This issue is a double edged sword. After shelling out mucho dinero (4-6K) I can see why we want them to look new forever and it also makes maintenance much easier. A little dirt around a spark plug hole and you are having your head machined for new threads cause they got stripped, etc. On the other hand get over it they are dirt bikes not chromed out triumphs. I'm a clean freak, perfectionist, organizer and my son's are the anti of this. Here's what I do to keep my bikes looking factory aftyer we thrash them at the mx: Hose down twice to realease mud, no pressure washers allowed. Spray the entire bike with a liquid tide mixture (this is about a cup to 3 gallons water in a pump-up sprayer). This stuff eats through the film and makes tire look new again. Then I was the bikes by hand with whatever dishsoap my wife has. I use goo-gone to get rid of spooge spots and other nasty oils. Wash these areas again. Then rinse, only dry the outside quickly with an old towel from one of the hotels I stayed in at various nationals. Then spray down chain and all exposed metal with WD-40. Done. If I get bored before a race or ride I spray all the plastic with lemon pledge (a major MC mechanic training center teaches this to remove oil stains, finger prints, etc.) and polish it up. A can will last for years, I do three bikes so I know. It also helps release mud and makes plastic look new (er), LOL. I wait unitl the plastic is about to fall off and then I buy new stuff, I only like factory symbols so I get what I can aftermarket and go to the dealer for the little oddball ones. I just put a new back fender on my son's 04 YZ250 and got the "YZ250" grapics from Yamaha (you can't tell it's not factory). Anyway, I spend minimal time, minimal money, and the bikes are clean, ready to work on between motos, and ready to rip when the call comes in. They all have battle scars and I'm ok with that. :ride: