where the hell to wash bike downtown?

T

thrills

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this has to be the dumbest question Ive asked on a forum yet.. (i'm sure i'll come up with something stupider soon)

Can anyone tell me a good place to wash my bike downtown? this is my second season here, last year i literally didnt wash it once, but after a winter in the underground its gross.

I dont really like the idea of the full on pressure washer bay type places I do my truck in...

bonus points for west end, and free... but i will travel and pay.
 
thrills said:
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I dont really like the idea of the full on pressure washer bay type places I do my truck in...

bonus points for west end, and free... but i will travel and pay.
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What's wrong with the self washer? You don't have to pull the trigger. It'll be fine. :)
 
The pressure washers at those coin-op places are nothing to worry about. Just keep a little bit of distance and you're fine. Don't spray it directly down the exhaust, in any air intakes, directly at electrical junctions or where there are any seals/gaskets and you're fine. You can place your hand 6" in front of one of those nozzles and it doesn't hurt.
DO NOT use the soapy brushes from those places... People lay those on the ground, wash dirty wheel wells with them etc. They WILL scratch your paint.

When I wash my bike there, I bring my wash mitt. I do the high pressure rinse to get all the heavy dirt off, then soak it with the pre-soak soap thing, and get my wash mitt soaked before the time runs out. Once the time runs out I give the bike a wash down with the mitt, then I use the high pressure water to rinse the bike and clean my wash mitt out. Then dry the bike with your drying cloth and you're good to go. Ride the bike home to get the chain warm and then spray it down with your lube.
That's pretty much how I do my quick washes. My in depth wash sessions I can take a few hours doing, but that includes polishing headers, fully cleaning the chain, getting the wheels perfectly clean etc.
 
buy a bucket. a washcloth, and a towel, and some cleaner.


try to find a faucet someplace. If you cant find one, Ask someone.

go to where your bike is parked, and proceed with washing it.
 
a lot of condos frown at washing in your slip -- I got yelled at once for washing the car & bike in mine. My condo has wash bays, but I prefer to do a rinse-less wash in my slip so I don't feel pressured to go faster & can take as much time as I want (since most people don't like waiting 5 mins, and I take well over an hour on the car and 30 mins on the bike).
 
you're welcome to come wash it at my house, but you'd have to travel to Ajax.. :)
 
will rent my driveway and hose. 2 beers 5 min, 3 beers for 10 min.
multi vehicle discounts and 2-4 1x/week passes for the summer can be purchased.

no discount beers will be accepted. i will also consider good cuban cigars and rum.


theres a coin op on 401 and weston road i believe, otherwise mississauga is littered with the coin-op washes.
 
Coin-ops I know of in the west end:

Keele/St.Clair
Dundas/Runnymede
Bathurst/Dupont
Lansdowne/Dupont
Lansdowne/College
Dundas/Scarlett
 
Buy one of these sprayers from dollarama. Bring out a bucket of fresh water, soap, sponge and chamois. Rinse bike first and then clean, refilling water in the pressure sprayer with the reserve water in your bucket. Use the chamois to dry, then you're done.
 
I go to the one at Lansdowne/College. Do a quick soapy hose down then rinse to get the big grit off. Don't directly aim the pressure into small spaces. Roll the bike out by the vacuums so others can use the bay and proceed to detail with wash and wax spray; plenty of others detailing their cars at the same time.
 
LOL or you can wait till it's hot and pay those girls at bike BBQs to wash your bike.
 
You can wash it at my place. Bring a 6 pack and take as long as you need. I'll even let you use my supplies.
 
bunmanchi said:
buy a bucket. a washcloth, and a towel, and some cleaner.


try to find a faucet someplace. If you cant find one, Ask someone.

go to where your bike is parked, and proceed with washing it.
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+1 - best tune up your bike will ever have! And a good chance to make sure that everything is still fastened!! Not to mention, it'll be much cleaner than any other way.
 
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