Washing your Bike

JThompson · 09-05-2006, 09:24 AM

Washing your bike

Get yourself an exhaust plug and plug the end of your bike muffler, if you're on a super tight budget then I've seen guys use wine bottle corks but you'll look like a tool so just buy a plug, they're pretty cheap.

Give the bike a good spray with a quality detergent. Leave the detergent to soak in for a bit and then fire up the pressure washer. If you don't have a pressure washer you can buy a nozzle that attachs to the end of your hose which can greatly increase your water pressure.

While you're washing the bike be careful not to spray water directly into bearings and electrical components. Turn your fuel tap off and lay the bike over so you can give it a good wash underneath.

If you've been riding in muddy conditions it's a good idea to clean between your fork dust seals and the fork seals themselves. Get a small screwdriver and prise the dust seals away from the fork seals. Clean out any mud and dirt with a GENTLE spray of water.

Give your chain a spray with dewatering fluid and then lube it well. Also spray dewatering fluid on any exposed metal parts where the paint has worn off and also spray the exhaust system, spoke nipples, shocker shaft and fork legs etc.

If you're super keen, you can use a silicone based spray to wipe over your plastics to make them nice and shiny.
Regularly washing your bike will not only keep it looking good and also makes any faults or maintenance problems easier to spot.

sparta4188 · 11-21-2006, 04:09 PM

yeah once i got alot of water in my exhaust and it sucked ass trying to start it. fliped it upsidedown and water was in the air intake box and ehaust

tigmaster · 11-21-2006, 11:18 PM

usually i just stuff a rag in the pipe or if u wanna be fancy u can buy an actual plug

mx4fun · 12-09-2006, 09:59 AM

I'm all for washing your bike. The only thing is, DON'T was your bike everyday. Most people dont ride everyday, so this shouldn't be a problem. The reason too not wash it everyday is due to people forcing the water into sealed off areas and barrings. Rusty bearing== not too good, lol.

tigmaster · 12-09-2006, 11:39 PM

This brings up good things to talk about. First off if you pressure wash your bike, try not to spray directly at wheel or steering neck bearings or any other bearings. Also if you do wash your bike often then repack these bearings. Also as a general rule you should use something to drive the water out of these places such as WD-40 or the prefered 6 in 1. Also if you ride a four stroke and as all four stroke dirt bikes do, have overhead cams then try not to spray directly at your sparkplug wire. The plug wire does form a decent seal on the head but not enough to keep out 1600 psi.

superman_mx555 · 12-28-2006, 07:31 PM

You forgot one critical, impotant thing. Change your air filter after every wash. Nobody wants a siezed bike, also many riders, at races wash there bike then go out for the next moto. Like unless you want to become a "P.U.D" you better change your filter. All the factory guys do it and everyone fast does it so get ur done!!

tigmaster · 12-28-2006, 07:51 PM

So are you telling us to clean our filter after every wash or replace it with a new one? If you r sayin to replace it after every was we would all be out a lot of cash. I definately wash my filter every time

09-05-2006, 09:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
JThompson Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,917 iTrader: (6)	Washing your Bike Washing your bike Get yourself an exhaust plug and plug the end of your bike muffler, if you're on a super tight budget then I've seen guys use wine bottle corks but you'll look like a tool so just buy a plug, they're pretty cheap. Give the bike a good spray with a quality detergent. Leave the detergent to soak in for a bit and then fire up the pressure washer. If you don't have a pressure washer you can buy a nozzle that attachs to the end of your hose which can greatly increase your water pressure. While you're washing the bike be careful not to spray water directly into bearings and electrical components. Turn your fuel tap off and lay the bike over so you can give it a good wash underneath. If you've been riding in muddy conditions it's a good idea to clean between your fork dust seals and the fork seals themselves. Get a small screwdriver and prise the dust seals away from the fork seals. Clean out any mud and dirt with a GENTLE spray of water. Give your chain a spray with dewatering fluid and then lube it well. Also spray dewatering fluid on any exposed metal parts where the paint has worn off and also spray the exhaust system, spoke nipples, shocker shaft and fork legs etc. If you're super keen, you can use a silicone based spray to wipe over your plastics to make them nice and shiny. Regularly washing your bike will not only keep it looking good and also makes any faults or maintenance problems easier to spot. __________________ Tired of ads? Become a member for an almost ad free site! Also we give away monthly prizes just for posting! Register today! Looking for places to ride! Want to review a riding area? Check them out! PRE-ORDER MOTOTIPS Stickers now. Help keep mototips running! Get your order in today! Buy NOW! Special Discounts for members only! Check out our new discount forum for retailers offering to help you save money! Mototips Discounts Last edited by JThompson; 09-05-2006 at 09:29 AM.

11-21-2006, 11:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,526 iTrader: (1)	That Sucks usually i just stuff a rag in the pipe or if u wanna be fancy u can buy an actual plug __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

12-09-2006, 11:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,526 iTrader: (1)	True This brings up good things to talk about. First off if you pressure wash your bike, try not to spray directly at wheel or steering neck bearings or any other bearings. Also if you do wash your bike often then repack these bearings. Also as a general rule you should use something to drive the water out of these places such as WD-40 or the prefered 6 in 1. Also if you ride a four stroke and as all four stroke dirt bikes do, have overhead cams then try not to spray directly at your sparkplug wire. The plug wire does form a decent seal on the head but not enough to keep out 1600 psi. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

12-28-2006, 07:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
superman_mx555 C Rider Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Filter You forgot one critical, impotant thing. Change your air filter after every wash. Nobody wants a siezed bike, also many riders, at races wash there bike then go out for the next moto. Like unless you want to become a "P.U.D" you better change your filter. All the factory guys do it and everyone fast does it so get ur done!!

12-28-2006, 07:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,526 iTrader: (1)	So are you telling us to clean our filter after every wash or replace it with a new one? If you r sayin to replace it after every was we would all be out a lot of cash. I definately wash my filter every time __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

11-21-2006, 04:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
sparta4188 C Rider Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 24 iTrader: (0)	yeah once i got alot of water in my exhaust and it sucked ass trying to start it. fliped it upsidedown and water was in the air intake box and ehaust

12-09-2006, 09:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
mx4fun C Rider Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nor. Cal Posts: 33 iTrader: (0)	I'm all for washing your bike. The only thing is, DON'T was your bike everyday. Most people dont ride everyday, so this shouldn't be a problem. The reason too not wash it everyday is due to people forcing the water into sealed off areas and barrings. Rusty bearing== not too good, lol.

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