How to Wash Your Dirtbike

Everybody knows how to wash a dirtbike? Right? Well, maybe you do. But, washing your bike the wrong way can literally damage it more than racing. It must be done properly to maximize the life of your dirtbike components. So, here are some tips for washing your dirtbike… the right way.

What You Need to Wash Your Dirtbike

• Wash bucket
• Pressure washer
• Soft brush
• Bike stand
• Duct tape
• Exhaust pipe plugs
• Spray bottle
• Rubber mallet
• S.O.S. pads
• Scotch-Brite pads
• Compressed air
• WD-40 (or other lube)
• Airbox cover
• Dielectric grease
• Wire brush
• Microfiber towels
• Clean towels
• Spray polish
• Contact cleaner
• Bike wash soap (or dishwashing liquid)

Steps to Wash Your Dirtbike the Right Way

1. Remove the Mud – You may feel the sudden urge to just grab the power washer and have at it. Don’t!!! Instead, be gentle when removing mud. Use stiff brushes, a sponge and a bucket of hot water. To begin, scrape off any big clods of mud within your around the engine, inside the fenders and stuck on the tires. Keep in mind:
   1. Try not to get detergent and water on your seat. They’ll break down its foam.
   2. Don’t point the want of the pressure washer directly at the bike’s rubber seals.
   3. Do NOT spray soap on your brake disc or pads. It will bond itself onto the disc and glaze when you use the brakes again for the first time. Your brake pads will become completely useless.
2. Remove the Bike Seat – Use a brush to clean your seat. Remember, you don’t want it to get soaked with water. If it does, the seat’s structure will break down. Then, the cushion will lose its effect.
3. Take Off the Air Filter – Install an air box cover or stuff a towel into the air boot intake.
4. Put a Cap on the Silencer – Do NIT let water get into your exhaust pipe! To avoid this, cap it off with a rubber plug.
5. Gently Wash Your Bike – You can actually use the brushes for this job. But, if you simply must use your pressure washer, make it a point to deflect the dirt away from the dirtbike.
6. Time to Spray – Now, you need to spray the appropriate chemicals onto the various parts of the dirtbike:
   1. Take of the magneto cover. Then, spray the coils and flywheel with brake cleaner. Make sure it’s non-chlorinated
   2. Remove dirt and water from your rotors by spraying them with brake cleaner.
   3. Get rid of leftover water on the bike’s steel parts by spraying them with WD-40.
   4. Use silicone to spray your plastic parts and tires. This protects them from cracking and dryness. It also fills in scratches, giving your plastic parts a renewed look.
7. Clean Your Dirtbike Chain – Immerse the chain into a very mild solvent. Remove the dirt by scrubbing it with a chain cleansing brush. Allow it to drip dry. Then, use chain wax or chain lube to lubricate it.

Maintenance is Key to the Life of Your Dirtbike

It’s very important that you clean your dirtbike regularly. This may seem like a vain thing to do. Well, in a way, it is. Why wouldn’t you want your machine looking its best? But, there’s more to it than that. Keeping the components of your bike free of dirt, mud and debris actually extends the life of the parts. This maximizes the life of the bike itself.

Interested in getting even more maintenance tips for your dirtbike? Cannibal Cycle is a leader in bike maintenance and used dirtbike parts. Get high-quality, tested, used parts for your machine at dirt cheap prices. Visit cannibalcycle.com to check out their bike parts inventory today.