[Skwerlee]

Can you mess anything up by washing a bike that's up to temp? If I’ve been out riding I usually try to let the engine cool off for about 30 minutes before I wash it...sometimes I'll throw a shop fan on it to speed things up. Last time I washed mine there was steam coming off the cases and exhaust pretty good when I started spraying it down. I don't wanna crack the case or anything like that.

 

[Ben-Rod]

I would be very careful doing that...Would be best to let cool to the touch...


Ben

 

[rbeane60]

Shouldn't be any different than if it starts raining on you in the middle of the ride.

 

[Darque_Bike636]

Shouldn't be any different than if it starts raining on you in the middle of the ride.

It is very different. Heat transfer in fluids is dependent on a number of things, but a big one being the flow rate across the surface. Your hose cranks out probably something like 3-4 gallons per minute. The falling rain in an average shower and subsequent spray off the road is probably more like a couple of cups an hour.

Never spray a hot motor or exhaust with cold water. I always like to have my engined warm just to the point where it isn't too hot to touch.

 

[xarnthal]

It's all about the temperature difference. Never wash it immediately after a ride, you're risking the chance of a crack. Even if it doesn't crack you're causing the metal to stress from the rapid cooling. You can crack cold aluminum that has been heated by washing even room temperature warm water over it. Any rapid cooling of metal is going to cause it to shrink at an abnormal rate. When you cool aluminum at a high temperature it causes the aluminum to become softer and often crack(stretch). In stainless and steels rapid cooling causes carbon to build up(heat discoloration area) around the hot/cooled area which makes it more likely to break since it becomes hardened and susceptible to cracking(breaking).

 

[canyon1]

A dirty bike is a bad thing, but I never wash with a hose because water under pressure can penetrate where it shouldn't be so I only spot clean with windex or mild soap. I would not wash a hot or warm bike. It just doesn't make good sense. There are many good cleaners out there that don't require hosing down with water. 8)

 

[BillyD66]

Shouldn't be any different than if it starts raining on you in the middle of the ride.

It is very different. Heat transfer in fluids is dependent on a number of things, but a big one being the flow rate across the surface. Your hose cranks out probably something like 3-4 gallons per minute. The falling rain in an average shower and subsequent spray off the road is probably more like a couple of cups an hour.

Never spray a hot motor or exhaust with cold water. I always like to have my engined warm just to the point where it isn't too hot to touch.

Agree with the above. Plus keep in mind that when you are riding and get caught in some rain the motor is still running and, therefore, probably really doesn't cool down from the rain. Rapid changes in temperature could really ruin your day

 

[middleagecrisis]

I too rarely use a water hose. The only time I spray water on the bike is when it is really dirty. I want to get the larger particles off the bike so as not to scratch it when wiping down with a damp cloth. Oh, of you have to ask about washing while hot then you've answered your own question. No point in chancing it.

 

[toby]

I have to agree with the rain thing. Although it probobly isn't a good idea to slam a hose on it right after parking from a hot day ride. I have ridden hard and fast to get away from on coming down pores only to get caught and have steam come off the pipes etc. Even ended up in snow falling . But I'm pretty sure a running motor in those conditions is cooler than if you just turn it off after a hot day ride.

 

[ROADKILL]

I run my bike just long enough to get to where I wash it - about 30 secs. If the bike is really dirty I let it cool completely down and spray it down with S100, after about 10 min hose it down. After that I use a soft bristle brush using Dawn dish detergent then hose off again, then use a air hose to blow off most of the water then wipe down with micro fiber clothes - if the bike is not real dirty I use a waterless cleaner or windex. Spraying water on the bike from a regular water hose will not hurt it, just don't spray directly into the intake - eveything on the bike is sealed so if nothing is coming out nothing should get in.

 

[Skwerlee]

thanks for all of the replies guys

 

[elle]

I use the S100 to clean bike so it has to be cool.