Cleaning it!

[Brad]

I have found gt85 works quite well for cleaning the frame and gives any plastics a nice shine. Brake cleaner works very well for cleaning chains as well, a quick blast on a rag and all the oil is easily removed.

 

[Fnaar]

Has anyone ever put a whole Brompton into a dishwasher?

 

[JohnHenry]

Has anyone ever put a whole Brompton into a dishwasher?

My dishwasher says she would do anything for love but she won't do that.

 

[hotmetal]

WD40 and disc brakes..... now there's a worry. But as you say, used carefully it does the job well. With my motorcycle a bit of light oil on a cloth, quick rub down, and all was well with the world. I've never used it to clean a chain as I suspect the residue left would not allow oil to get to the rollers.

MG you are right not to use WD40 on a motorbike chain but for different reasons - it's not residue stopping oil, its that the solvents attack the o-rings and actually end up making your chain wear quicker because the lube is washed out or migrates away from the pins. On a bicycle chain (which presumably doesn't have sealing 'o' or 'x' rings) it's probably fine. On my cycle chains I generally subscribe to the theory of putting a little bit of decent chain lube on every time, and wiping off any excess.

For cleaning the rest of the bike, I avoid pressure washers (too easy to blast water into a bearing if not being careful). Washing it with car shampoo seems ok. Not washing up liquid though cos that is basically salt and detergent, which will cause corrosion and won't do the paint any favours either. Mr Sheen or WD40/GT85 seems to be good for polishing bikes and stopping dirt clinging. I do my disc brakes with proper brake cleaner if they need it (usually have a tin for the Fazer).

I avoid Muc-Off like the plague. They may have changed the formulation (or the bicycle stuff might be different) but I once sprayed the pink keech on my motorbike and it seriously damaged the plastics, despite being washed off within the 10 nanoseconds as advised in the small print.

 

[Cubist]

I buy Gunk Green degreaser and dilute it 5:1 in a spray bottle. That can be sprayed onto all the parts of the bike. I then shampoo it off with a bucket, sponge and brushes. I then shake/bounce the bike dry and wipe it down with a chamois or teat owl,.

My road chain has NEVER been degreased. Why would you? If you keep it lightly lubed with a dry lubricant it doesn't get dirty enough to need too much cleaning, except of course by the Mickle method.

The MTB chain is lubed with dry lube, and cleaned using the above diluted degreaser and a stiff washing up brush then rinsed at garden hose pressure. Thorough soaking in GT85 to drive out the water, and an immediate drip on, wipe off of dry lube.

The spray cleaner solution is also great for rear mechs and pedals, but again, you need to rinse thoroughly and GT85 to disperse water.
The road bike gets a coating of car wax, and the MTB gets a spray and wipe of GT85 all over.