First of all this is about motorbike clean service, I don’t know what other services looks like I’m just presenting my experience regarding motorbike wash service.
Place: Lellers hand car wash
Price: £5
Time: 7 min
Quality: unacceptable
Place looks professional so after morning shower and quiet few stains in mostly lower part of the bike I have decided to give it a go. First clue shall be lack of other customers but well is not always when the carwash is busy, it’s a small City. Guy politely asked me what the type of shampoo I’m using and who is doing cleaning, I said I am. Then he asked, am I doing well cleaning of my bike, now I know that even drunk in middle of the night I would be better in that. But as I use to say, I’m Polish,we know how to clean.
Quick shampoo on then high pressure water then quick swipe and then rinsing (same high pressure), quick dry and he said done… As you know I’m polite person I have paid and I left.
When I got to my garage I had to finish drying and cleaning bike (which took like twice much more time than his)and now it is clean, or cleaner then after the service.
Couple points if they would like to improve their service:
Lower pressure- Pay more attention to clean wheels- Pay loot more attention to clean engine (some may be hot but my was not, especially after all this water at the beginning)- Dry the bike correctly (take as much time it take to dry the seat, probably 1 min)- Pay more attention to details as on the bike is easy to spot every flawProbably instead of 7 min it would took 10 min and I would return every time I catch shower on the way to work, at the moment I’m convinced that they have no clue what they are doing so be aware of that if you want to use that service.
I wonder how it goes when bike is really filthy.
From my “pocket” perspective, £2.20on Esso or Total petrol station for JetWash, foam and rinse will do much better clean (without even touching bike with sponge), takes the same amount of time and save you few quid and huge disappointment.
I use a place near me (and therefore not far from where you work Robert). It’s in the graffiti tunnel in Waterloo (on the South Side of Westminster Bridge by the Westminster Plaza) - well sign posted. They don’t specialise in motorbikes, but they are very accommodating. I get them to use their lowest pressure washer (the yellow Karcher), and to stand well back (especially from the brakes, radiator etc). They are extraordinarily thorough with the shampooing ( I now take my own as I’ve had it ACF 50’d and need to use an organic cleaner). They spend a long time chammying it to get it completely dry.
Cost £5 (I always give a pound tip)
Time: 15 - 20 mins (often with 2 or 3 people working on it!)
Tea/ Coffee while you wait!
The owner has places all over London and I had thought about trying to encourage him to market to bikers and that I would help promote it, but I know many people are wary of pressure washers, so didn’t think it was worth the grief that I would undoubtedly get. Would prefer to wash my own bike, but have no access to water or electricity in the car park of my building.
Only downside is they can get very busy at times (Sunday at about 8am is not a good idea), late night is a great time (they are 24 hour). They seem to have the contract for Addison Lee. The guys in there have got to know me and know how fussy I am, so if you give it a go, they should seem pretty knowledgeable about the do’s and don’ts. But take responsibility for reminding them to use the low pressure washer and standing well back in case you get a new guy.
You guys keeps paying £5 for people to scratch and swirl your paint you’ll have a heart attack if you ever went to see a detailer and have your bikes looked after properly
You could be right, but you’d need an electron microscope to see them. I’m very happy with the service I get, but I do understand I’m taking a risk. I’ve had him cleaned about 20 times and no issues yet.
Shiver is the best person I have ever met in my whole life at cleaning bikes. When I lent him Strips (my old bike) several times - it came back looking like it was brand new and he had cleaned it with a toothbrush. I am thinking of lending him my new bike now
