Possible stupid question about washing your bike!

I want to get my bike all shiny and clean, what is the best way to do this? Can I take it to one of those self-car washes and high pressure wash the whole bike? Do I have to cover any wires or steer clear of any certain parts of the bike?

 

A car wash is one of the WORST ways to clean your bike. Many things are exposed on bikes that are enclosed on cars. Water under high pressure can find its way into places you don't want it,such as bearings,calipers,fork seals,and instruments.A good old fashioned garden hose is a better choice.

 

I'll disagree. I use a pressure washer to do mine.

You need to keep track of a few things though. For instance, your air intake is under the seat - don't want to remove the seat and fill it with water.

Don't get up under the tank and tear any wires loose.

Don't use a concentrated spray or linger on seals and bearings.

Having said all that - a thorough washing (with pressure washer or regular hose) will tell you a lot about your ignition system. If it runs right after a good washing it's likely in good condition.

OH: Your signature doesn't have your bike listed. If it's a 550 don't wash all the oil out of the chain.

 

I do my bikes at the car wash from time to time and don't see a problem with it. I figure you ride in the rain (well I do) so what's the difference? I take a piece of poly (plastic sheeting) to cover the seat to keep it dry for the ride home. I try not to direct any spray right at the electrical (battery) side of the bike for obvious reasons, and mainly just do the engine and wheels, where it's harder to get to.
DON'T use a pressure washer to get bugs off the windshield. My buddy did the windshield on his bike and left wave marks in it from the high pressure, and had to buy a new one.

 

I've used the car wash before but just used the light misty spray for most stuff and only used the pressure on the wheels and engine, like PainterD said. As long as you're careful, I don't see how you could possibly harm anything. That light spray when you don't pull the trigger is just as soft as a garden hose.

 

I have a home pressure washer--2300 PSI-- it'll take the paint off the motor, the "pumpkin", and blast the crud off the bottom of your motor and re-locate it all over your bike. I'd say carefully pressure wash your bike only once, then hand wash. Also full strengh cleaners, if left on, can change the look of any raw aluminum parts. I got rid of all my rust with Naval Jelly, now I have to get rid of it's white residue.

If you want to baby your bike, get the expensive "motorcycle" cleaners.

 

Be careful not to lose those black insulators in between the fins

 

i'm probably the only one here weird enough to do this but.

one bucket full of soapy water, one bucket of clean water, and a microfiber towel (lots of em).

i just get down in there and hand wash everything, pulling out the toothbrush or what-not if i need to.

when i get warm, i might skip the clean water bucket and hit it with a garden hose, but there's alot of plugs and such that unless you put dyelectirc grease in em, they have a possibility of shorting out

 

Well I'm somewhere in between "spray it as hard as you can" and "gently wish the dirt away"...

I see it like this: I don't use a pressure washer for much. Maybe I clean the siding or something. I usually hand wash most my automobiles. But not for any reason besides I think it does a better job. I don't THINK the power wash would hurt it. Maybe the paint or something IDK. My paint does a pretty good job of coming off on it's own.

The bottom line is, if it's gunna fail while being wet, I'd rather it happens at the car wash on a Sunday and not in the rain, on the highway, when I'm late to work. Shit breaks. At least then you know.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I will just take a garden hose and a sponge to it.