Detailing Motorcycles

kmsdetailing

kmsdetailing

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Well, I got a message this evening asking if I detail motorcycles. My first reaction would be to tell him no but is it difficult to do?
What products would I use?
Waterless or Rinsless wash?
Clean wheels with?
Clean seat with?

Anything else I should know? I don't know what type of bike he owns, yet.

Thanks in advance.
 
I have a Sport bike. I use jetseal 109 on my FZ with 50/50wax looks great and you can use it on all of the bike. Look it up on youtube.
 
Detailing a bike is alot of work......There may be less paint surface area, but there are alot of fine detail areas. Everything from clutch and brake handles to cooling fins on the motor to spokes on the wheels. If the bike is a cruiser style like a Harley you will do alot of chrome and aluminum polishing. If its a sport bike then you will be working with alot of fiberglass and plastic. As far as products go..........Use the same things you use for cars, BUT.........DO NOT USE ANY SLIPPERY TIRE SHINE OR RUBBER/PLASTIC PROTECTANT ON ANYTHING ! The last thing you want to do is make the tires, grips and pedals slippery. Be prepared to bend over, lie down and be on your knees alot when detailing a bike..............:props:
 
Ive had 3 bikes and do all my friends. Theyre not bad, harder to dry. I use a spray wax usually. Be ready to clean chain lube tho if it has a chain.
 
Found out it's a Harley Softail Classic ; 2011
Say's it's real dirty.
What should I charge?
 
I can't help you with pricing. all I can say is don't shine the tires or tops of the foot pegs and rear break lever. Don't want the guy to slide out.. also same with the seats. Had a passenger on mine after cleaning the seats and she could not sit still.
 
I actually have one to do tomorrow, I charge $100 to do a bike.. Most of the time is spent doing chrome..
 
Well, he sent me a text and asked me for a price. Since I didn't have a price for him, I asked if I could see the bike. I could meet him at my place, his place or the diner; thought I would take the fear out of someone trying to rob his bike. He never replied back. Looks like I lost a potential customer.

That would be my second mistake. The first is when a caller inquired about if I had a garage or not. I told him I currently didn't but I was looking for one and using my garage at the moment. I invited him to look over the products and equipment I used but he never got back to me.

He wanted to get his car ready for the Winter and I told him I offered both a Sealant or Wax. Told him the wax would last 4-6 weeks and the Sealant would last six to eight months; this is what I read on the site. I told him the price was the same.

I guess he didn't care for either of my options and/or the garage but I always believed in honesty.

So, it looks like I will chalk-it-up on the loss of dollars spent on business cards,brochures and advertising in the local paper as a learning experience.

It wasn't a total loss as I learned quite a bit on detailing. I can always use the products on my own vehicles but I guess I'm not a good in business dealings.

Oh, well.
 
if your not familuar doing bikes then by all means dont. Bikers can be pretty fussy and $100 would be way to cheap from my expirence it takes about 10 hours for a dresser or bagger.
 
$100 no way for a harley. Lots of chrome and little details. Lots of tedious work but well it. Harleys are a work of art like no other bike and should be dealt with that way. My opinion
 
kmsdetailing said:
Well, he sent me a text and asked me for a price. Since I didn't have a price for him, I asked if I could see the bike. I could meet him at my place, his place or the diner; thought I would take the fear out of someone trying to rob his bike. He never replied back. Looks like I lost a potential customer.


You did not do anything wrong with asking him/her to see the bike. I never give a price sight unseen!!! You don't know what you are getting into.

I got stuck and lowballed myself:buffing: the first time I gave a quote without seeing the vehicle and will not do it again.
Click to expand...
 
Hard too give a price without seeing the bike. Back in 2002-2003 when I worked for Tampa HD price then was $100-150.
 
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