Its about that time of year when Scooter in the Sticks announces that his Vespa is suffering from lack of attention and as the Pennsylvania salt chows down on his muffler he wants everyone else that rides daily to confess that they torture their motorcycles with a lack of attention. I told him I wash my Bonneville regularly and he seemed almost taken aback. I wasn't lying, I have an entire routine laid out, and here it is.First I hose the motorcycle down with a low pressure hosing. I do this anyway two or three times a week just to limit salt air corrosion which is a constant problem in the Keys. If its the weekly cleaning day I squirt Moto Clean 900, a Swiss product on sale at Pure Triumph, Fort Lauderdale, and then I brush it to break the dirt build up. Then more water, on low pressure of course, and things are starting to sparkle with about 6 minutes of moderate elbow grease. 
Then I take a cloth and mop up some of the water. On the Bonneville it tends to puddle at the base of the cylinders front and back. I use a microfiber cloth not only because it absorbs a ton of water but also because it doesn't scratch. I am also in the habit of running the cloths through the laundry from time to time to keep them clean and grit free. So far this operation has cost me ten minutes approximately. I like to run the engine for a few minutes to dry off the droplets that are left, sparkling in the sunlight, so I'll take advantage of this pause to show a gratuitous picture of my motorcycle, looking good at the submarine/housing pens. 
Then I use the can of Anti Rust pictured and I spray it on the chrome, the engine covers, on the carburettors, on the cylinders, around the headlamp and instruments and on the handlebar controls. And that's another three minutes.
Then I put everything back in the crate, put the crate in the shed and go upstairs to read the paper and drink a pot of tea on the porch while enjoying that virtuous feeling that comes from having a clean ride. Naturally this operation is easy to do with an average ambient temperature hovering around 80 degrees with the sunlight dappling the palm leaves. As if that weren't enough my Parabellum 20 inch windshield needs cleaning from time to time and I like this Teflon based cleaner. Its does a nice job of cleaning the plastic and unlike Plexus, another product I've used, All Kleer does an excellent job of keeping the surface slippery enough to allow raindrops and even dust particles to blow off.
Just rub it in with one microfiber cloth.
And dry it with a fresh cloth and the shield comes up beautifully shiny. I also use this product on all painted surfaces, fork legs, side covers, fuel tank, fenders, lamp lenses and I find it excellent in all respects. I also use it to buff my helmet visor and it does a nice job there too. 
My fabric Triumph bags ($250) come with built in plastic rain covers but I like to spray fabric bags with water repellent silicone because they get rained on unexpectedly from time to time. It's worked well so far, as I sprayed them when new and they've been through some weather (rain, people, NOT snow!) and the contents remain dry. 
I'm also reading about a lot of frustrated riders Up North who can't get out the front door for snow sleet and ice. Naturally I don't have that problem but this stuff sits on the shelf in my shed for my other engines. I use it in my gasoline generator that waits for the next "weather event" to knock out electricity. I also put Stabil in my boat's outboard when its on the trailer during the colder winter months. To leave an engine sitting without this in the tank is plain nuts. The recommendation is to add Stabil to the fuel and run the engine long enough to get the stuff into the carburettors or fuel injection as well. It just takes a few ounces to stabilize fuel for months.
And finally for those of us in the chain gang there is the final drive mechanism. I swore I would never get caught up in this nightmare again, but the Bonneville was just too sweet to pass up. Besides there is a belt drive manufacturer in Pennsylvania that sells $1000 belt conversions for Triumphs. When my chain wears out I'm getting one. Until then:
I use a specialised brush to wipe the links with good old fashioned kerosene. It smells like shit but the links come up clean after I give them a nice rag wipe. Plus I pull off the front sprocket cover and swoosh kerosene around there, then I check the tension (my Bonneville has the optional $250 center stand, thank you) and then I squeeze my Loobman chain oiler and off I go:
With apologies to Scooter in the Sticks because riding really is what it's all about. The rest is just dealing with crap.
