers and keep it looking pristine it's going to involve a regular routine of effort and elbow grease.
I bought a "pet dryer" for around £30 less than an identical machine that said "bike dryer" on it. I agree, well worth the outlay but shop around for one. As said, the aerosol ACF doesn't fully atomise, wets the bike excessively and is an expensive way of buying the stuff. Also check out a product called Corrosion Block, which is formulated for saltwater marine use and doesn't wash off as easily. It's also made by Lear Chemicals who make ACF50.
ACF50 is also very good used as a polish on mat black plastics. It gives them a lustre and helps to prevent fading. A front fender extender is a very good idea. Why manufacturers fit utterly useless Hitler moustache skimpy front fenders on bikes that do nothing wahtever, I've no idea. And Triumph are one of the worst for that.
I have a Bruhl bike dryer. I did have a cheap Chinese knock-off before but it only lasted a couple of years before the motor burned out. Bike dryers basically are just rebranded pet grooming dryers. A pet dryer is likely to be cheaper but will do exactly the same job as long as it has sufficient airflow and a heater element. You might have to put up with something that's pink and has graphics of bones and happy doggy faces all over it but it'll work. Some people use leaf blowers but that seems a bit awkward and heavy handed to me, and they don't have a filter on the intake so any grit and dust they suck up gets blasted at the bike.
For winter and other untidy weather I had a 1981 KZ-1000 LTD. Largish windshield, fitted the engine guards with plexiglass wings to keep the cold off my legs, heated grip covers. Periodically doused the whole bike with WD-40 - avoiding the brakes and tires. Pressure washed it off in the spring. Which kept the Bonneville very clean. PHM ---------
I have a cheap pet dryer, but other than that resign myself to my street triple looking like this: And me like a mud monster. The short tails on these bikes look great.....but keeping them clean is not easy!!
My STRS was much the same after a winter ride. Spray up my back too. I won't be riding it this coming winter
Wow thank you very much for all your replies!!!! It’s a pain when I post i have to wait for it to be approved. Actually forgot about posting this until I checked me emails! Haha. I have heard of ACF-50 never used it but from all your replies it sounds like a must. I use WD-40 and GT85 when I clean her regularly. They do a good job. I’m going to re-read everyone’s reply’s try and digest all the info and get a plan lined up for winter. thanks again folks
It would help if Triumph fitted functional front mudguards instead of a skimpy piece of dental floss that does absolutely nothing whatever.
Modern design, particularly sports bikes, is more about looks and kerb appeal than practicality. It's stockings and stilettos vs overalls and wellies.
All good suggestions. Scott Waterproof Jacket with Fort Airflex Trousers are my go-to to do the mud off the textiles.
