kcblair

Yep, wax all my bikes annually and polish chrome with Simi-chrome polish. KB

RobbieTunes

I don't shave, so why wax, right?

Charles Wahl

There's little point in having this discussion with a guy who starts by bragging about not waxing his car.

I like a waxed bike; makes it look about 80% better than just clean. YMMV

2cam16

I've always clayed/polished/waxed every vehicle I've owned for decades. So this carries on (except the claybar part) to my bikes. They all get a polish and wax job. Helps protect the paint, easier to clean, looks good.

davester

It's quite simple. Wax protects the paint from breaking down from weathering and UV exposure. After the paint is broken down by oxidation and other chemical reactions it becomes highly porous and there is nothing left to protect the frame so it will start to rust, Once rust has gotten a strong grip the frame is toast. Cars and bikes that are waxed will look prettier and last much longer than those that aren't. My always waxed 10 to 15 year old cars look vastly better than most of the much newer but neglected cars in the parking lot at work. Those folks often trade in (at great cost) for new cars every few years because their old cars start to look crappy.

ollo_ollo

Wax all mine regularly. Also have always waxed my wood working machinery (painted surfaces + bare metal) and automobiles. Good paint and steel deserves good wax. Don

SquidPuppet

Why would any sane person not wax their bikes?

Why would anyone start a thread asking if members wax their bikes in a Classic and Vintage forum?

Confused.

noglider 

I just got a can of Endust that doesn't have any fragrance, which I guess I prefer. Honestly, the fake lemon smell is pleasant, but it may not be good for us.

dim

Harly Wax (100% Carnuba) .... brilliant stuff for your bike frame be it carbon, steel alu or Ti .... and when you wax your car with this stuff, you will be amazed ... easy to apply (it's like butter) ...

leave it on for a few minutes and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth .... no residue left, and it actually leaves a very thin layer of crystal clear wax coating that makes your frame shine like glass (I kid you not) .....

after I have waxed my car with Harly wax, and it rains, the water forms large droplets and just slides off the bonnet (it's hard to explain, but you will understand better when you use it and it rains)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-Polish-.../dp/B004DPJQ44

SquidPuppet

Thanks for the recommendation. Ordered.

Grand Bois

Pledge contains no wax, so it doesn't protect your paint like wax does. It does clean and give a temporary shine, though. There are spray waxes on the market that are nearly as easy to use. I've even used them on my cars when I'm feeling too lazy to do it right with paste wax.


I wax all of my bikes, including the aluminum and steel parts and including the two with matte paint.


I'm not loyal to any particular brands.

Chrome Molly

The only bike I wax more than once a year is my gravel bike. The wax allows you to easily knock dried mud off with your fingers.

This time of year I am waxing skis instead of bikes. Looks like fastwax teal for tomorrow morning’s skiing.

deephate

I hoped not to get too many snarky comments because I was seriously curious. I wouldn't open myself up otherwise. I honestly thought paint protected and shined well all on it's own. After reading all the guys that wax their cars religiously I did a little survey at my parts counter. Guys with 75,000 dollar trucks, 45,000 dollar cars, and most of my customers with 120,000 and up semi trucks and nobody I asked ever waxes anything. My car is 15 years old and the paint looks brand new. Could it look better if I spent hours polishing it? I really don't think it would. I will take some wax to my bikes though.

EDIT: I also thought that C&V would be the place to ask but I guess I was way off base there also, sorry.

toavii

I’m picky about the paint of the bikes I own. They have to be good riders to be sure, but if they don’t look the part due to paint quality most all inevitably find their way out the door. Outside of the Colnago (and the beater Schwinn), the others have what I would say is special paint.

To maintain that, all are waxed a couple of times during the riding season and detailed and sealed over the winter. All bikes are cleaned after anything more than a leisurely ride and a good coat of wax makes it easier to do so. Paint, metal, wood, it’s all no different. Take care of it and they’ll look great for quite some time.

Salamandrine 

Geez let's not lose sleep over this. It just isn't that important. Wax or not. Your choice.

Since this is the C&V forum, it may be worthwhile to point out that BITD it used to be more common to keep your bike wiped down with WD40. Cleaning your bike with water was a big no no in the days before sealed bearings. Newer bikes are all sealed bearings, and can be cleaned off easily with water in a spray bottle, etc. Wax helps make this easier, as previously stated.

deephate

I haven't lost any sleep but I have had some nightmares over it.