The best pressure washer for your bike

The post The best pressure washer for your bike appeared first on Cycling Electric.

If you have an e-bike, you may know that there are specific cleaning products for your e-bike. While Cycling Electric has already compiled a buyer’s guide on the best cleaning products for your e-bike to ensure you have everything you need, a pressure washer for bikes will help blast away mud and dirt but be kind and gentle on seals and components. You shouldn’t damage your battery or motor on your e-bike; other vital parts like your bottom bracket and cassette won’t be blasted to pieces.

While we have looked at the best bike cleaner, the best pressure washers for bikes are essential to getting the job done. They will come with different attachments so you can attach snow foam hoses and ensure you’re not rubbing dirt around your bike’s frame and scratching it but lifting it off the surface, breaking it down and protecting your bike. There’s more to cleaning a bike than just hot soapy water, and a bucket and a pressure washer for bikes is the perfect start on your detailing journey.

Best pressure washers for your bike

Muc-Off Bicycle Pressure Washer – £105

Karcher OC3 Portable Cleaner – £119.99 (RRP £149.99)

GO P40 – Large Bundle – £149.90

Ryobi 18V Cordless ONE+ – £179.99

Worx Nitro Brushless Hydroshot – £199

Muc-Off Mobile Pressure Washer – From £250

Bosch Fontus Gen II – £275

A portable pressure washer can be one of the best things you pack when you go mountain biking – if you’re into that, we have a list of the best eMTBs to buy. Before you take it home, this will blast any muck and grime off your e-bike, meaning you can leave with a bike as clean as when you came. Great for keeping on top of your bike’s maintenance, a pressure washer for bikes is a must have.

Best bike pressure washers

Muc-Off Bicycle Pressure Washer

£105 | VIEW OFFER

The original bike focused pressure washer is the Muc-Off Bicycle Pressure washer, reviewed for Cycling Electric by Editor Mark Sutton. It comes with a snowfoam lance and everything you need to get your bike from dirty to clean in next to no time at all. The one litre of nanotech bike cleaner which comes with this is ample for many cleans of your bike, you’ll just need a few accessories to get your bike as clean as possible, like a sponge and brushes, etc. The cheapest on the list and one which you can keep in your bike shed and use when you get home after a dirty ride out.

Pros
Very reasonably priced for the convenience afforded and the kit included
The nozzles indicate the correct usage and pressure for bike, motorbike and other use
Adapted to enable a pre-foaming with Muc-off’s main cleaner

Cons
some manual set-up needed

Specifications
Pressure: up to 100 bar
Cordless: No – plugs in
Water supply: External
Power lead: 5 metres
Water temperature: Intended to be cold water only

Karcher OC3 Portable Cleaner

£119.99 (RRP £149.99) | VIEW OFFER

Here’s a handy little washer that gravel bikers might like to use, it’s water tank is a little too small for a fully mud-baked full-suspension eMTB but for the lighter dustier gravel stuff, it could be perfect. with just enough pressure to spray away your bike cleaner and loose dirt it’s great for a quick rinse of your bike. As mentioned, the water tank isn’t massive but the internal battery is good enough for up to 20 minutes of cleaning. Simply charge up at home, fill the tank up before your ride, store it in your boot and away you go.

Pros
Small size
Portable
Easy to carry

Cons
Limited cleaning due to water tank size

Specifications
Pressure: 5 Bar
Cordless: Yes
Water supply: 4 litre water tank
Power lead: N/A
Water temperature: Intended to be cold water only

GO P40 – Large Bundle

£149.90 | VIEW OFFER

This small little pressure washer is mighty, perfect to blast away the mud after a day on the trails it is capable of up to 120 Bar of pressure and can kick out 1,700 watts of power. So go easy on that bottom bracket if you’re using it in it’s more powerful mode. The six meter cable should be plenty to get you around the bike and cleaning, however, you do need a hose pipe plugged in to the pressure washer, so it’s not as portable as it claims to be. It’s compact for easy storage and has various different nozzle attachments to make it easier to use.

Pros
Compact
Easy to store
Powerful

Cons
Not as portable as it makes out as you need a hose pipe and water source

Specifications
Pressure: 120 Bar
Cordless: No
Water supply: External
Power lead: Not given
Water temperature: Up to 40 degrees Celsius

Ryobi 18V Cordless ONE+

£179.99 | VIEW OFFER

This looks just like a power drill, how can it be a powerful pressure washer capable of cleaning your bike? Well, it has a syphoning system included in the purchases which is a 6m hose which is capable of pulling water from any water source, so even if you’re by a lake or a river, you can clean your bike, or with a simple bucket of water. It also has a 2 litre water bottle adapter so you can use it without the need for the syphoning kit, which is pretty cool after an eMTB ride you can give your bike a quick blast off before loading in to the van or on to a roof rack. It has pressure settings from 7 Bar up to 41 Bar and being part of the Ryobi ONE range you can use it’s battery, which has it’s own IPX 5 rated waterproof housing, on over 200 Ryobi products and tools. You get 18 minutes of run time and as it’s a starter kit, battery and charge are included.

Pros
Convenient sizing
Draws water from anywhere
Portable

Cons
No filter on the water system

Specifications
Pressure: Up to 41 Bar
Cordless: Yes
Water supply: Any
Power lead: N/A
Water temperature: Cold water only

Worx Nitro Brushless Hydroshot

£199 | VIEW OFFER

Like the Ryobi above this is a completely cordless pressure washer powered by a battery and utilising any body of water as a water source using the syphoning kit. It weighs just 1.5kg so after a long day on the trials you won’t feel to exhausted lugging a heavy pressure washer around cleaning off your bike. The nozzle has five different spray angles 0°, 15°, 25°, 40° to shower so you can get all the mud off you require. With a slightly more powerful pressure gauge at 56Bar and a 220 litres per hour flow rate, your bike will be clean in no time at all and will be safe to use on your bottom bracket, too. This portable pressure washer can be put in your vehicle to take to the bike park making sure everything is clean and tidy before you head home.

Pros
Powerful for a hand held
High flow rate
Versatile

Cons
Lack of filtration on the syphoning kit

Specifications
Pressure: Up to 41 Bar
Cordless: Yes
Water supply: Any
Power lead: N/A
Water temperature: Cold water only

Muc-Off Mobile Pressure Washer

From £250 | VIEW OFFER

This is brand new from Muc-Off as reported by Cycling Electric, the Muc-Off portable pressure washer for bikes, is a claimed world first. There’s no other we know of on the market which has it’s own internal water tank this large, and the capabilities which this one has. There’s many different buying options on this one ranging from £250 up to £425. The more you spend the more accessories and extras you get with the kit. You ca also buy replacement dry bags, water tanks and batteries. The all-inclusive unit is snow foam friendly and great to have in the back of your van for when you’re headed home from the bike park. The unit it’s self has a 20 litre water tank, so more than capable of cleaning your whole bike in one go. The battery is capable of giving the washer 24minutes of run time with two power modes, eco and boost.

Pros
All-in-one
Large water supply
Portable

Cons
There are other options but do not have a water supply like this

Specifications
Pressure: Up to 65 Bar
Cordless: Yes
Water supply: 20 litre tank
Power lead: N/A
Water temperature: Cold water only

Bosch Fontus Gen II

£275 | VIEW OFFER

The final in the list and like the Muc-Off before this is an all in one unit except it has a 15 litre water tank, it is however, still portable and capable of having in the back of the car ready to wash your bike down. It doesn’t have as much pressure as some of the others around it at 20 Bar, so it’s more than safe to use on your bikes. There are different attachments you can use to make sure you get the best out of your cleaning, like a brush head for example. A long hose length of 4 meters, you can also attach your hose pipe so that you’ve got continuous water, if you’re using it at home. There is no time given on the run time of this but there is a note to say that the machine will stop after 30 minutes of use to give the motor a chance to cool.

Pros
Easy to use
Portable or at home
Large water tank

Cons
Cheaper alternative on the market with more power

Specifications
Pressure: Up to 20 Bar
Cordless: Yes
Water supply: 15 litre tank or external
Power lead: N/A
Water temperature: up to 50 degrees Celsius

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to use a pressure washer on a bike?

Yes, using a pressure washer on a bike is generally safe if done correctly. However, it’s essential to use a low-pressure setting and keep the nozzle at least a few feet away from the bike. Directing high-pressure water at close range can force water into bearings and other sensitive areas, potentially causing damage.

What are the benefits of using a pressure washer to clean a bike?

Using a pressure washer can save time and effort when cleaning a bike. It effectively removes mud, dirt, and grime from hard-to-reach areas like under the fork, the chain, and the gears. It also makes the cleaning process less physically demanding compared to manual scrubbing.

What should I avoid when using a pressure washer on my bike?

Avoid using high-pressure settings directly on bearings, seals, or the bike’s drivetrain. The intense pressure can strip lubricants from these components and lead to quicker wear and tear. It’s also advisable to avoid spraying water directly into electrical components if your bike has any.

How often should I use a pressure washer on my bike?

The frequency of using a pressure washer depends on how often and in what conditions you ride your bike. For regular riders, cleaning the bike with a pressure washer once every few weeks or after rides in muddy or dusty conditions is sufficient. Ensure you lubricate the bike adequately after washing.

Can all types of bikes be cleaned with a pressure washer?

Most bikes, including mountain bikes, road bikes, and hybrids, can be cleaned with a pressure washer if appropriately used. However, extra care should be taken for bikes with delicate components or electronic systems, such as e-bikes, to avoid sensitive areas, or it might be better to use manual cleaning methods.

Why should you trust us? At Cycling Electric, we’re passionate about giving people active travel options; we’re respected journalists in our field and follow everything cycling. We test, ride and review many bikes a year and know what makes a bike work and what doesn’t. We work with brands worldwide to bring you the best bikes possible.

The post The best pressure washer for your bike appeared first on Cycling Electric.