As a group, motocrossers love to get dirty. But what about when it comes time to wash off all that dirt? We all know that you can't just toss your bike in the shower, which is why we have pressure washers and, as a result, nifty tips to make cleaning your ride a bit easier on the both of you. Yamaha of Troy mechanic Corey Shea has plenty of experience buffing his bikes and was more than eager to share some of his best hints for this dirty job.
When you are through washing your bike, take the time to drain the float bowl through the bottom of the carburetor. This removes any unwanted water and dirt and leaves your carb clean as it sits until your next ride. I do this by first taking out the drain bolt. Then, I turn the gas back on, but I leave the drain bolt out for about 10 seconds so it flushes out any bad stuff. I also leave the gas on while I tighten it down, just to ensure that it is all really clean. Gasoline is extremely unstable, flammable and potentially explosive, so pad paper towels under the bowl and dispose of the soaked towels properly and safely. Drain the bowl in a well-ventilated area and away from any ignition sources. I know this takes a minute, but don't be lazy, because it is really good to do!
There are many good tips for properly washing a bike, such as taping up your airbox and plugging the exhaust, but I have found two really helpful things to do that not a lot of people know about. For one, before you wash the bike, it is really good to push in your brake calipers to release any drag on the rotors. In addition to making it easier to spin your wheels, this also helps keep harmful dirt from getting rubbed all over your pads. Also, if your bike sits for a long time without being ridden, the chemicals on your brake pads can cause them to stick to your rotor and can eat into the pads over time. I generally use a T-handle to push in the calipers, but almost any tool will work. Just remember to pump them back up before you go back out!