I’d like to write irregularly about random musings and thoughts that come up in this line of work.
Doing things twice over and wasting materials teaches lessons in various ways, but it’s better not to have that happen if we can help it.
That sad expression when something’s just been installed and then someone says “we’re taking it off, we’re throwing it away”…
There’s a lot to think about.
The approach varies depending on the motorcycle model, budget, and what the customer wants. I don’t think there’s a right answer or a wrong answer—it’s almost always a case-by-case situation.
With a front fork that’s leaking oil, sometimes we disassemble everything, but sometimes due to time constraints we just pull out and replace the oil seal.
It’s the same with a carburetor that’s leaking fuel—honestly, sometimes we just deal with that one cylinder for now.
I believe that if we keep doing all our work as safely and cleanly as possible, motorcycles will stay in good condition longer and be more enjoyable to ride.
I think it’s better to avoid washing and just wipe it down regularly.
Honestly, I’ve never washed a customer’s motorcycle. Some are already clean, but most of the time wiping is enough.
You don’t need to be obsessive about it. Think about how much time and mileage it takes for dust and dirt to build up… I think you should just start with about 10 minutes of cleaning today. The important thing is to keep it up without getting bored.
If you wipe it down,
• You’re more likely to spot things like flats, brake pad wear, loose parts, or missing fasteners.
• Wiping with wax or oil gives you better rust protection, so rust is less likely to take hold.
Wiping as much as you can to boost rust protection is what matters.
Caliper cleaning is a job that’s done routinely all over.
Water or hot water and soap, scrubbed hard… sure, it gets clean, but I think all the oil gets stripped away.
Over the past few years I’ve realized something: maybe we in the trade are actually the ones causing calipers, pistons, and connecting bolts to rust?
After cleaning, a quick spray of rust preventative oil makes the caliper glossy and less likely to collect dirt.
If you polish it like you’re handling treasure, I think your affection for it grows too.
These days there are really convenient tools available that would have been unthinkable years ago.
If you do a semi-restoration while you work, I think the motorcycle stays clean and in good shape for longer.
