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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: APRIL 26th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
CRANKALICIOUS MAYO JAUNE INTENSIVE FRAME CLEANER
250ml £8.00
Crankalicious Mayo Jaune Intensive Frame Polish, is essentially a cutting compound, designed to remove small (dare I say, annoying) marks and scratches from all frame types. It does, exactly what it says on the bottle, and to a very satisfying standard.
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Aside from paintwork, it also works very convincingly on lightly dulled/tarnished aluminium alloy, stainless and plated surfaces. However, you’ll be wanting their metal polish if the salt monster has bitten these.
Before you click away to order some, all frame types, means materials, not strictly finishes. Keep Mayo Jaune away from matt colours and brushed surfaces. Otherwise you’ll get glossy patches, which isn’t cool.
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Pros: Gentle, though effective generic polish.
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Cons: Not obviously superior to some automotive favourites on more traditional finishes.
Science Bit
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Someone suggested that Mayo Jaune was simply a rebranded automotive favourite, presumably on the basis, both are yellow. Having said staple, on my garage shelves, I can confirm this isn’t so.
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While Crankalicious wouldn’t tell me anything significant, about Mayo Jaune’s chemical composition, they reiterated that all, raw chemicals are bought in and blended, in house. Not delivered via the tanker load, then pumped into a massive vat.
This ensures they have complete control over quality and purpose. Anecdotally, both products also smell very different. Oh, and, since we’re on the subject, once opened, the mayo jaune has a useful life of 24months.
Wax, polish, what’s the difference?
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Ok, waxes are designed to protect and nourish a surface, locking out UV light, rain, salt, tree sap and similar nasties. Their super glossy sheen also ensures painted, plated and polished surfaces look good but also easier to clean. Longevity depends on factors, including quality and environment. Typically ranging between several weeks, to months.
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Yes, these paste-types can also remove very minor swirls/abrasions. Some of the more sophisticated “colour magic” polymer blends, will mask a multitude of sins, very effectively.
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A polish is better thought of as a chemical abrasive that burrows into and ultimately, removes tiny microns of the host surface, a bit like an exfoliator on faded/oxidised paintwork. Afterwards, treat frames to a decent wax, to nourish and protect them.
Application
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Before you pop the spout and get beavering away, Crankalicious warns Mayo Jaune is not suitable for raw/exposed carbon fibre, matt/brushed finishes. They also suggest testing on an inconspicuous area first, and being cautious around decals.
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To be honest, this should only prove a consideration, if they’re not sealed beneath a lacquer top coat.
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So then, having checked everything’s compatible, give the bottle a quick shake. Pop the spout and pour a small amount into a soft clean cloth and work it, into the affected area. Continue to apply, in small amounts, until the blemishes/scratches have gone.
Once it’s hazed slightly, buff to a sheen and assuming you’re satisfied with the effect, add some wax. Furniture polish makes a decent substitute, though you will need to reapply, more frequently.
Case Studies
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Now, I’m known (and periodically teased) for being very fussy, when it comes to my fleet and hard-paste waxing them with religious fervour. However, no matter how careful, working bikes will always sport some battle scars. My Univega was refinished eighteen months ago and still looks fantastic. However, we opted for a thicker colour coat, which precluded a clear lacquer.
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During the rebuild, I’d forgotten to install rubber cable doughnuts. So as the mucky, mixed terrain miles racked up, some minor blemishes became apparent around the top tube. The forks had been repainted, satin black some four years previously. These too, are in excellent condition but also showing some inevitable swirling/similar signs of service.
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My working fixed, though generally pristine, had a little surface fur on the polished aluminium alloy fork ends. Even my beloved, early 90’s road bike had the occasional speck in its bright work. Most notably, the front and rear mechs, which were new old stock from 1982.
Performance
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Overall performance has met my expectations, across the board. Compared with old fashioned automotive products, it’s slower, dare I say, less aggressive. This is no bad thing. Superficial marks in my Univega’s powder coated frameset disappeared within a couple of minutes and four pea-sized amounts of Mayo Jaune.
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Leaving the Mayo Jaune to haze and dry, as you might with traditional cutting compounds, neither accelerated, or otherwise improved polishing prowess. It simply demanded more time and energy to dismiss.
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Results on two-pack paints, were similarly impressive, blending in some unsightly scuff marks to the point, they were virtually invisible.
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Demanding more elbow grease than traditional, car-biased formulas, light oxidisation and tarnish lifted very convincingly, from the fork ends and derailleurs. I even tested ours, on stainless steel watch bracelets and sterling silvery jewellery. Fine scratches and swirling pretty much eradicated, first time and with nominal effort.
T-Cut and similar compounds are more aggressive, so achieve faster results on faded paint and tarnished aluminium alloy. However, they can also remove more of their hosts, than is necessary. Some have stripped painted/branding from rear mechs, stems and crank arms.
Calling their bluff (So you don’t make a costly mistake) I treated my Univega’s titanium seatpost to some. It was sporting some finger marks and fine scratches, which disappeared with similar finesse.
Thankfully, a dedicated Ti cleaner restored the original sheen.
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Conclusion
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Mayo Jaune is a useful addition to the workshop and seems genuinely kind to all glossy and satin paints. Automotive cutting agents will do the trick, on more traditional, stove-enamelled steel framesets - if you had some kicking around.
However, the Mayo Jaune’s gentler, yet effective properties have the edge, for modern machines and materials.
Verdict: 3.5/5 Useful, paint biased polish that achieves pleasing results, on satin and glossy surfaces.
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Michael Stenning
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PUBLISHED JULY 2018
