Who jetwashes their bike then? « Singletrack Forum

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Who jetwashes their bike then?

17 posts & 17 voices | Started 1 year ago by namastebuzz | Latest reply from Rocky Robin

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namastebuzz - Member

I do but it seems frowned upon by the cognoscenti.

3-4 offroad rides per week and at least 2 (sometimes up to 4) bikes to wash each time - bucket and a sponge ain't gonna cut it timewise.

I stay away from hubs/bb/headset/pivots etc. Recently I tried an experiment on my Hardtail by steering clear of the rear hub but blasting the front hub directly on the seals as much as possible for a month's worth of washes. Serviced both hubs(Shimano) and the front didn't appear to have any less grease in it than the back. The grease in it seemed ok property wise.

Posted 1 year ago #
grumm - Member

Don't even bother washing mine at all most of the time - apart from fork seals and sometimes the chain.

Posted 1 year ago #
Jamie - Member

Give my bike a stern look every now and again and that's about it.

Posted 1 year ago #
the-muffin-man - Member

I do

Posted 1 year ago #
bassspine - Member

wait till it dries then flake it off. Keep the drive train clean, moving parts moving and lubed, mud elsewhere is just patina

Posted 1 year ago #
I_Ache - Member

I would if I had a jetwash. Unfortunately I dont at the moment but if I were to buy one it would be specifically for cleaning my bike and sometimes my car.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dave Vanderspek - Member

Pressure washing is fine unless you're a numpty and get too close and blast the hubs etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
stumpy01 - Member

Dirtworker doesn't seem to do too much damage, especially if you don't set it to a hard jet and you can have the bike clean straight after riding within 5 mins.
Quite a pricey accessory, but worth it.

I've got a power adaptor for our camping fridge that will run the dirtworker too, so it's quite useful when washing the car as well.

Posted 1 year ago #
Zedsdead - Member

I let the mud dry and if I can be bothered I might knock some of it off.

If I do wash it I use a garden sprayer thing. Kind of like a jetwash but you pump it by hand and it's not nearly as powerful so friendly for bearings and the like. It was about £14 from B&Q

Posted 1 year ago #
retro83 - Member

I stay away from hubs/bb/headset/pivots etc. Recently I tried an experiment on my Hardtail by steering clear of the rear hub but blasting the front hub directly on the seals as much as possible for a month's worth of washes. Serviced both hubs(Shimano) and the front didn't appear to have any less grease in it than the back. The grease in it seemed ok property wise.

Don't know about that but I can advise that using the jetwash to spin a Wellgo at 9001 RPM does not result in extended bearing lifetimes

Posted 1 year ago #
Dancake - Member

I dont even wash myself after a ride sometimes

Posted 1 year ago #
shedfull - Member

I do but I've got an adjustable pressure lance and I turn it down when washing around bearings. That said, every bearing on my bikes are cartridge ones (for easy replacement and better sealing) and are rammed full of lical grease (boat prop bearings use this) before installation. I strip and regrease stuff regularly, too.

Posted 1 year ago #
jhw - Member

What if you spray the jetwash above the bike so the water comes down on it more gently - like a shower instead of a firehose? I find this knocks off all but the worst mud.

The trouble with all the advice about not spraying pivots and BB is that this is exactly where you actually need to get rid of the mud for the bike to work properly.

Does that mean a jetwash is only good for cosmetic cleaning - tubes etc. - who cares about that?

Posted 1 year ago #
stayhigh - Member

+1 for Dirtworker with 12v car to 240v mains convertor cable

Posted 1 year ago #
Surf-Mat - Member

Very occasionally I will jetwash mine but very careful to avoid hubs, headset and BB.

125 bar so it's quite pokey.

Posted 1 year ago #
antigee - Member

sometimes when my bike looks like it has got oversize tubes and the crud guards are starting to warp with the weight but avoiding any bearings

remember reading a little editorial comment in a mag a few yrs back - punter wrote in about a pic' showing post ride jet washing
the mag wrote that it was ok cos' they always stripped down the bearings afterwards - so there is your answer

Posted 1 year ago #
Rocky Robin - Member

blast mine all the time, spray, muc off, hot water and sponge, polish and lube- bit of care around the nether regions but no probs with the powerhose. If you are pushed for time, it is the best option. Also good on legs and boots!

Posted 1 year ago #

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