How to clean a Titanium bike (Litespeed)

A fellow viewer and Litespeed owner asked how I clean titanium bikes?

So this is what I do and it seems to work well on my bike and the bikes of my customers. Enjoy!

Any questions? Any requests? Just let me know!

[anthonyfurio]

I am awaiting delivery of my first Litespeed (T5), thanks for the tips!!

[grahamlofthouse]

What a great little Video Reginald. Probably the one video that solidified my thought processes towards a titanium frame. It certainly shaped my decision not to get a painted titanium frame. However I have today decided to try the red scotch-brite method to address some very minor scuffs (probably from my bike being permanently in the back of my Mazda. Worked as expected and really easy, but what I didn’t expect was the impact of the WD-40 wipe & buff up. Wow …it really makes it pop out! ..Thanks Reginald!

[SignorLuigi]

Hi Reginald, I know this is a old video, but I found it very helpful. Thank you. I own a LItespeed T5 and it might be of some use to share my experience with others who might come to this video in the future. I usually ride with a diluted Gatorade mixture in the two water bottles I have on my T5. Unbeknownst to me, the bottles leaked, and the leaked Gatorade fluid traveled along the downtube and collected on the bottom bracket. I didn't realize this was happening for months and because I ride on nice roads in dry conditions I never bothered to wash my bike. It looked clean to me. The other day, I took off my chain to rewax it and noticed an incredible buildup of dried Gatorade all over the bottom of my downtube below the water bottle holder and on the bottom bracket. I thought a simple soapy water solution would remove the nastiness, but I was very, very wrong. The Gatorade had morphed into an almost varnish like material that would not come off. Eventually I used a green (I know. I know. Ouch. I wish I had seen this video BEFORE I started to get the Gatorade off) Scotch Brite pad soaked in WD40 (WD 40 is a great solvent so I thought it would help dissolve the Gatorade buildup) and with an incredible amount of rubbing did manage to get the material off. Unfortunately, where the titanium had been covered with the Gatorade for months, it was discolored. It's like the Gatorade had etched the titanium! Gatorade does have citric acid in it and I wonder if that is what caused the discoloration. What I plan to do now is perform the procedure you showed in this video once receive the ultra fine maroon pads I just ordered. Hopefully, that will remove the "edching." My fingers are crossed so tight they are turning blue! I am hoping that this procedure is similar to what woodworkers do when sanding wood. They start with coarse sandpaper (green scotchbrite pad) and work their way done to finer and finer grits (purple pad) until they end up with a lovely finish. I'll try to remember to come back and update this comment on the results. Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to post this video. Cheers from the USA.

[peterwinkler]

Reginald, aloha from Hawaii! I ride a 2001 Litespeed Siena frame (with all new components and wheels). It's the best frame I've ever had (and lasted the longest). Your video is exactly what I was looking for. I ordered a Scotchbrite #7447 red pad (they have none that I could find on my island), and I have WD-40. I took the old decals off and may keep them off. It will look so nice when I'm finished! Thank you for your information. I think titanium is the best material for bikes.

[Rekmeyata]

Your method is what I've been doing since I bought my Lynskey back in 2013, and it works great, it was the method that Adrenalin Bikes, where I got my Lynskey, recommended. The only different thing that I do is that I've only tried the red scouring pad once, and even then I probably didn't have to use it, all the other times I just polish it with WD40 about 2 to 3 times a year. The only time I will now use the red scouring pad is if a scratch gets on the metal, or a shiny spot, otherwise I don't see the point of using it. A lot less work to care for then a painted bike.

[EarthSurferUSA]

WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement" as a light lubricant, (great for getting water out of dirt bike chains, for example, after power washing them, before putting the chain lube on.), and the 40 is the 40th formula developed finally for sale. After the scotch bright, try Lemon Pledge. Does not collect dirt, and keeps finger prints off for a long time, with a great finish.

[BenGoldNYC]

Just did the WD-40 thing on my Lynskey bike and I was amazed at how well it worked. I tried acetone, alcohol, bike cleaners, stainless steel cleaner, and none of them worked as well as WD-40.

[skinthekat]

I use a little simple green on the frame & wheels. I remove the chain to degrease. I love my T6 with SRAM Force 1x11.

[MS]

Thank you, valuable info. Now to get to work on my litespeed.

[yossyadrianto]

Thank you for the info, can’t wait to try it into my T2….best regards from Indonesia…🙏🏼

[Zozzle]

On my two Ti bikes, over the past 23 years, all I have ever used for cleaning the frames is WD40. If you look up the MSDS sheet, WD40 is basically oil and paint thinner - (which is mineral spirits).

[shekofriends]

Good as new. Thanks for sharing. Works fine on my Ghisallo.

[silentscientist]

Hi Ali, you dont remmember me but i went to your shop before covid spreaded
Love from malaysia ❤️note : i went with Zainidi at Brunei

[wynmarkalcaraz]

Nice. Thank you for the information sir👍. I'll do it on my Ti bike.

[DaveNicoll-pl]

Pledge furniture polish also works a treat.

[AOL]

I just got a Lynskey Helix Disc Road and saw that they recommended Lemon Pledge furniture polish? On my old DEAN titanium I used Simichrome polish, made by Happich in Germany. Many motorcyclists use this stuff for different types of metal.

[CuriousMind_LVG]

Love your videos. I am patiently awaiting my Watia that I ordered the day they were released. I don’t understand why Litespeed doesn’t get more press. Moots and some of the other so-called boutique Ti brands seem to be the darlings of the bicycle press. I am fortunate enough to have a 1992 Kona Hei Hei Ti that I use as a monster all-road bike now with Rene Herse tyres so I know I can expect some magic from my new bike. Cheers!

[montanajones]

Great video. I've had a couple of dropped chain incidents & now I know how to get rid of those scratches. Question: I have a carbon seatpost & I've found that with washing the bike & probably most likely from road spray as I've been caught a few times in heavy downpour that the seatpost doesn't slide in as easily when it was new. What can I do to remedy this? The seatpost has always been inserted raw with no friction paste & slippage has never been an issue. I pulled the seatpost out after those rainy rides & wiped everything down but when I re-installed the post, I found that it no longer went in smoothly.

[techstryker]

Wish you best luck ❤ Bangladesh brother

[TarmanTheChampion]

Ive noticed my lite speeds finish is like a dull almost stone wash like finish. Will this make it shiny or keep the finish looking matte like it is?