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review
Cleaning products
Red Ant Titanium Bicycle Frame CleanerRed Ant Titanium Bicycle Frame Cleaner

Red Ant Titanium Bicycle Frame Cleaner

6
by oddbydefault
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Sep 17, 2014

2
£9.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Effective material-specific cleaner to shift crud from titanium bikes, but do you really need it?
Weight: 
592g
Contact: 
www.i-ride.co.uk
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Red Ant have got to work in the chemical laboratory to concoct some secret cleaning formulas optimised for specific frame finishes and materials. This formula is for titanium, and is touted as a fast, effective and safe all over titanium bike cleaner, which includes cleaning chains, plastic, rubber, and wheels, as well as the frame itself. It's good to see that the ingredients are labelled as bio-degradable, and the formula is PH neutral.

Red Ant are obviously aiming this at a certain 'specialist' market. Titanium bicycles are high-end anyway, and the bottle itself pretty much pushes the titanium-specific cleaner into the luxury category: the brushed aluminium spray bottle only holds 500ml. Applying fairly liberally, I used about 100ml per bike, so it's hardly good value, and sadly nonrefillable at present.

It does perform well though. Leaving on my road-weary bike for the maximum recommended time of three to five minutes left me particularly impressed with the rim cleaning: ironically an aluminium surface. Brake dust melted off with little more than a wipe over. General oiliness and grime also came off the drive train easily, though some decent agitation with a toothbrush is still required on chains.

The cleaner did a fine job on the frame as well. Sloshing about with a warm sponge was enough to remove any dried-on debris. A problem quite specific to raw, relatively shiny titanium frames is fingerprints and other residues having a dulling effect on the metal. Applying the cleaner to a satin-brushed frame, I was impressed with the no-streak finish: the dulling marks are difficult to detect in the cleaning process, but if not thoroughly cleansed off, will reappear on drying, often leading to water marks. The Red Ant cleaner disintegrated all traces of these, returning the frame to its raw lustre.

Although the cleaner does work very well, high quality alternatives can do the job at half the cost per millilitre, and are available in more convenient and economical larger volumes. That being said, anyone even looking to buy a Titanium-specific cleaner is probably willing to pay a premium, and the bottle does look nice in the workshop.

Verdict

Effective material-specific cleaner to shift crud from titanium bikes, but do you really need it?

road.cc test report

Make and model: Red Ant Titanium Bicycle Frame Cleaner

Size tested: 500ml

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

RED ANT Bike Cleaners didn't want just another bicycle cleaner, they wanted to offer a straight forward simple range of professional strength cleaning and maintenance products for you the rider - a range that actually cleans, shines and protects.

REDANT Precision understand the needs of those who love their bikes as much as they do. They believe that two wheels should be loved, enjoyed and looked after. REDANT Precision have designed and created a unique range of specialist cleaning and protection products for todays performance road bikes. Whether you have a carbon fibre, matt or titanium frame their range of advanced cleaning systems are uniquely formulated to address todays maintenance needs for specialist frames and components.

REDANT Precision - for when precision cleaning really matters.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Specially designed fast, effective and safe all over titanium bike cleaner

- Unique PH Neutral formulation safely cuts through road grime, dirt deposits and oily grime

- Safe and effective dirt release and degreasing technology

- New bio-degradable cleaning technology

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The fragrance is reminiscent of high-end vaguely floral laundry detergent.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Without context, it works really well.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

My dosage would work out at £2 per clean.

Most brands on the market offer 1lr bottles (double volume) for easily less than £10, and concentrated citrus degreasers can be picked up for much much less.

Unlike some cleaners on the market, you can't even refill the Red Ant bottle, which would cut down the cost of the product itself, as well as saving (expensive) Aluminium packaging.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Efficient, non-streaky cleaning.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

If this is really necessary specifically for a titanium frame is a moot point.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Probably not.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 5ft7  Weight:

I usually ride: Sabbath September  My best bike is: Van Nicholas Mistral for summer

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, audax

 

Red Ant Titanium Bicycle Frame Cleaner
Red Ant

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2 comments

Avatar
therevokid | 10 years ago
0 likes

I had it on good authority (one Mr d mason !!!!)
that baby oil was the thing ... works a treat and
is diet cheap.

Avatar
amazon22 | 10 years ago
0 likes

I use GT85 to clean my titanium frame and (aluminium) rims and spokes, having first quickly washed the bike down with cold water. A £2.99 tin lasts at least a year. Van Nicholas suggested WD40 as a day to day cleaner (I prefer GT85 which is thinner and smells nicer) and baby oil for a really nice finish. £10 for 5 washes? I don't think so.

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