Cleaning dirt bikes

Love it or hate it but after every race your dirt bike needs to be hosed down. If you don't do it then your bike will suffer over time. The cosmetic appearance will also deteriorate significantly. Admit it, we motocross enthusiasts love to look at a beautiful motocross bike and so you should also give it due attention when washing it. Do it the right way though. Follow our tips and your machine will be a beauty for much longer.

1. Scrape off any excess dirt from your bike before returning home. Do not use metal objects such as a screwdriver as this will scratch it. Special plastic scrapers can be bought at your local motocross dealer for next to nothing. If you cannot hose down your bike immediately when you get home, spray some creep oil on your chain to prevent rust. Do this just after the last run and especially in muddy conditions.
2. Invest in a cover for your air filter box so you can hose down the inside. Using it has two advantages: Firstly, you don't have to spray the saddle wet and secondly, you can use a pressure washer to get the inside of the air filter box perfectly clean. Before installing the cover, it is best to clean the closing edges of the air filter box neatly. These covers are obviously not available for older motocross machines. Also insert a special wax plug into the end of your silencer to keep the water from your pressure washer away from the silencer filling.
3. Pay attention to radiators. Don't spray too close to the cooling fins to avoid bending. When you have sprayed most of the dirt off your engine, remove your engine from the stand and lay it flat with the handlebar end on the stand to spray the underside clean. Do this for both sides. Do not spray on the cross machine's electrical components and pivot points.
4. Once the underside is clean again put the bike back on the stand and spray away all loose dirt.
5. Now that the worst dirt is gone use detergent to wash away the last remaining dirt. You can buy good products like Muc-Off at the dealer these days to spray the entire machine with.
6. While the product soaks in, you can wash your bike with a sturdy sponge to cleanly wash all parts. These special sponges are also available these days specifically for washing off-road bikes.
7. After washing, rinse your bike completely to remove all excess soap residue. Inspect all hidden corners of your bike and, if necessary, treat after where necessary. It is also a good time to inspect wear parts.
8. Now is the time to dry off the engine. Do this with a pile of discarded or cheap towels. Afterwards, blow away the last remnants of water with compressed air and wipe again with the towel. Do not blow directly on electrical contacts and hinge points.
9. Remove the air filter box cover and wipe away the water residue with a towel. You can now fit a fresh air filter and replace the saddle. You can clean these with a product for windows (based on isopropyl alcohol) because it dries quickly again and so does not soak through the saddle cover. Never spray your saddle with a high-pressure cleaner because the moisture will break down the filling. Plastic parts are best sprayed with silicone spray, left for a few minutes and then polished with a dry soft cloth. This way, your plastic will keep its shiny look for longer. It is best not to spray silicone spray on your brake discs.
10. Remove the exhaust plug and start the engine. Let it run for a few minutes to allow any remaining water droplets to evaporate. If the engine needs fresh oil, this is the time to run it a little longer and let the oil drain. Pressure washers are great for getting a cross machine clean but chains and pivots don't like them. So make sure you re-inject these points with chain grease and oil immediately after blowing them dry. Also spray your exhaust with silicone spray to prevent rusting. Done!