I use water from a garden hose and only wash what's dirty which usually isn't much....up under the fenders, chain, sprockets, lower parts of the bike. I keep my bikes in pristine condition and if you get water up inside the nether parts of the bike, you get water stains as a minimum. If I get some oil around such as on the wheels or lower fairing, I do use a microfiber cloth with some Royal Purple degreaser/cleaner first, but that's not good for the chain they say. You also need to dry and re-oil the chain. To assist in the drying process, I have a MetroVac which blows warm air and helps remove water from from the fasteners, chain, sprocket, and other places it hides. Then I ride the bike to dry it out some more, then let it set in the sun to dry some more before oiling the chain and polishing the bike with Plexus. I often use more cloth and even Q-tips to clean away water spots up inside the bike. My number one secret to cleaning a bike, is to not ride it in the rain or mud to begin with. I have got stuck in rain a few times and to be honest, it takes me an couple hours to get the bike clean and back the way I want it.