Jetwashing a bike

QM · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 May 2011 Karma :

I have had my GF's mother mother comment on the state of my bike and yes it could do with a clean but I cannot be bothered to do it by hand so I was wondering if it would be okay to use the jet wash at my local garage instead?
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05 Honda CG125 now 03 Honda CB600F Hornet

Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

It should be okay around the engine, but I would avoid the wheels, because it can stuff up the wheel bearings. In which case, you may as well get the bucket and sponge out at home... Thumbs Up

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bombom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 22 May 2011 Karma :

id keep it away from the top of the engine tho where the spark plugs are because you aint getting it running again for a while if they get soaked

Sham · Trackday Trickster Joined: 28 Mar 2011 Karma :

They are ok as long as you keep the nozzle a good distance off and not get tempted to 'go close' for that stubborn mark. Some of these washers have very powerful nozzle pressures that make short work of paint finishes, coatings and the like. As stated, keep away from sealed bearings and such.

Personally I don't like them, preferring a bucket of water and a sponge.

If your bikes that bad, be careful about blasting too much grime away - it could be keeping together. Wink

QM · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 May 2011 Karma :

Its just a lot of road grime particularly on the wheels which is one place I hate cleaning as they are wire spoked and take an age to do.
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05 Honda CG125 now 03 Honda CB600F Hornet

Sham · Trackday Trickster Joined: 28 Mar 2011 Karma :

tommybhoy · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

You Could try these guys

https://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/index.html
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Current bike..Honda VFR 800 Vtec
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Berk · Scooby Slapper Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Karma :

My step-father jet washes his scrambler regularly, normally to get all the crud off from his last weekends racing. No idea if he misses any areas though, but the wheel bearings sound like a good thing to avoid.
It also means we have the mud of half of Europe around our driveway..

kawakid · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

You should look after your bike, my z750 gets washed after every ride, it only takes 10 mins and the bike looks perfect even after 4 years.

With my er6 I am a little lazy and wash it once a week, but i do use a pressure washer, the trick is not to get too close. What I do is I give it a good hosing down then about 10 mins with car shampoo and very hot water to remove any grime, then pressure washer again to clear off suds.
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DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

Washing bikes is for the gheys.

Leave it dirty, it'll be filthy within a day or two anyway.

MinhDinh · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Karma :

I have jet washed my bike once and I kept well away from the wheels. Pain in the arse to clean the wheels but the only way is getting stuck in with some type of solution for the gease...

The jet wash is good to get rid of the muck after you brush it, but there's no substitute for hard work!
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Hit the G spot. Wink

Slacker24seve... · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2010 Karma :

Protip: Avoid old shitty paint on fork legs. The silver paint on my Hornet's forks went from 'lightly pitted' to crap in 0.5 seconds.

If the bike is looking really crap I'll spray the engine/downpipes with Gunk, leave for a few minutes while I have a fag and a coffee then blast off with the power hose. Good old fashioned elbow grease for the rest though Thumbs Up

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Stowelly · Traffic Copper Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Karma :

did my gsxr on one of those car jetwashes the other day, it didnt get any of the oil off the bike, my white wheels where still black, but my clocks where nice and visible again! also must have got water in the airbox or carb as it ran like shit trying to get it home afterwards. will stick to sponge and the hose pipe next time!

robbieguy2003 · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Karma :

As others have said, use it but keep it at a reasonable distance. Mostly around 1.5ft for me. I bought a cheaper pressure washer in the hope that it wouldnt be as powerful, i think at max it's 100bar, still a lot, but lower than quite a few of them.

I find it's worthwhile for a general clean, it's great for getting crud from the back of the swingarm (near where the tyre is).

As others have said, keep it away from bearings and you'll prob be fine. I seen Honda using it on their crossers at Silverstone at this years GP. They cleaned them all up not long after the event.

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

Nothing wrong with jet washing a bike. Just keep the hose a good distance away to reduce the pressure.
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wiznyme · Derestricted Danger Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Karma :

bunglebubs · Spanner Monkey Joined: 17 Jun 2011 Karma :

I jet wash both of mine regularly never had a problem with either of them. But it doesn't get rid of really stuborn marks and the wheels sometimes need a bit of extra cleaning after.
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adamck · Crazy Courier Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Karma :

i snow foam my bike Razz

Example pic (not a pic of my bike)
https://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/blakeatron/27thJune049.jpg

then i hand clean it Smile

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