Just wondering what everyone's approach is to cleaning under the seat? Or do you just leave it dirty?

 

I'm doing my tail tidy and it's very dirty under the rear fairing and the seat. I don't mind getting the bike dirty, and I always aim for the puddles when I'm off-roading. But when I get home I like to give it a nice wash and keep it shiny, even if just for a short period.

 

I have seen Adam running a pressure washer, and also spraying the sh#t! out of all plastics under the seat with silicone cleaner. So that got me wondering.

 

 

I would say just cover the intake to stop water getting into the filter, any sensitive electronics use a plastic bag, then hit it.

 

Blow dry it all with a air compressor/blower, spray down with WD40/silicone spray and you are good.

I use ordinary bike cleaner and a garden hose with normal pressure to rinse dirt. The electronics don't react too well to power washers. After washing I use compressed air to blow out the rest of dirt and water.

 

And don't use WD40! Maybe it's good for use in space but that stuff attacks all plastic parts of the T7. There's better and even cheaper fluids to spray it on the bike.

The bike cleaner I use contains some repellent that preserves the surfaces and parts.

Thank you guys. I'm going to take advantage that I have the rear fairing out and do a good cleaning.

 

Do you guys also disconnect the battery when washing under the seat?

2 hours ago, victorbrca said:

Do you guys also disconnect the battery when washing under the seat?

You wanna drain your bike in a pool or similar?

 

To answer your question, no.

If you drop your bike in sweet water nothing will happen to the battery. But don't drop it in salt water!

15 minutes ago, Ede-DE said:

You wanna drain your bike in a pool or similar?

 

To answer your question, no.

If you drop your bike in sweet water nothing will happen to the battery. But don't drop it in salt water!

 

It always seemed like common sense to me to disconnect the battery whenever there's the possibility of important electrical components getting wet. On the trail you can't really bubble-proof your bike, but at home, under controlled conditions, that's different.

Pressuirzed water on electrical connections, even when using waterproof connectors, has the possibility of starting corrosion or a compromised connection.  I'm pretty anal about cleaning my bikes, but for under the seat I just use a damp cloth to wipe things down preceded  by compressed air if necessary. To each his own as to what level of cleanliness they want and how extreme of methods they'll use to achieve it.

Every time I disconnect a connector, I add some dielectric grease to it.  At some point, I will have all the connectors protected!

I do the exact same as Hollybrook!  

 

When I used to buy new off-road bikes, I would take them home, strip them to the frame and engine and die electric every single connection before its 1st ride out.