Jet washing the bike?

[Street Fighter]

Just wondered what the general feeling was in relation to taking a jet wash to the bike to get rid of the winter crud??? Have never done it with any of my previous bikes for fear of causing electrical problems or forcing water where it's not mean't to go!
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03 Triumph Speed Four

[Pete.]

Don't jetwash the switchgear, the wheel hubs or the radiator.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Gazdaman]

There's always someone who'll tell you it blasts the grease out of bearings.

Tbh, as long as you're sensible it's fine. I did mine last week. As said, keep away from blasting sensative areas like rads and oil coolers and the electrics.

It's fine for the other stuff.

Just use your common sense.

Gaz

[Sparks!]

I pressure wash all my bikes and have never had a problem.. I pressure wash the off roader once/twice a week usually and still no problems.. just use some common sense, don't blast bearing areas etc.. but to be honest you won't do too much damage.. just be careful of stickers and graphics as a pressure washer can rip them off.. (usually aftermarket bike-mag-freebie type stickers that go flying )
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Visitor Q]

Lol. General consensus is dont.

My mate destroyed plenty of chains before i pointed it out to him that jetwashs kill chains.

Worth it on motocross bikes perhaps where the plastic is designed to flex and such.

But as said, not radiator, chain, anything obviously electrical or mechanical.

I mean use your loaf. But i personally dislike using a hose on most bits of the bike when its set onto semi powerful encase i force water in anywhere or break stuff.

Your bike, your choice.
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[doggone]

I think on balance its better than the alternatives - piddly hose or bucket of soapy water?
You never get into the corners where corrosion starts.

Just don't get too close - as mentioned it can take off transfers or even paint.

[Finglonga]

Always have jetwashed my bikes and had no problems. As said if you use common sense you will have no problems at all, If you have no common sense you will get problems...Simple as.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[stinkwheel]

I have also jetwashed bikes many times with no problems.

I deliberately do the radiator to make sure I get all the bugs out.

These days I mostly don't wash them at all though.

Drum brakes don't work when they're wet by the way.

[Rhino]

I've yet to find a jet wash that will clean the bike, let alone damage it.

[Keen]

Since I live in an apartment and have no yard/garage, I generally scrub my bike down in the street with a bucket and sponge to loosen the dirt and get the thick off, then I ride to a local jet wash place and give it a good rinse. It hasn't caused me any problems so far, but as others have said I'm careful not to get too close and the one I use isn't all that powerful.
Only had problems once and that was last week, some water must of gotten into the rear light because it was flickering on and off on the way home, but it was fine once it dried out. So just be careful which bits you spray
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson

[Finglonga]

[Feasty]

I always pressure wash my bike, the pressure washer box even had a pic of a bike on it! But then it won't be as powerful as the garage forecourt jet washers.
My old Yam SR125 wouldn't start for a while whenever I washed it and the neutral light would show of its own accord! When you tried to start the bike it would suddenly realise it wasn't turned on and the light would go of for 5-10mins before coming back on again. Once the bike dried all was well again though...
My XR125 is okay though, no problems pressure washing that. Well, only that the chain will rust within 12 hours of being washed if it's not relubbed. And the rear brake drum was a little sticky the day after being washed, all fine again now though!

[Keen]

[Jai466]

Just been cleaning my chain and when ever I move the chain it for brings the muck back. Near the small sprocket(gears) there is a trail of dirt that I can see but differcult to get to... would guys thing its safe to jet wash in there?

[Pete.]

You could jetwash it all day and you wouldn't get all the chain crud out. Best thing to do is remove the sprocket-cover and scrape out the crap then clean with gunk and a cut-down paintbrush.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Wise1]

I had one problem where the bike would not start after jet washing, just turned out to be water in the kill switch, a couple of flicks later and off it went.
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