A Simple Approach to Washing a Dirt Bike

Your trusty dirt bike, also known as an off-road motorcycle, allows you to cruise through mud puddles and across shallow streams on your favorite trails. But after a few challenging rides, your bike will be pretty dirty. While dirt bikes are meant to get dirty, they can’t be left that way for long because the grime can cause rust or corrosion or it can cause certain components to malfunction. Also, a clean bike is more enjoyable to ride and easier to maintain. Here’s how to clean your dirt bike.

Remove or Cover the Sensitive Parts

Sensitive parts like brake calipers, shifters, and throttle assembly should be removed or covered. Also, under a dirt bike seat is a foam that might get damaged by water, so remove the seat. The air filter is another part you need to remove before washing the dirt bike. Be sure to cover the muffler and airbox if you can, to reduce their chances of coming into contact with water. You can clean the muffler with wash plugs and cover the airbox with an airbox cover.

Use Low Pressure

Once you remove and cover the sensitive parts, you can start cleaning the dirt bike with low pressure. For low pressure use a garden hose with a soft-bristled brush attachment. A garden hose with low pressure is a much safer approach than a pressure washer. If you’re using a pressure washer, be sure to keep the nozzle at least 18” away from the dirt bike.

Scrub Your Bike

Get a motorcycle brush and use it to clean areas that have mud or excess dirt. Mud and dirt always accumulate in areas like swingarm, chain, wheels, and sprockets. Avoid using excess energy in these areas. You might be tempted to use more energy when scrubbing to remove stubborn dirt or mud. As a result, the hard brushing might cause damage. The best approach will be to soak these areas with water then gently start scrubbing.

Rinse Your Bike

Thoroughly rinse your dirt bike once you’re done washing it. Allow it to air-dry or use chamois cloths to wipe it down. Then, apply some grease to you off-road motorcycle’s chains to lubricate them and prevent corrosion. You should be all ready to go again!

Seeking off-road motorcycles near you? When you’re ready to check out new and used dirt bikes in Florida, stop by our dealership in Port Charlotte to see what we’ve got in stock. S&N Motorsports is proud to serve our customers in the city of Fort Myers, FL.