It's that time of year again so rather than do it myself I took my Tessie to see Clive Howe in Northampton today. He done a blinding job cleaning a treating my GTR. For those that don't know, £60 will get you the full works and prepare your pride & joy for the winter season. He carefully degreased and cleaned Tessie within an inch of her life to prepare it for a coating of ACF50 anti corrosion fluid. The end result will help keep it looking good all year round, keep it running and above all help retain it's value.
It's much more than just a wash and polish, it's a multi-stage process to remove road dirt, old wax etc in preparation for the application of ACF50. The process is basically a good pre rinse, a full degrease, a hi foam shampoo, warm air drying, a pre-spray prep, high pressure application of ACF50 and a hand polish & wax. The important part is the high pressure spray, which atomises ACF50 into a dense mist that penetrates deep into every area of the bike. It all takes 2-3 hours.
I'm very happy with the result and if you like to maintain a nice bike over the winter this is a MUST. My GS is going to get the same treatment as soon as I get the wheels back on it... I totally recommend Clive, he's a top bloke and will take care of you and your bike. I'll be surprised if there's any biker here that hasn't heard about it but thought I'd share my experience and reccomendation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXXetSfHDdk
Some before, during and after pics:
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/5D39194C-BD6F-453D-9C54-0CD4731D0581-746-0000015F109158DB_zps9588ce02.jpg)
Not that dirty as I've only just got it... but it doesn't matter how clean or dirty it is the process is the same.
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/9934D64F-94D9-482F-ADDA-86A3FED5CECB-746-0000015F07D65EC9_zps0b62a0c1.jpg)
A fair bit of grime after a couple of weeks shitty weather...
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/8FEC7580-B305-4EFF-9B3A-04687AE291D2-746-0000015F0043E999_zps7b107974.jpg)
Getting a good rinse and degrease
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/05767542-1254-4DC9-9520-C4DC0A5234C2-746-0000015EF3929EAD_zps3f639578.jpg)
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/42C1BE30-C00B-4C62-9371-8989492038A3-746-0000015EECDBC452_zpsc8dc2b46.jpg)
Shampoo
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/FAF1D3B9-9776-4ECD-B3F8-0BF0966DBDCB-746-0000015EE51CD98C_zpsfafbdd40.jpg)
Surprising how much crap is pulled out even after a thorough degreasing.
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/FE415D0D-25F8-4C38-9135-7FE1B81CB625-746-0000015EDE6C5CB4_zps21ae39b7.jpg)
AC50 application...
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/D3497A43-5746-4E4D-8E41-06793AF97225-746-0000015ED66F4051_zps7a094e0f.jpg)
Much better
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/F02B1E95-A4D9-4B90-B6E1-7C6D2F88093E-746-0000015ECEF77F73_zps4ab728f4.jpg)
Clean as a whistle
(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii552/AdventureVagabond/All%20Year%20Biker/3C4F49FD-20F9-4B65-8224-2CC7C2C1C85F-746-0000015EC7CC45BD_zps30f47843.jpg)
Off home
Check them out here: http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/
I've had AYB at my house for the last three years. Years one and three did an excellent job, year two was OK. They appear to have lost their local representative and didn't bother to reply to my email asking if they had anyone within reach which is a shame.
Kevin
That is good to hear .. AYB has a very good reputation and is clearly getting better and better ! :yes:
I would imagine that this is a very good service if you aren't able to clean your bike yourself, and it looks like AYB does a good job.
Personally I've always enjoyed cleaning my bikes myself after a ride out, its actually quite therapeutic, :yes:
Wow, this looks great and just what I (or my bikes) need! They don't appear to have anyone in the Essex area so I've enquirer about hosting it on my driveway. It may be that a few more local bikes would make it a cost effective visit.
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AYB is brilliant. I'm planning on getting mine done in the next few weeks
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on November 15, 2013, 10:49:23 AM
AYB is brilliant. I'm planning on getting mine done in the next few weeks
Who are you and what have you done with Asif? :mfr_lol:
Quote from: Boomer on November 15, 2013, 02:33:36 PM
Who are you and what have you done with Asif? :mfr_lol:
:mfr_lol:
Rusty kept it clean so I'm doing my best as well
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Quote from: winnsworld on November 15, 2013, 10:35:17 AM
Wow, this looks great and just what I (or my bikes) need! They don't appear to have anyone in the Essex area so I've enquirer about hosting it on my driveway. It may be that a few more local bikes would make it a cost effective visit.
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Graeme,
Can you let me know if this they agree, I like the idea of getting this done,
Cheers
Clive
Hi Clive
Will do, maybe Boomer will bring his beast over too...
Graeme
I'm happy to arrange one in Huddersfield if we can get enough people
Thinking about this process.....the use of detergents on surface areas is obviously okay, but I would be concerned that areas such as Brakes, bearing points i.e swing arm and wheel bearings etc., could be adversely affected by detergents which are then pressure washed.
Also the aplication of these cleaning agents in areas such as instrumentation and switchgear isn't, in my opinion, a good idea, in fact isn't this practice discouraged by manufacturers. :nono:
I use an airline to dry off areas where water can and does settle after I've washed my bike, but I always avoid switchgear and other sensitive areas so as to avoid any potential problems :smiley: