The season is now seriously over. So we give our classics their winter hibernation in a nice winter storage. They appreciate that because in their youth they often had to hit the road around the seasons. Cleaning was done with the garden hose or bucket and sponge. Because brushing from October? There was nothing you could do about that, right?
Now we do it differently
Our two - or let it be three - wheelers go cleaned and dried under flannel cloths. But that cleaning is a thing. Some people can ride a spotless motorcycle all season long. For others, pollution strikes mercilessly. With those 'clean' riders there is often more loving cleaning work on their steed than you realize. And then there are the precisions and… The professional cleaners. The passionate, obsessed cleaners. For whom brushing is more important than driving. Those kinds of things do exist! We also know someone who was forced to go on vacation by his family. After a week he couldn't stand it anymore in Italy. He had to go back home. He wanted to tectyl again.
I never thought of that because until two years ago I rode motorcycles all year round.
On a bike that was a classic. Then I got the idea that my old trusty transport deserved more than a bucket of water. That was the moment I met Adrie te Velthuis from around here at a local dealer. He's on FB near you. After seeing Adrie's work, I understood why used cars look so perfect in the showroom. And I understood that Adrie's MZ had brought in the top prize. Still dizzy from the result of Serious Poetswerk, I accidentally ended up in Dordrecht. There Bas Genesse is a professional captain of serious tugboats. That profession means that he regularly spends time in distant countries on distant seas. It also means that he is home for a while between chores. And then he 'cleans motorcycles'. Out of passion. He apparently uses American top products for this and is also as serious in his cleaning work as you can expect from a captain. In anticipation of the crowds after his retirement, he already has a hall next to BNM motorbikes. So in Dordrecht.
It is clear that this approach involves more than a garden hose with ambitions and a sponge. Cleaning a serious Harley perfectly takes just three days of work for Bas. That includes the disassembly and assembly of all kinds of things and a diagnosis of the state of affairs found, so that the owner can also pay technical attention to his shiny pride.
Adrie mainly works for a few local dealers
Bas Genesse – with whom we came into contact about a set of images of passenger and cargo ships from our Indies colonial times – is quietly converting his cleaning empire for private individuals to be pleasantly busy after his retirement. But there are – as our Flemish readers say – 'certainly' more specialists who can offer this cosmetic service.
In mutual consultation it was decided with a sigh that there is little real honor to be gained from my ex-drivers. But then you are talking about what we now call 'classics with patina'. Or, as the cleaners we spoke to sighed: That may be clean, but it will never be okay again. I think of the three days of cleaning work for a fat tour twin. And get another bucket and sponge for my patina Guzzi.
Other professional cleaners may also report. From what we have seen, such a cosmetic treatment can do just as much for your classic car than a facelift did for Patricia Paaij. The pictures are with the GT750 at Bas. Which really doesn't just do Harleys. As a substitute for the future, he is already on FB as BGMOTORPOETSEN DORDRECHT.
Indeed very beautiful and I thought I was a pietje, but everyone likes his cleaning work the best, but here and there I have already seen some forgotten things, for example, at that water organ there are some small winged oncoming traffic at the front of the radio, But a pietje exactly who falls on that, wouldn't dare to drive a kilometer with it, I would break out in a sweat when I'm standing at a traffic light, I would constantly look back and also look down when driving away to see if no blue smoke overtakes me..
Before I retired, I always went to work on my motorcycle in summer and winter. Once the garden hose over it to rinse off the salt and then it could be done for a few days. Now that I have so much time that I wonder how I used to have time to go to work, those winter rides are no longer necessary. I still say: ”chrome won't bring you home”. I think the inside is much more important than the outside. And if the outside tap was frozen shut, it could happen that a brown haze came over my chrome. And that meant extra good brushing in the spring. Now when I see a motorcycle, I always look to see if it's a drive-through. Because even if you brush extra well. You will always see it.
The devil is in the details
It may be an optical illusion, but it seems that the Kreidler Florett in this story consists of red and orange parts. If so, it will be difficult to join a Kreidler group on Facebook. You have a red, a green and an orange Kreidler group there 😉
If the administrator has his screen settings correct, there won't be a war, will there?
What a lot of patience!!
Don't forget to throw ethomix or something in the tank and it will start up again in the spring 🙂
a good moped always starts, at least my dappie does, put it away in the winter with a full tank to prevent rusting
There is a cool world between showroom blank and polished with weapon oil, which gives a nice matte shine. For me it also has to do with the year of construction and/or the type of vehicle (workhorse, chrome monster or Italian diva from the 60's). But neglect is always disgusting to me.
Tastes do differ...
Thom
Very nice..
I unfortunately have to confess that I belong to the other end of the spectrum; my army green side valves are only beautiful when they are a bit muddy dirty…
A bit oily, and only if you've peed on the block once, so to speak..
Nevertheless, I can imagine someone can enjoy shiny chrome and spotless sheet metal.
We understand each other and respect other people's M / V etc vision! Born 2B mild!