Washing Your Bike
And, yes, it's necessary. A mud covered bike may make it look like you hit the berms hard, but all that crud is no good for the bike and will end up doing damage in the long run. So keep your bike clean with this simple step-by-step process and keep it running longer!
1. Before you even get the Gerni out, remove the air filter and replace with an airbox cover (see inset pic). These are usually only a few dollars from your Yamaha dealer.
2. The cover not only protects the engine's internals from water, but also prevents your air filter from becoming waterlogged, reducing its efficiency.
3. Plug that muffler! Again these are only a few dollars from your Yamaha dealer and are a good investment to prevent water getting into the muffler and causing damage.
4. Greased components, like your chain, attract a lot of dust and dirt. Liberally spray around these exposed areas with a degreaser like YAMALUBE's Engine & Mud Cleaner before washing.
5. A good, vehicle-specific detergent is a must as it does more to dislodge packed-on dirt than water alone. We mix it up in a pressure pack which is handy for getting into hard-to-reach areas.
6. Spray all over, top to bottom and let it soak in. Resist the temptation to blast off the worst of the dirt before doing this as the pressure wash can force dirt and grit into vital areas.
7. Okay, you've done all the preparation, now blast away! Work from top to bottom. Be sure to give the engine a good blast as its operating heat can 'bake' mud and dirt onto it.
8. Don't forget the brakes. Applying the brakes in the dirt can mash grit and mud into the braking components, so give it a good squirt between the brake pads.
9. Good as new and almost ready to ride, but the job isn't over yet. In washing away the dirt, you've also washed away lubricant from those vital working parts.
10. All the 'greased' components will need regreasing. Start with some YAMALUBE Lube-Zall or similar and spray liberally over the relevant areas like exhaust & muffler, footpegs and sprockets.
11. Devote special attention to the chain. After regreasing, spray on a chain lubricant, like YAMALUBE Performance Chain Lubricant, rotating the wheel to ensure all the chain is given a light coating.
12. Finally, check the carburettor bowl, just as a caution. Water shouldn't get into the carby, but if you remove the bowl nut and water comes out instead of petrol, you'll be forewarned of any problem before you go out riding again.
