Cleaning a motorcycle - Pressure washers?

[Bhaal85]

Are pressure washers OK for cleaning a motorcycle, or should I just use the normal sponge and bucket method, the reason I ask is that recenetly I bought a pressure washer for my car, and I was wondering if it would be OK for my NSR. Cheers people.

[badlydamaged]

Pressure washers are fine for bikes I think, Ive been using them for a while now to blast off caked on mud and oil off engine casings / wheels etc especially in winter! I havent had any problems down to using it yet (apart from the odd L plate blowing off) and it saves a lot of hassle. You may find you want to give it it a go over with a sponge and bucket on the fairings and lights etc because even though the pressure washer will blast the muck away you wont get the shine that you do from polishing and you may also end up muck blasted from other parts off your bike plastered all over your nice paint scheme if you pressure wash in the wrong order, although if you rinse it off properly you wont have any problems.

Id say go for it,cant think of an easier way to sort out the mud, road salt and other crap the underside of bikes get covered in.

Cheers, Jon
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[Mr Pants!]

I think it depends on what bike you have mate. Personally I would not use one on any of the bikes I have owned. Sponge only, a pressure wash is far to brutal! I also own a pressure wash...

Sponge, dry off then wax to death!
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Its better to burn out, than to fade away....

[bikegirl]

I only get the pressure washer out for serious grime (but try not to let it get that bad) and you need to be REALLY careful to keep away from electrics and the cables.

You'll need to go round regreasing everything too so make sure you've got a tub of, say, Castrol grease and some WD40 and chain lube/wax. You need to regrease the main pivots - swinging arm, etc. and the cables.

Oh, and remove your tax disc too or it'll get really soggy.

Best to avoid as a general rule.
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[MarJay]

you can use a pressure washer, but don't spray any bearings or electrics. I have had particular trouble with my wheel bearings after I pressure washed my bike.
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[DukeRed]

i pressured washed mine and it took all the paint and decals off one side, so good if you want to strip your bike cheaply.

Jan

Sponge if you just want a clean however.
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[mr.z]

don't think i'd bother myself...

Was seriously considering one, problems are...


They push grease out of bearings,
They push grit INTO bearings,
They can take paint off (as somebody on here found out)
Water at highpressure will make grit scratch paintwork.

You can regrease eveything after but theres not muchpoint, more effort than it would have been to wash manually in first place...

If youdo get one get the lowest pressure you can find, it will do less damage that way!
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

I use Jetwashes as last resorts, for when I seriously can't be arsed to clean the bike.

They aren't the best, they leave grease on the panels, while blasting any cracked paint right off the bike, wheels and brake calipers are particular victims. High pressure water can bend the delicate fins on radiators, attack wheel bearings, and blast electrical wiring connections apart.

They do a decent job of taking the crap off your bike, but IMO, they ain't worth it.
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[sv_cath]

just don't get any water in the carbs

*there speaks the voice of bitter experience!*

[priller]

I hate pressure washers, will only use them on off road bikes.

Some STUPID dealer tried to was mine with a pressure washer and damaged the stickers on the side pannel.

[Kris]

[Clanger]

Use on the bodywork and around the bottom, undertray etc. but then use a bucket & sponge & jesus spray to do you wheels...REASON, the jet spray of water can get into your wheel bearings and clean off the lubricant....
therefore drying them out...which in turn is VERY costly, in replacement, time and AA/RAC relay if they go when out on the bike
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[Kickstart]

Hi

I do use a pressure washer. Yes they can wreck wheel bearings, but they are cheap and easy to change should you fail to avoid those areas. Basically be careful and use it from a fair distance away.

All the best

Keith
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[Flip]

Bucket and sponge method, stop being so lazy

Washing the bike with a sponge and soapy water, getting the toothbrush on the hard to reach places is all part off being a biker. Spend ages cleaning mine (when I bother, usually every couple of weeks)