Looking for a pressure washer

[Thirtyaughtsix]

So I want to clean my V7, and my apartment complex doesn't have any hose faucets we can use. I'm casually looking up pressure washers and naturally everything I'm finding requires you to plug in your hose to make it happen. Is there a washer out there with a dedicated water tank I could fill? I kinda don't even know what to type in to find what I'm looking for, hence my coming here. Power isn't too much a concern of course, I would really prefer if I could blast off 90% of the dirt before I get in there with rags and sponges to take care of the rest.

Or if there's a proper way to entirely clean a bike sans pressured water, I'd like to hear all about it. Whatever gets the job done so I can wash all these rain spots off 

[Tom H]

Most of the cheap harbor freight type pressure washers can use water from a pond, bucket or tank. Most do not need the water under pressure from a hose. They have a pump that can draw up water. BUT.......RTFM to be sure, both I have owned can pull from a pond, but a filter needs to be added to keep debris out. ALSO don't let the pump run dry or it will fry the impeller.

EDIT: The one I have now claims 1.6 US Gal per minute. So a 5 gal bucket would last a few minutes which is a lot of spaying time. Think about how long a minute is when you wait for one to go by.

What brand? Most are decent for occasional use. I had a very compact one, about a foot and a half long, 8 inches high and about the same wide. Don't know i you can find a small one anymore? Most are stand up like a medium vacuum cleaner. 1600 PSI is a decent one for the bike.

Hope this helps,
Tom

[Cam3512]

I never hit my bikes with water.  I use Honda cleaner wax on EVERY surface.  Does a great job, and water never gets where it shouldn’t.

[oldbike54]

 Egads , what in the world are you thinking , high pressure water gets in everywhere you don't want it to .

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just say no..

[Ncdan]

Just go to your local car wash, soap, brush, rinse and spray wax, 2 bucks, no brained.

[Rich A]

I got one of these by Worx:

https://www.newegg.com/p/065-003X-00001?nm_mc=knc-msnsearch&cm_mmc=knc-msnsearch-PC-_-pla-_-og+-+nozzles+++wands-_-worx-_-065003x00001&msclkid=7495dbec3ccc18f3fdb186f107c08e14&gclid=CPmV-bb0meMCFc2bxQIdb78ElA&gclsrc=ds

Kind of expensive, but kind of cool. You can hook it up to a 2L soda bottle or a tap with a hose fitting. It has two pressures. The bottle doesn't last long, but it's convenient.

An alternative is to buy a 1-2 gallon pump bug sprayer and just fill it with water. This is a low pressure solution, but it is cheap and works pretty well.

Rich A

[Lannis]

Just go to your local car wash, soap, brush, rinse and spray wax, 2 bucks, no brained.

Our local car washes are either the "pull through" ones with the rotating brushes, or have those liquid sandblaster nozzles that will force water into every place it doesn't belong on a bike, including wiring, breather outlets, joints and seams, etc.

I go with the light wipe of WD40 on the metal surfaces, and Honda spray cleaner/polish on the paint and plastic ....

Lannis

[wrbix]

I got one of these by Worx:

https://www.newegg.com/p/065-003X-00001?nm_mc=knc-msnsearch&cm_mmc=knc-msnsearch-PC-_-pla-_-og+-+nozzles+++wands-_-worx-_-065003x00001&msclkid=7495dbec3ccc18f3fdb186f107c08e14&gclid=CPmV-bb0meMCFc2bxQIdb78ElA&gclsrc=ds

Kind of expensive, but kind of cool. You can hook it up to a 2L soda bottle or a tap with a hose fitting. It has two pressures. The bottle doesn't last long, but it's convenient.

An alternative is to buy a 1-2 gallon pump bug sprayer and just fill it with water. This is a low pressure solution, but it is cheap and works pretty well.

Rich A

It’s also possible to run this out of a bucket of water. 
Pressure is not up to pressure washer levels but might be about right for cleaning up a motorbike without insulting wheel bearings, etc.

[rschrum]

Spray detailer and microfiber cloth. Heavy dirt, bucket and a brush.

[Gliderjohn]

Maybe I am just lucky but my T-3 has been powered washed regularly for over 30 years with no problems I can find. Even still uses the origional switch gear, except for the ignition switch.
GliderJohn

[bad Chad]

I must know how to do it. As I pressure washed every motorcycle I have had for at least 30 years and never had any issues.

[Ncdan]

Pressure washing is fine as long as common sense is included. Just stay back with the spray and there will be no water invasion to sensitive parts like switches, bearings etc. nature it’s self, ridding 70 mph in the rain, can cause higher water pressure on the bike. Like most  controversial issues common sense goes a long way.

[Thirtyaughtsix]

Pressure washing is fine as long as common sense is included. Just stay back with the spray and there will be no water invasion to sensitive parts like switches, bearings etc. nature it’s self, ridding 70 mph in the rain, can cause higher water pressure on the bike. Like most  controversial issues common sense goes a long way.

Which is how I'd approach it, I'd really just be happy with what normal garden hose puts out, I wouldn't be getting point blank with anything. My only beef with riding it somewhere is that I'd get everything hot, namely the header pipes and cylinders which are among the most bugified, and I can't imagine spraying cold water on all of that would be good for the finish. Not to mention having to ride it back wet.

I got one of these by Worx:

https://www.newegg.com/p/065-003X-00001?nm_mc=knc-msnsearch&cm_mmc=knc-msnsearch-PC-_-pla-_-og+-+nozzles+++wands-_-worx-_-065003x00001&msclkid=7495dbec3ccc18f3fdb186f107c08e14&gclid=CPmV-bb0meMCFc2bxQIdb78ElA&gclsrc=ds

Kind of expensive, but kind of cool. You can hook it up to a 2L soda bottle or a tap with a hose fitting. It has two pressures. The bottle doesn't last long, but it's convenient.

An alternative is to buy a 1-2 gallon pump bug sprayer and just fill it with water. This is a low pressure solution, but it is cheap and works pretty well.

Rich A

I do like this, this is about what I was thinking

[oldbike54]

Pressure washing is fine as long as common sense is included. Just stay back with the spray and there will be no water invasion to sensitive parts like switches, bearings etc. nature it’s self, ridding 70 mph in the rain, can cause higher water pressure on the bike. Like most  controversial issues common sense goes a long way.

 Dan , doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a pressure washer ?

 Dusty

[Ncdan]

Dan , doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a pressure washer ?

 Dusty

Dusty, I look at a pressure washer as any other tool, it has is use effectiveness and capabilities. One should not use a screwdriver for a scrape blade or chisel. Therefore it would be appreciated to clean the wheels, spokes and tires with a pressure washer but not the center of the hub which houses the bearings, right? It may be effective to use the washer to clean heavy road scum off the painted services at the appropriate distance but not the handle bars where the select buttons are housed. Personally I do own a pressure washer nor do I visit a car wash. 90% of my bike cleaning is accomplished by spraying a specialized cleaner/wax and wiping off with a soft cotton cloth.
I guess I’m just of the opinion that common sense rules in most all situations:)
Happy Fourth my friend:)

[Ncdan]

Dusty, I look at a pressure washer as any other tool, it has is use effectiveness and capabilities. One should not use a screwdriver for a scrape blade or chisel. Therefore it would be appropriate  to clean the wheels, spokes and tires with a pressure washer but not the center of the hub which houses the bearings, right? It may be effective to use the washer to clean heavy road scum off the painted services at the appropriate distance but not the handle bars where the select buttons are housed. Personally I do own a pressure washer nor do I visit a car wash. 90% of my bike cleaning is accomplished by spraying a specialized cleaner/wax and wiping off with a soft cotton cloth.
I guess I’m just of the opinion that common sense rules in most all situations:)
Happy Fourth my friend:)

[Tom H]

If your trying to get caked on mud or grease gunk build ups off the bike, I'm not really sure that the Worx at 320psi is strong enough. The one I use is 1700 and my old one was 1500. Both have an adjustable tip on the wand that goes from a soft fan to a hard jet.

Yes you need to use some care as mentioned, avoid the handlebars and electrics when using the jet setting, fan is ok for rinsing everything off. Generally you can hit the plug wires at the heads but avoid the coil or distributor.

Tom

[bad Chad]

Which is how I'd approach it, I'd really just be happy with what normal garden hose puts out, I wouldn't be getting point blank with anything. My only beef with riding it somewhere is that I'd get everything hot, namely the header pipes and cylinders which are among the most bugified, and I can't imagine spraying cold water on all of that would be good for the finish. Not to mention having to ride it back wet.

I do like this, this is about what I was thinking

You are over thinking it. Motorcycles are designed to be ridden through driving rain, they can handle car wash temp rain without issue.

[oldbike54]

Dusty, I look at a pressure washer as any other tool, it has is use effectiveness and capabilities. One should use a screwdriver for a scrape blade or chisel. Therefore it would be appreciated to clean the wheels, spokes and tires with a pressure washer but not the center of the hub which houses the bearings, right? It may be effective to use the washer to clean heavy road scum off the painted services at the appropriate distance but not the handle bars where the select buttons are housed. Personally I do own a pressure washer nor do I visit a car wash. 90% of my bike cleaning is accomplished by spraying a specialized cleaner/wax and wiping off with a soft cotton cloth.
I guess I’m just of the opinion that common sense rules in most all situations:)
Happy Fourth my friend:)

 Wasn't trying to be snarky Dan , was simply observing that if you need to stand back from what you are washing with a pressure washer , then the pressure will be greatly reduced , which kind of defeats the purpose of using a pressure washer .

 Dusty

[keuka4884]

How about  a steam cleaner?

[Ncdan]

Wasn't trying to be snarky Dan , was simply observing that if you need to stand back from what you are washing with a pressure washer , then the pressure will be greatly reduced , which kind of defeats the purpose of using a pressure washer .

 Dusty

No problem Dusty and I didn’t take it that way at all my friend. I was just saying that even a pressure washer can be used efficiently to clean about anything, excluding a vehicle, in the right hands. If my response appeared snarky I apolitical sir as it was not my intention:)

[Chuck in Indiana]

Maybe we are overthinking the pressure washer for what you want. If you have an air compressor, you can use one of these,
https://www.amazon.com/Air-Engine-Cleaning-Gun-Hose/dp/B018WRHPDC
It's used in the aviation industry with Stoddard solvent, but I've used one like it (antique of course) with Purple power your soap or solvent of choice and blast it with water in a bucket. A gallon of water, heck even a coffee can, will last a really long time.

[Zinfan]

Here is one the I use  https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Joe-SPX6001C-XR-Cordless-Pressure/dp/B07FFWB5CS/ref=sr_1_34?qid=1562284372&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-34  it can be used either with the tank or hooked directly to a faucet.

[sidecarnutz]

My screwed up shoulders don't allow me to start my gas powered pressure washer anymore. My wife got me the electric one from HF this Spring. It works very well and I'm quite pleased with it. Used it to clean up our large wooden front porch. Great for house siding too.

[Thirtyaughtsix]

Here is one the I use  https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Joe-SPX6001C-XR-Cordless-Pressure/dp/B07FFWB5CS/ref=sr_1_34?qid=1562284372&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-34  it can be used either with the tank or hooked directly to a faucet.

This looks about perfect but man that price tag, not sure I could justify it right now. Would be nice if I could stumble upon a $220 bill on the ground

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Go to the zoo and borrow the elephant.   Park the bike at the pond and lettuce elephant blast water on it.