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After having to face the wrath of my long suffering better half when I wheeled a bike that was literally caked in mud into the house yesterday it's been suggested that perhaps the ability to clean said bike before bringing it home (and indeed putting it in the car) might be prudent.
So what's good? Cheaper the better, needs to clean one (ideally two) bikes and be completely self contained so I can run it in the middle of nowhere...
Hiya,
What something like this:
I use a hozelock one and it's great because I don't want the pain of charging up batteries.
JeZ
There's a few ideas [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/tools/bike-cleaning/product/review-nomad-12v-auto-cord-washer-11-44842/ ]here[/url]
We've a power washer similar to the Nomad 12V (works off the lighter socket in the car), easily gets most of the muck off two bikes.
I've got a similar Draper tools one and it's not great, it cleaned dust off my bike but not my car so I can't imagine it would have the power to remove mud.
That Nomad one looks pretty decent, though a little more than I was ideally hoping to spend.
I've tried one of the pumpy pumpy ones, it was ok with dust or wet mud but yesterday's ride involved a LOT of caked on dried mud, it wouldn't have done much more than tickled it.
The Nomad has been unavailable for years; according to their website the new version will be available for the Spring but they've been saying that for years too.
I was all set to buy an Airace recently only to find they're unavailable now too...
Don't want a Mobi or similar generic one as they look shite.
Apparently Karcher are bringing one out soon, albeit with a tiny tank (although it will also have the capability of running off any water source)
A garden trug - also ideal for standing in when empty to change shoes and for lugging wet / dirty gear home in.
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A caravan-type water container - pre filled obviously
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A soft-ish brush - apply as much pressure as required.
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Bottle of detergent optional.
About £20 for the lot - No power / pumping required. Simples.
Try and find a dirtworker cheap - super reliable, decent enough power. Cant really see why they are so hard to get anymore! Better than any of the current crop other than maybe the Airace (which is the update to the DW).
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/airace-waterman-portable-jet-wash-12v-p268265
I felt they would not be wasting money on a battery so might be a better washer. Few friends have brought as well. Go outdoors did price match plus 10%
Ah, Dirtworker! That's the name I was looking for.
^ yeah like that one. Thats a pretty good price. Will probably last for ever, has proper metal connectors on the hoses, and a decent tank size. I only paid £35 for my DW on special, but I suspect that might not happen again.
I'm FAR too lazy to use a bucket.
That Airace looks pretty much perfect, awesome.
none available for online delivery and only a few stores with one left in stock, or I'd have one of off them last week! Or were you offering to go and pick one up for me? 🙂
There was a chap that made one from a pump he ordered on ebay. It looked very possible for the average person to make it as well, you just need to rig it up to the 12v accessory socket and have a tub of water for it to draw from. Was attached to a rear van door but could be put anywhere, was very good value I thought
One of [url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Motorbike-Care/Portable-Pressure-Washer-Cleaning-System-Gardening-Camping/B017EA7C8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489407694&sr=8-2&keywords=12v+pressure+washer ]these and a large container of water[/url], gives very good pressure and works very well but the hozelock connections can be a bit iffy so fit the hose with jubilee clips.
http://www.wilko.com/hose-pipes-sprinklers+spray-guns/wilko-water-sprayer-nozzle-8l/invt/0148140
8 litre sprayer for a tenner
or
more upmarket version
https://www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk/products/view/244/hand-water-pump.html
I've got an original yellow dirtworker at home that I'd sell for £45 posted. Email in my profile if anyones interested.
Dirtworker failed to impress me, it wasn't used that much but still managed to break. Following repair it didn't last much longer til it died ... again.
I was holding out for a Nomad but, as mentioned, website not updated.
There's money to be made for a decent quality, well thought-out product manufactured in the UK. C'mon designers, get your thinking caps on or perhaps James Dyson could offer advice?
I'd say the garden sprayer option is too cheap, i got one from robert dyas and you can get the bike less dirty, but requires patience and brushwork, to be fair the brush is doing the work the sprayer is rinsing it off, one that is sold as a pressure washer may be better, but i suspect you really need one with a pump to get anywhere.
I saw one recently that claims to store water at mains pressure giving you an more powerful spray without a pump, but i cant find it now, was a bit cynical to be fair.
I have one of these:
But you can get the for £21 off ebay. Then bought a jerry can and just feed the water thing into the jerry can. I made mine slightly fancier by attaching to the jerry can and the water feed goes through the lid, so I just fill it up and it's good to go.
Also, it's more powerful (but not too powerful!) than a mobiwasher. Also allows you to select size of the water source, so I've got a decent sized jerry can on mine, so can do a good job cleaning two large full sus bikes with that, some soap and a brush.
Notherntom wins!
I have a mobiwasher V15 & can just manage to get 1 bike clean after a muddy cross race.
I think its going on ebay after seeing that DIY option though.
@blastitnone available for online delivery and only a few stores with one left in stock, or I'd have one of off them last week! Or were you offering to go and pick one up for me?
Had none in my local Go Outdoors so they found one in another store and had it moved to my local store. Had to buy it first then showed them a cheaper price on phone and they refunded difference +10%
ok ta, will pop in to my local one & see if they can order one across for me!
The kit in notherntom's link looks OK for a cheap DIY solution, although the quality hence longevity may be questionable.
I had the same problem yesterday - most of Swinley now seems to be in my car or house!
This won't really help the OP but just putting it up there.
Saw a guy in the car park using one of the new Karcher OC3 things. Re-chargeable Li battery and looks very neat. His bike was beautifully clean. Only a small 4l tank (though I guess you could take more with you) and 15 mins run time. Reckon you could get 2 or 3 bikes done in that time (at least get most of the grot off)
I'd get one if it weren't for the crazy high price tag (£129 RRP)
Not sure if they're available yet - he'd bought his at the bike show
Saw a guy in the car park using one of the new Karcher OC3 things....Not sure if they're available yet - he'd bought his at the bike show
Halfords are selling them online. I was optimistic when I first seen them but 4l is too small a tank for me and will be empty in 2mins use. 15mins battery seems ok for a days use/multi bikes but as it can't be run straight from 12v when battery dies it's no good for a trip away where it would be most handy for me.
zilog6128 - Member
ok ta, will pop in to my local one & see if they can order one across for me!The kit in notherntom's link looks OK for a cheap DIY solution, although the quality hence longevity may be questionable.
That's the thing...it's not a cheap DIY solution, it's actually better than a mobiwasher and most of the other ones. bearing in mind, they are likely using a similar water pump inside anyway...
I've been using mine all winter and it's been pretty much faultless. Something I found out yesterday is the pipe to the water source has a filter on the end to keep crap out. If you remove this, it basically increases the flow through and makes it a turbo pressure washer, it's amazing.
It's lasted long enough for me to name it the blastmaster 3000.
Hm, ok I'd been contemplating something along these lines for a while despite generally not liking pressure washers. I've moved to a house where I share a back yard that I will never get a car into and there's no water out there so my previous solutions are all gone. I know there's always the bucket and watering can approach but that's not where I want to go.
I want fully self contained - don't want to rely on a 12v outlet being available otherwise I might as well be running pipes and wires out of the window.
I'd been looking at the Mobi v17 but had heard a few horror stories. This Karcher looks great apart possibly from the low capacity - but should be enough I think at lower pressure.
Does anyone have real world experience of it - how effective is it, is the capacity/run time long enough and how loud is it? Anything making as much noise as a C3 would be unusable after dark in a quiet village, I think...
Didn't realise the Karcher one was available now. You can run it from an external water source so capacity not a deal breaker. The way everything stows away looks very neat. May be tempted next time Halfords have a flash sale!
I've got the same one as Northerntom, paid £25 off eBay for it and bought a 25l jerry can for a fiver. Literally one of my best buys. It's been fantastic over winter. Quick wash after riding then drive home and bike straight in the garage. Can do 2 really muddy bikes no problem. You can buy 3 or 4 of these for the price of most mobile washers.
Got a letter last week saying I had been selected as a tester for the Kaercher one. 8)
But it isn't here yet 😡
However I've got an original (ie. the yellow) dirtworker, so I will knock up a head to head test for you all when it arrives
As above, I got the same kit as northerntom for £22 off ebay, its great.
Just had an email from Nomad. Apparently they are going to be available within a couple of months (for reals this time)... at £185 😯 It's gonna have to be [i]really[/i] good at that price.