When do you wash your bike?

Might seem like a silly question I know but I don't want to let the dirt sit there, but at the same time I don't want to dump a load of water on a hot engine.  So quite simply, after a ride, when do you wash? The bike that is... your grooming habits are your own business!   Although recently I have taken to showering after a ride as it's so damn cold!

"When do you wash?"
My answer - never.

I don't wash the bike with water at all. It's just my preference.
If I get cought in the rain or ride on wet roads, I normally clean the bike within few days after the ride.

I use just paper towels, microfibre cloths and WD40... on rare occasions tar & bug remover when I get a lot of insects splattered.

Works well... areas that need cleaning are cleaned, and the rest remains intact and dry.

I find if I don't use water, the shiny surfaces get scratched with the minute particles of grit when using a dry cloth. I think the muck needs washing off otherwise it tends to get pushed around like an abrasive pad. I keep mine covered in WD40 and hose down if there is salt around. I use Muck off and a soft brush to clean and then re-apply WD. I suppose I do this every couple of weeks. Thatis on my SV - the cruiser never goes out in the rain so rarely needs washing but whenever  it does  it's the same method minus the WD and then a good polish.

I wash after the engine has cooled down (a bit) with water and car wash,and then use my Air Force Blaster. This dries the entire bike, including all impossible parts to reach, and no streaking. Can't recommend it too highly.

I wash it on a as and when basis. Spraying a hot engine initially with a mist from the hose would do no harm at all. You are not told to keep a running bike out of torrential rain after all. 
I wash it and use a garden leaf blower to dry it afterwards, saves on additional work from dried water marks left as there are non & I can go straight to polishing a dry bike within minutes.

Mr Intruder wrote:

 You are not told to keep a running bike out of torrential rain after all. 

This never even crossed my mind!

No water for me either, Mr Sheen and WD40 are my weapons in the fight against grime !!!

Jim.

Look for my post re sdoc100.

Usually let mine cool down, (just so I don't burn myself) give the dirty bits a spray with Muc Off and leave to soak for 5 mins, then give it a spray over with the hose so the whole bike is wet, then a wash with car shampoo and sponge, then a rinse with the hose and leave to drip dry for a while or overnight, then a polish with furniture polish.

Cleaned mine today. Took about 1/2 hour to wash, dry, spray with WD40 and put away (ready to get dirty again tomorrow!)