Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Has anyone used a self service car wash on their bike ?

Is it too high pressure or does it work well ?

Thanks, Jenny

Never had a drama. Mainly use it at Pi after a CDT run

Works great i find Jenny..
I use the low pressure soak..give it a couple of minutes & high pressure rinse..chamoi & a wipe down..Just make sure 2 re-lube your chain..soak might strip it a bit.

Jennysc wrote:Has anyone used a self service car wash on their bike ?

Is it too high pressure or does it work well ?

Thanks, Jenny

and dont point the jet onto front and rear wheel bearings, they dont like it

I think I'd probably avoid it if I could but in the absence of an alternative it's probably OK. As BG said though avoid pointing it anywhere near bearings as you'll just force crap into them.

born green wrote:

Jennysc wrote:Has anyone used a self service car wash on their bike ?

Is it too high pressure or does it work well ?

Thanks, Jenny

and dont point the jet onto front and rear wheel bearings, they dont like it

Agreed.

The swing arm linkage is another no go.

Just stand back a bit around those areas

Thanks, I ended up hand washing it in my driveway

High pressure is bad for all bearings, and headset bearing are expensive to change. Bucket, sponge and a low pressure rinse are the go.

Wouldn't trust the chemicals they use at car washes, especially the wheel cleaner?

I found that my tyres were REALLY slippery when I left. Don't know if it's the wax that you can get out of the hoses but something that I didn't like.

i always wash my bike cold, ive heard some cleaning agents leave spots on engine cases when they dry off a hot engine.

cheers
KiwiMat

I washed it at car wash on weekend and turned out really good......give it a bit of time to cool off before starting (helped on a cold day) then yeah just be careful where and how u spracy.......i did low pres soap......then hi pres soap.....bit of a whipe with sponge ....low pres rinse then dri it off and let the wind take care of the rest....didnt do the wax bit through

robracer wrote:Wouldn't trust the chemicals they use at car washes, especially the wheel cleaner?

What Rob is trying to say about self & non self carwashes.

Boat person re-using ragety sponge & chamois after a once 3rd monthly soccermom 4X4 wash vs recycled water with industrial strength detergents & cleaning agents being pressured applied.

I prefer to wash my bikes in a mankini

My worst fear is the Missus heading in with her BLACK Mitsubishi, hitting the foam button & using the spongy head after some bogan has done the underside of his 4x4 with the same spongy head & dragging debri over the black paintwork..............shudder then It is my job to fix the swirl marks & scratches