Bike dryers

[speedevil]

Drying the bike after washing it is a major nuisance.  There are "bike dryers" you can buy, and they work very well.  Some folks use leaf blowers to do the same thing.  The same company that now sells "bike dryers" also makes dog dryers. The "bike dryers" are just marked-up versions of dog dryers. Drying dogs is best by just blowing the water out of the coat without heat. You would save some cash and get the exact same dryer by just buying a dog dryer. Go here

http://www.kvvet.com

and search for "metro air force". No need to pay the "biker premium" to get a dryer. They work really well, especially on bikes with exposed cylinder fins and a lot of nooks and crannies.

I have no affiliation with kvvet except that I have purchased items from them.  I have a dog dryer that is doing double-duty as a bike dryer and it seems absurd to pay a big markup because it is for "drying bikes".  It's your money, your call - just offering another option.

[hillbillypolack]

I don't know why that sounds so prissy.  Most guys who already work on their bikes have an air compressor, so getting to those nooks and crannies is easy with a trigger end on the air line.

If you don't have the luxury of a compressor, get a 5hp shop vac from the 'Depot.  Attach the hose to the exhaust, fit the narrower attachment and "voila", you have an electric shop vac / compressor.  Which you can also use as a vacuum in your garage, stairway, bathroom, etc.

[OwnyTony]

I don't know why that sounds so prissy.  Most guys who already work on their bikes have an air compressor, so getting to those nooks and crannies is easy with a trigger end on the air line.

If you don't have the luxury of a compressor, get a 5hp shop vac from the 'Depot.  Attach the hose to the exhaust, fit the narrower attachment and "voila", you have an electric shop vac / compressor.  Which you can also use as a vacuum in your garage, stairway, bathroom, etc.

+1 on the shop vac

I personally use my commercial grade echo leaf blower.

[speedevil]

My compressor isn't a great one, just one of those really noisy 20 gal wobble types so I use it only when I have to.  The dryer is a lot smaller than the shop vac so it's easier to use and mine doesn't have a way to put a hose on the exhaust.

Since I already had the dryer, it now does double duty.

Like I said, your money - your call.

[mbalmer]

I use a leaf blower (of course, I don't wash my bike too often). My husband was washing my bike with a pressure washer. Is that okay? It started fine after he was done. I was a little nervous about the power of the pressure washer though.

[univox]

These bikes are sensitive around water as it is to begin with. Keep the pressure washer away from the bike, it can force water into areas water doesn't belong like bearings and sensitive electronics.

[mitt]

My husband was washing my bike with a pressure washer. Is that okay?

NO.  You are lucky it started this time.  Ducati connectors, and motorcycle connectors in general are not as water tight as automotive.  Also, our gauge cluster is not water proof, so use any pressured water carefully around it.

I always go for a quick blast ride after washing to get things heated up and dried out.  The one time I didn't, I had a grabby clutch, probably due to rust on the springs (open clutch cover).

mitt

[mbalmer]

Thanks. I'll have him read your replies. He was careful to stay away from wires and didn't do the gauge cluster thing. He mostly did the wheels, the yellow spring, and the lower part of where the motor is. I have heard of people washing their bikes and having trouble starting it so I assumed the pressure washer was not the best idea. I know he meant well. If I had been there when he started I would have told him not to use it.

[Heath]

I don't know why that sounds so prissy.  Most guys who already work on their bikes have an air compressor, so getting to those nooks and crannies is easy with a trigger end on the air line.

If you don't have the luxury of a compressor, get a 5hp shop vac from the 'Depot.  Attach the hose to the exhaust, fit the narrower attachment and "voila", you have an electric shop vac / compressor.  Which you can also use as a vacuum in your garage, stairway, bathroom, etc.

+1 this is what I do.  I thought about getting one of those bike dryers until I saw you could attach the hose to the exhaust of the shop vac.  It works great!

[MendoDave]

I always go for a quick blast ride after washing to get things heated up and dried out. 

+1

Then come back and lube the chain.

[55Spy]

any form of pressurized air is fine.  No pressurized water tho.

[Capt baz]

i use to use a leaf blower(electric), but it was akward & loud. i now have a cycle dryer that has a mar proof rubber nozzle, quiet & it works very well. it's very compact & it also comes with a storage bag.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2010321/c-10111/Nty-1/p-2010321/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10111/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=cycle+dryer