After the Road Trip

[2black1s]

Introduction

On Memorial Day, May 31^st, 2021 I set out for a 2,500-mile ride from my home in Simi Valley, Ca to visit family and friends in and around Cleveland, Ohio. The trip took 3 1/2 days riding primarily from sunrise to sunset each day. 747.5 miles the first day, 837 the second, 720.4 the third, and finally 217.8 on the fourth day. Once in Cleveland, I stayed at my mom’s (she’s 91 years-old) house in Richmond Hts., an eastern suburb of Cleveland, for two weeks.

The day after arriving in Cleveland, I spent about 5 hours cleaning the bike. No real detailing per se, just a thorough wash and cleaning following the trip. It rained off-n-on for the final day and a half so the bike was plenty dirty, but the rain was also a blessing-in-disguise as it softened and removed the bugs acquired during the first two days of the trip.

I do this trip every summer (since 2004). As such, I have confiscated one cabinet in my mom’s garage to store my cleaning supplies so they are always there for me when I arrive. I also have a motorcycle jack that I leave there. The jack is a near necessity when it comes to cleaning bikes, especially the wheels.

The next two weeks were spent primarily spending time with my mom, brothers, and visiting old friends. I only rode about 200 miles while in Cleveland. Then the return trip.

I left Cleveland on Wednesday, June 16^th and got home on Friday, June 18^th. Three days for the return trip, again, riding primarily from sunrise to sunset each day. 927.3 miles on day one, 783.4 miles on day two, and 799.1 miles to finish the return trip on day three.

Day two was hot, 107 in Denver, but day three was brutal… 117 in Vegas and 120 in Baker, CA. This stretch of brutal heat on day three extended from just passed St. George, Utah well into California where the temperature was 110+ the entire distance of about 300 miles. I was completely exhausted and drained from the heat when I got home. And it sure felt good to be home… The temperature was 77 degrees.

The entire round-trip was 5,230 miles.

I got home Friday night. Saturday and Sunday were spent relaxing and recuperating (and watching the US Open). Monday was doing yard work. Tuesday came and it was now “bike” time.


“After the Road Trip”

This begins the real meat and motive for this thread… The 24.5 hours I spent over four days detailing the bike upon my return.

I started by giving the bike a good bath. First up was cleaning the engine cases and wheels with S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, then a bucket and hose wash job with Meguiar’s 62 Shampoo for the rest of the bike. That was followed by a DI water final rinse, and then dried with the trusty old leaf blower.

This removed all of the road grime, but the bugs were so baked-on that their remains would need further attention during the forthcoming claying process. There were also some water spots that were not completely removed thanks to being unexpectedly blasted by some sprinklers, on three separate occasions, at my second overnight rest stop.

That was it for Tuesday. About 4 hours for the bathing. Then I let the bike dry-out thoroughly until the next day before proceeding.

Wednesday through Friday were spent doing the real detailing… About 20.5 hours’ worth. My intentions were to polish all of the painted surfaces to as near perfection as viable (my real intent was “perfect” but we all know that is not possible). As such, I focused on specific panels/sections from start to finish, ensuring that they were as “good-as-it-gets” before moving on to the next. Clay, polish, wax… Next. Repeat as required.

The products/tools used were:
- Auto Scrub fine and medium grade sponge pads for claying
- Meguiar’s 210 Ultra Pro Finishing Polish
- Griot’s GR3 Rotary w/3-inch knitted wool BOSS pads & 1-inch yellow foam BOSS pads
- Griot’s G8 DA w/3-inch yellow foam BOSS pads
- Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax (hand applied)

Panel/section sequence and labor hours:
- Side Covers (2); ~ 2 hours
- Saddle Bags (2); ~ 5 hours
- Front Fairing, Inner & Outer/Windshield; ~ 3 hours
- Fuel Tank; ~ 2 hours (includes R&R Center Console)
- Front Fender; ~ 1 hour
- Lower Fairings (2); ~ 1.5 hours
- Tour Pack; ~ 2.5 hours (includes R&R Luggage rack)
- Rear Fender; ~ 0.5 hours
Notes: Side Covers and Saddle Bags removed from bike. All other parts processed in-place. No machine polishing for the windshield; fine clay followed by Meguiar’s 6 Cleaner Wax only.

With the painted parts complete, my focus now turned to the chrome. I hit the frontal chrome, the pipes, and the left side Primary Cover with clay, followed by Meguiar’s 6 Cleaner Wax or Meguiar’s D115 Express Wash & Wax as I felt appropriate. The remaining chrome and the wheels were simply wiped with D115.

The finishing touch was Meguiar’s 40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner for the seat, rear speaker pods, plastic trim, and miscellaneous satin black components.

These last two steps comprised approximately 3 hours bringing the grand total to 24.5 hours. I’d hate to have to pay for this!

This morning (Sunday) I met up with four other weekend riding buddies for breakfast and a 100-mile ride. Two of them know me well so it was no surprise to them that I could spend 24.5 hours detailing my bike, but the other two guys were shocked. They were 2- or 3-hour guys. As shocked as they were, they were equally drooling over how good my bike looked. That was very rewarding!

Now for the pics…

Washing the bike in my mom’s garage (Cleveland)…



And Mom…



Bike’s condition at the end of the trip…



The beginning of my 24.5 hour ordeal; My 4-hour wash job…



RO/DI water rinse system…



And the finished product…








Pics Continued in the Next Thread...

[2black1s]

Pics Continued...

[Klasse Act]

This thread deserves an award for every category across the board, seriously

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[2black1s]

This thread deserves an award for every category across the board, seriously

Well thank you very much! I hope others will enjoy it as much as you.

[Klasse Act]

Well thank you very much! I hope others will enjoy it as much as you.

Rarely has someone detailed so much of everything, it was like bring there! I assume you've been on The Tail of the Dragon

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[waddell64]

Hopefully, you missed the Ohio cicadas, or they weren't too bad in the north eastern part of the state. I can't imagine riding a bike thru those things.

17yrs between the next batch of cicadas will be too soon. I'll be cleaning their remains out of my truck for the next three years.

[2black1s]

... I assume you've been on The Tail of the Dragon

Been there 4 times. These pics are from my last visit in 2017...

Where we stayed for 4 days; Maggie Valley, NC. I'm second from the left.


Deals Gap at the top of the Dragon


I think this is Cherohala Hwy -0r- It might be at the TN end of the Dragon - Not sure.


And a few misc. pics from the same trip...

US 50 in Nevada - America's Loneliest Road


Loveland Pass in Colorado


Yellowstone


Yosemite


I've been through all lower 48 states, multiple routes through many, on my bike trips over the years. Mostly riding alone. It's been a blast!

And I've gone through the same or similar detailing of the bike(s) after each one of them.

[2black1s]

Hopefully, you missed the Ohio cicadas, or they weren't too bad in the north eastern part of the state. I can't imagine riding a bike thru those things.

17yrs between the next batch of cicadas will be too soon. I'll be cleaning their remains out of my truck for the next three years.

LOL. I had bugs for sure but not the worst I've been through. That came in Montana or Wyoming or thereabouts several years ago.

[Klasse Act]

Great pics

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[TTQ B4U]

Introduction

On Memorial Day, May 31^st, 2021 I set out for a 2,500-mile ride from my home in Simi Valley, Ca to visit family and friends in and around Cleveland, Ohio. The trip took 3 1/2 days riding primarily from sunrise to sunset each day. 747.5 miles the first day, 837 the second, 720.4 the third, and finally 217.8 on the fourth day. Once in Cleveland, I stayed at my mom’s (she’s 91 years-old) house in Richmond Hts., an eastern suburb of Cleveland, for two weeks.

Small world. I grew up in Lyndhurst with family all through the areas of Mayfield, Richmond, etc. The area has certainly changed but I am still proud to have called it home.