The weather warmed over the weekend providing an opportunity to wash the scooter. Usually this can wait until spring but for some reason the Vespa was already caked with dirt, mud, salt and other roadway ugliness, so much that I just couldn’t stand it. So off to the local Redline Speed Shine facility to make a lot of that go away.
Once clean I couldn’t resist a little ride despite the rain. By the time I got home another sheen of grime was starting to build. Can’t say I wasn’t a little excited — felt like one of those intrepid BMW Adventurers with a dirty bike.
Seriously though I have to confess a profound disrespect for machines. Or so it seems as indicated by my pathological disinterest in maintenance of the cosmetic or investment protecting sort. I squirm a bit when I think of all the cars and devices that went to early graves because I didn’t attend to them the way I know others do.
Next time I’m at WalMart I’ll look at the cloth diapers and see if it motivates me to rub and shine the Vespa in the manner I know a few others do…
You’ll probably just wear off the paint and cause it to rust before it’s time. I heard that WD-40 will keep the grime at bay…
RichardM: I’m finally worried. Crawled under the Vespa — there’s some rust starting. First warm day I”m going to do some fixin…
Hello Steve,
The GTS has no anti gravel treatment and any insignificant stone projected by the front wheel can cause paint damage underneath. Looking at the dirt roads that you use, with all the snow and salt in the winter :-), i´m impressed with the strength of your GTS. But i’d be surprised if your Vespa was not with rust underneath. Did you apply any anti gravel product ? I´m always looking at that particular zone of my GTS 300, and my older GT 200had the same problem too.
Ride safe.
Vasco
http://respiroscooter.blogspot.pt/
Steve, the running joke within the Uralisti community is that washing one’s rig results in problems. Hence, never wash the rig! I’m only partly a believer in that….while the painted parts I try to keep clean, the rest tends to look “ridden”.
As to rust, eh.
WD-40 does help with the shiny bits, spray/wipe on lightly on the chrome pieces before heading out into the much, wash off later.
The Vespa looks good as always!
Steve:
It’s a badge of honour to have a dirty bike. I may wash my Vstrom once a year, maybe. When I had my Jeep I never washed it and I tried to get mud onto it all the time.
but I try to keep my Beemer clean
The problem with cleaning your Vespa is that it is going to get dirty again. You can’t win
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
I’m just impressed with the highly professional-looking car, uh.. Vespa-wash facility 🙂
Steve … cleaning can lead to all kinds of problems (and some solutions too.) I thought I had shined my Star up so nicely until a friend mentioned that I had neglected the grimy wheels … neglected, I hadn’t even noticed! So, off to Walmart I went for chrome cleaner and polish. Happily shining away in the drive that’s when the bike slipped off the kickstand and layed down for a nap. Opportunity! Clean the bottom as well and I don’t want to hear any more complaints! Think I will try Richard’s WD 40 trick … in the spring.
VCS: No, I didn’t apply any kind of protection but have ridden with reckless and uncaring abandon. It’s often much too late when I decide to pay attention…
Charlie6: The scooter, like me, just shows the patina of wear and age. Nothing lasts forever does it?
bob skoot: I like your thinking — it just will get dirty again. It’s actually quite dirty just from the ride home in the rain. But the big chunks are gone!
Schnarpsel: And it had automatic doors and a dizzying array of wash selections. It was so much fun that I might go twice this year!
V Star Lady: One can never pass up unexpected cleaning opportunities!
Steve – I am ignorant. What would such a facility be called? Might have to see if they have one here in our area as well…