liveforphysics said:
While power washing those parts directly, other parts may be damaged by spray back, but it's your bike to do what you want. I moved to wiping with a damp rag and not cleaning whatever isn't practical to clean in a few minutes with a rag. This was by far the best longevity of dirtbikes strategy i found, you might find different for your locations temp/humidity/saltyness.
3DTOPO said:
I've only rinsed mine off with a garden hose maybe 3 times since I have had in the last 7 months. I used a rag to dry it afterward.
I agree with you and never wash my bike, and just use a wet paper towel occasionally. I also really never take my bike out in the rain. I was just saying if you were determined to wash it to take some precautions.
I did hose mine down lightly after riding through salt water that got sprayed over everything because I have no fenders. Salt water is probably the worst thing to get on your bike and its worth washing everything down with a hose to get it off. I really didn't like the idea of having to hose it down, especially in the winter when it will not dry fast.
I believe I read where when salt water dries it will leave salt deposits which will attract moisture from the air or something which can cause rust.
This is just my opinion and I could be completely wrong but I don't think washing the Sur-Ron is as dangerous as say a steel framed motorcycle. I had a couple of motorcycles and they would rust easily on many parts, especially if left outside, so I know exactly what you are talking about when you said you had issues washing down your dirt bike.
The Sur-Ron is mostly aluminum and like an aluminum mountain bike shouldn't have issues with rust. The Sur-Ron has a potted controller and battery, the connectors are well protected with both water proof connectors and heat shrink. The Sur-Ron chain is gold coated, which I know from my bicycle chains that those gold colored chains resist corrosion so much better than normal chains, huge difference and I never lube my gold chains. The suspension components, wheels, are pretty much corrosion proof.
After getting my bike covered in salt water from the salted streets I thought a lot of parts would show rust, especially the steel bolts, but after a couple of days they didn't.
That being said, you are better off not washing it of course and just wiping it down with a rag, but if you had to wash it, it should not be so bad because the bike is mostly aluminum with aluminum bicycle components, and well protected electrical connections. Just be cautions about spraying high pressure water near bearings or seals, like the suspension pivots and wheel bearings.
I would try to leave the bike out doors as long as you can to let it dry and move it around and lean it to its sides, wheelie it, to get the water to flow out of the bolt holes and dry better.
