Ok i'm sure some are saying, "what a stupid question" Well let me explain. In all the years I have been riding, I have avoided spraying down a bike because of the worry of not being able to get all the water out of every tiny little hiding place like switches on the handle bars, up under the tank where there are a millon miles of wires and their conectors, batteries, voltage regulators and all those things that don't require water to grow. I also avoid as much as possible , riding in the rain pretty much for the same reasons. Now to ask the question that this is all leading up to. There are a few folks on the forum who most likely have already had a passing thought about this, I have read that one of the failures with the cvt on the 650 is bearings. I'm sure your seeing where this is going. Do you think it could be possible that moisture could be even remotely be some of the problem in this area? Anyone that has had a cvt apart would have a better idea as to what the bearings look like. Rust? If a mouse can find his way in there or the air intake for the cvt cooling filter maybe sucking water in. Anyway ,maybe I'm all washed up ! :?:
Do you wash your bike.
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I'd imagine the more humid your local climate is the more susceptible the CVT is to moisture damage. The intake is shielded as well as can be expected but some water might get sucked into it at times.
As for washing the bike I've always used a car wash being careful not to hit places like the handlebar controls and instrument panel full force. Thats where a cleaning cloth comes in. I live in a dry climate so humidity isn't a problem. The car wash makes cleaning the wheels and underneath parts much easier. I always carry a chamois cloth to dry the windshield and mirrors as well as the seat and instrument panel so I don't get streaking. One thing I've gotten into the habit of doing is using the filtered water for rinsing instead of the high pressure rinse which is not filtered. Saves a quarter or two and I get no water spots which can be hard to remove if allowed to dry. I also try not to wash the bike when its cooler than 70. This allows the bike to dry completely withing 5-10 miles.
As for washing the bike I've always used a car wash being careful not to hit places like the handlebar controls and instrument panel full force. Thats where a cleaning cloth comes in. I live in a dry climate so humidity isn't a problem. The car wash makes cleaning the wheels and underneath parts much easier. I always carry a chamois cloth to dry the windshield and mirrors as well as the seat and instrument panel so I don't get streaking. One thing I've gotten into the habit of doing is using the filtered water for rinsing instead of the high pressure rinse which is not filtered. Saves a quarter or two and I get no water spots which can be hard to remove if allowed to dry. I also try not to wash the bike when its cooler than 70. This allows the bike to dry completely withing 5-10 miles.
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I've washed mine with a garden hose a few times but mostly I just use a bucket and a microfiber cloth. As others have mentioned don't spray high preasure water at certain places on the bike including right at the wheel axle area. As for riding it in the rain I don't give that a second though. If it rains I just put on my rain suit and keep on going. The CVT is sealed up pretty good but you need to avoid riding in water deep enough that water gets into the cooling air vents. Basically that means water deeper than the bottom of the floorboards.
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I wash mine about once every other week. I feel the microfiber cloths dry with no streaks.
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I don't worry about it, I hose it down then wash with a bucket and soap and hose it down again, I don't have a garage so it gets rained on anyway. I haven't had any problems except for my mirror switch sticking after about a year. I plan on opening that up and cleaning it and adding some dielectric grease to see if that helps.
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I use rags and warm soapy water. Rinse with hose water that is connected to my soft water supply from my garage. Hard streams of plain water do not get off the dirt, that road grime has to be touched with a cloth. I dry with compressed air from my shop compressor and then use a chamois to prevent water spots.
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Bikes for the most part are designed to be ridden in the rain so why worry, as Buffalo said don't go in puddles deeper than the floor boards (They're bikes not boats).Ernie M said:OK, agree to disagree. I'm kind of surprised with most of the answers. I thought I could possibly be on to something with the moisture getting into places it shouldn't. In refrence to bearing problems in that CVT. Thanks, Ernie
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I thought you were taking about washing the bike, not the engine and undercarriage.Ernie M said:OK, agree to disagree. I'm kind of surprised with most of the answers. I thought I could possibly be on to something with the moisture getting into places it shouldn't. In refrence to bearing problems in that CVT. Thanks, Ernie
Basically do not spray water up under the body, at the front/rear wheel bearings, or directly at the switch gear and it will be fine. The CVT bearing rust is most likely caused after they are damaged and by normal condensation from the air. While it is possible to get water up there under normal use it's not likely, just don't ford any creeks or rivers. 
Ok, I'm going to try again. The point that I was questioning was not so much about washing a motorcycle. I was trying to be suttle and not starting another big debate about the Ticking time bomb in the CVT used in the 650 Burgman . Does anybody that has seen the bearing that fails in the cvt of the 650 Burgman, show any signs of rust that may contribute to it's demise possible caused by sucking in water in through the air intake of the cvt. Not driving in 2 foot deep water!
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Ernie M said:
I kinda answered above. I've been in three CVT's and above is my experience, none have been due to water ingestion. Rust occurs after the coating or plating becomes damaged and condensing moisture from the air during heating/cooling then causes rust which makes them deteriorate more but rust isn't the cause just the result after damage has occured.MJR said:
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Bike get wash by dealer before me pick-up new bike, bike get wash again by dealer when me give bike on trade for new bike 4-5 year later. :lol: :lol:
Me wash bike every week, put wax 2 time per year '' Turtle wax ICE'', wash with hose on soft spray and use automobile soap plus fiber mitten, cover grip control with plastic bag, hold bag tight with soft tie, use leaf blower to dry, work great. After bag remove clean control and grip with damp fiber cloth. Use liquid detail wax almost every week after wash.
Me wash bike every week, put wax 2 time per year '' Turtle wax ICE'', wash with hose on soft spray and use automobile soap plus fiber mitten, cover grip control with plastic bag, hold bag tight with soft tie, use leaf blower to dry, work great. After bag remove clean control and grip with damp fiber cloth. Use liquid detail wax almost every week after wash.
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Just washed mine last night, used soap & fine spray with the hose . Did it the same way with my 400 for 5 years with no problems. :wink:
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I do wash off the bugs and road grime, but at almost 66 yrs old and fat, hard for me to do a really quality job. Twice a year I take it to a local hand car wash and have their detailers give it a thorough clean and shine. Only charge me $25 and I consider it $$ VERY well spent! Looks brand new when they're done and they get all the nooks and crannies and use professional cleaning and polishing products, not just lots of high pressure water. Works for me!!
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