My steps are just for my own bikes so They may not be extreme enough for some of the machines that a professional will encounter.
1. Soak the bike with either S100 Total Cycle Cleaner. Follow the instructions and be sure to rinse well. This gets into a lot of the tight areas that you can't access with a wash mitt.
2. Wash the wheels and tires with regular car wash soap. I use an old wash mitt and a soft bristle brush for this. Again, rinse well.
3. Wash the tank, seat, fenders, exhaust, actually all the bike with regular car wash soap. I use a different mitt and bucket for this. Rinse well.
4. Dry with either a good cotton towel or a good MF towel. Blow the water out of the nooks and crannies that it has settled in with either compressed air or a leaf blower.
5. I treat the paint like any of my vehicles. Meguiar's #9 for swirl removal with a PC and polishing pad when needed. Klasse AIO or PoorBoy's PwC for a cleaner/prep, 4 Star UPP or Meg's NXT for a topper, all applied by hand.
6. Chrome and aluminum get polished with Mother's chrome polish or aluminum polish. It's good stuff, but my main reason for using it was the fact that it was easy to find and purchase.
7. I have yet to find a vinyl/rubber dressing that I feel comfortable with on the bike. They leave things too slick!
Probably left something out, but right now I can't think of anything else.
Charles
