Tips on washing your buddy?

rossini · Post by **rossini** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:35 pm

So I live in SF and rarely drive it in the rain anyways so needless to say, my Buddy stays pretty damn clean. With that said, does anyone have tips in regards to washing the scooter? Can the whole thing get hosed down or are their areas you want to keep water away from?

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:13 pm

I live in a very dirty/dusty/sandy place – needles to say I have washed my scoot numerous times using the local car spray wash – nothing is spared but I am conservative with the spray in the seat area to prevent the spray getting in around the seat seal, and I don’t spry in the glove box..my clock is in there.

twhit · Post by **twhit** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:30 pm

don,t use a power washer around the wheel bearings or sealed areas , brake cyclinders , switches , because the power of a power washer can penitrate in there where water is not suppose to go. Just my thought

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:35 pm

Yea I should have qualified my spray washing a little more – I do not spry any lubricated areas and just quickly go over the electrical type stuff – but the large surface areas get the full blast.

Kurzer · Post by **Kurzer** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:51 pm

Warm soapy water and a soft mit... does wonders.

jgalar · Post by **jgalar** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:39 am

Don't have a scooter yet, but most of the time I use Windex and paper towels to clean the fairing and covers on my motorcycle.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:45 am

I use Mother's auto soap and water with a soft sponge and microfiber towels on the Vespa's metal exterior, then Nanowax it. But I'm much less inclined to baby the Buddy.

jgalar wrote:Don't have a scooter yet, but most of the time I use Windex and paper towels to clean the fairing and covers on my motorcycle.

Is there any reason not to use Windex, Fantastik or some similar household cleaner on the plastic panels? Will it cause fading, slowly eat away at the smooth finish or anything like that? I have heard dish soap is bad for painted metal, but what can really harm the plastic?

vitaminC · Post by **vitaminC** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:39 pm

ericalm wrote:Is there any reason not to use Windex, Fantastik or some similar household cleaner on the plastic panels? Will it cause fading, slowly eat away at the smooth finish or anything like that? I have heard dish soap is bad for painted metal, but what can really harm the plastic?

I don't know if there is any specific reason not to use window cleaner, other than the Buddy is not made of windows

I've had good luck using "quick detailer" type products between washings (with boring old soap and water) to keep the dust and grime minimized.

gt1000 · Post by **gt1000** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:40 pm

Cleaning scooters and motorcycles can be difficult. Since I live in a big building with underground garage, I can't really wash my bikes under a shade tree. I was going to the power spray car washes and just being careful when I discovered I could fit my Buddy into our elevator and bring it up to our loft. Now I take it out onto our terrace (on the 6th floor) and wash it there. I'll have to post pictures some time.

I hose it down with a light water spray first. Then I use simple green automotive cleaner and spray it LIBERALLY, avoiding electrical nooks or anywhere I don't want to dislodge grease or lubricant (like say, my motorcycle's chain). I also use a couple of different soft brushes for stubborn stuff on the wheels. Then hose off, dry and wax. I don't do this full wash often but between washes I use quick detailers to keep things clean. Products that work well on bikes include Meguires' Quick Detailer, Plexus polish, some cleaner made by Maxima, and the famous old standby, Honda Pro Polish, which is really good stuff.

I use the same methods on my motorcycle but I use the rinse function at the neighborhood power spray car wash and cover the instrument cluster with a plastic bag. I'm very careful where I aim the water and I stand well away from the bike, so the full power is diluted somewhat.

Simple Green works great at cutting the grease. If you keep a coat of wax on your bike or use the silicon detailers or polishes, the Simple Green will flush off the grime with a minimum of elbow grease. Just be sure to use the auto formulation.

And, if anyone has other ideas I'd love to hear them. While I don't mind cleaning my bikes I'd much rather be out riding.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:38 am

The weather was warm this weekend so I polished the car, with the leftovers I did a coat of Zaino on the scoot –
Wow! huge difference – Deep deep Black, its that wet look car polishers look for – I think I will be faster now.

GenuineSlacker · Post by **GenuineSlacker** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:00 am

I saw plastic part specific cleaner at a shop once but was spending too much money on my helmet and beleclava so i decided against it. I'm curious if a good coat of plexus wouldnt work everyone now and again...

gt1000 · Post by **gt1000** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:48 am

Plexus is pretty much perfect for the Buddy.

lojical1 · Post by **lojical1** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:25 pm

I personally am in LOVE with the quality of Meguiar's automotive products. I like bubbles and a nice shiny ride. mmmmm. (Bubbles)

bethtrittipo · Post by **bethtrittipo** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:06 pm

I also use a Windex-type product (Trader Joe's brand) and paper towels. I can usually get the whole thing pretty clean with just two paper towels. However, I did have trouble getting grease off the matte surface. I guess I'd need some kind of degreasing agent or something for that.

JuliaGrace · Post by **JuliaGrace** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:12 am

bethtrittipo wrote:I also use a Windex-type product (Trader Joe's brand) and paper towels. I can usually get the whole thing pretty clean with just two paper towels. However, I did have trouble getting grease off the matte surface. I guess I'd need some kind of degreasing agent or something for that.

I too use the Trader Joe's all-purpose cleaner, and an old towel - works like a charm! When I DO clean it, that is - which is rare

jgalar · Post by **jgalar** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:48 am

A little denatured alcohol on a paper towel will take care of most grease spots.

lojical1 · Post by **lojical1** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:15 am

I was wondering if folx out there actually wax their Buddy. Since the color is in the plastic, is it worthwhile to wax ? Does the color fade ?

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:26 pm

Do you know if you can use products like Detail Sprays or Spray Waxes on your buddy? Has anyone here used something like that already?

Modern Buddy

Tips on washing your buddy?

Tips on washing your buddy?

Washing buddy

Re: Washing buddy