Mobile Bike Wash

After an awesome winter ride, the same question always comes up: How do I manage to keep the muddy bike from soaking the whole car? We armed ourselves with the latest mobile pressure washers to test which one removes the dirt best.

Every rider who is regularly on the road in bad weather knows the problem: On the trail, the mud stays wet and just muddy forever, but as soon as it lands on the bike, it hardens to such an extent that you can hardly remove it even with the most brutal methods. Therefore, it is best to clean the wheel while the dirt is still fresh. But this is easier said than done, especially if the tour ends far from home. If you are more often faced with the situation of loading completely dirty bikes into the family carriage, you might want to think about a mobile pressure washer.

Mobile biker cleaner: the perfect tool against the mud

A few inventions have had a lasting impact on human history, fire, the wheel – and the mobile pressure washer. With its water tank and low-pressure hose, it has enough power to rid the bike of mud anywhere, and the dirt in the trunk is a thing of the past. A good pressure washer carries enough water to clean multiple bikes in the parking lot, helps make new friends, prevents relationship problems, and additionally reduces the amount of time you spend cleaning your bike.

Too much pressure is bad

Good pressure washers have a water tank large enough to clean at least two bikes, and enough pressure to loosen stubborn grime without immediately stripping the frame. An adjustable nozzle is beneficial when cleaning sensitive areas, and brush attachments help with the finish. The best cleaners have a battery that will last through longer bike rides and race weekends, and some can be run directly off the car battery. Most importantly, it should be compact enough for any trunk, not leak, and be sturdy enough not to break from even minor impacts.

Device	Price	Battery capacity	12V	Tank/operating time*
Aqua2go	189 €	27 min	X	20L/7,4 min
Nomad 18 V	185 £	54 min	–	14L/5.2 min
Kärcher OC 3	159 €	22 min	–	4L/2,0 min
Mobi V-15	123 €	–	X	15L/6,5 min
RinseKit	99 €	–	–	10L/1.5 min

*Running time with one tank filling

One cleaner for all(s)

We tested 5 of the most exciting pressure washers in all price ranges. The lightweight and affordable Mobi V-15 forgoes a battery in favor of a 12-volt connection. The compact and well-designed 4-liter Kärcher OC 3 offers a lot for its size, and what it lacks in volume it makes up for in mobility. The innovative Black Rinsekit does not use any moving parts, it works solely by water pressure – but is this simplicity superior? In the higher price range, we have the Nomad 18 V Cordless, which offers adjustable spray strength, a 14-liter tank, and a battery with enough juice for up to 10 tankfuls. In addition, the Aqua2go PRO shines in the test, offering a 20-liter tank, a removable battery and a USB charging station. It has an affordable price and is ready to go right out of the box.

Tops

Flops

So, how does it perform?

Our testers put the mobile pressure washers through their paces in daily use. Flow rate, maximum battery life, number of bikes washed per tankful, and recharge time, all were tested. The bike cleaners bounced around in the car, fell over in the parking lot, and were generally treated poorly by us. We wanted to see if they would stay tight, and at the end of the test we had cleaner bikes than ever before.

Bottom line: You get what you paid for!

Even if you might think at first that such a device is unnecessary, we are completely convinced of the benefits since the end of the test. If you clean your bike right after the ride in winter, you save a lot of time – time you’d rather spend having a beer with buddies. We were disappointed by the Black RinseKit, because even though the idea is good, the pressure never lasted long enough. With its large tank and easy 12-volt operation, the Mobi V-15 is our buy tip, even if the workmanship can’t keep up with the best. We were surprised by the Kärcher OC 3: a great cleaner for those with limited space, but the small tank is only enough for one bike. The Aqua2go PRO and Nomad 18 V Cordless offer enough water for two bikes, as well as enough battery capacity for longer trips. The Aqua2go PRO is packed with features, but the higher build quality and ruggedness decide the battle for the test win in favor of the Nomad. Page 1 of 6 Next

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About the author

Trevor loves whiskey, biking, and everything in between. He was born in England, but feels like a true Scotsman. Accordingly, he is not only used to bad weather, but is also a true specialist when it comes to steep and challenging trails. At over 40, he actually has nothing left to prove, but can still keep up with many young savages. So that this doesn’t get too out of hand, “Think about Brook” is written on his top tube. His son Brook was infected with the bike virus right from the start. Together with his young family and two dogs, Trevor can be seen almost exclusively outdoors, whether biking, graveling, hiking, surfing or canoeing – whatever the weather. He’s a real Scotsman. Hosing down a bike without power and water? Low-pressure cleaners can do that. They are practical for on the road and usually cheaper than their high-pressure counterparts. A comparison of five bike washers. Built in, but happy. So cyclists and especially mountain bikers are not infrequently at the door of the city apartment block after the tour. Now just quickly push the bike into the basement and then off to the warm shower. But at each step the dirt lumps trickle like bread crumbs from the bike. The trail inevitably leads to the culprit’s basement compartment. Stress is preprogrammed. If you don’t have an outdoor washing area at home, you often have to take a detour to the gas station. Mobile low-pressure cleaners can be the solution here. Thanks to battery power and an integrated water tank, the bike can be cleaned independently of the public water supply. We tested five models. Unlike their big brother, the high-pressure cleaner with a mains and water connection and more than 100 bar, low-pressure cleaners only achieve a water pressure of 5 to a maximum of 20 bar. This is quite sufficient for cleaning bikes, and sensitive bearings (such as those on the rear triangle, bottom bracket and headset), into which water can easily penetrate, are thus protected from corrosion. A tank usually integrated into the device holds up to 20 liters of water. If you need more, take an extra canister with you – you have to with the pressure washer from Worx anyway, because it is the only one in the test without an integrated tank.

The entire comparison test with all results, including technical data and ratings, is available as a PDF for €1.49 in the download section below:

No electricity, no water connection? Then compact low-pressure cleaners come into their own. They’re handy for on the go and usually cheaper than their high-pressure counterparts. We tested five models from 40 to 300 euros in practice. The Aqua2Go Pro with 20-liter tank and two pressure levels up to 10 bar. The battery lasts 29 minutes. The Bosch Fontus with 15-liter tank and three pressure levels (max. 15 bar) is the largest device in the test. The battery lasts 21 minutes. The small Kärcher OC 3 Bike Box is compact, well thought-out and easy to use. It comes with a 4-liter water tank, one pressure level (5 bar) and the battery lasts 21 minutes. The 40-euro go from Lidl has a 5-liter tank and the battery lasts a whole 70 minutes. In operation, however, the device can not convince. The water jet does not reach the 5 bar specified by the manufacturer. The Worx Hydroshot WG629E comes without a water supply and only 15 minutes of battery life. In return, the washing lance has two pressure levels (max. 22 bar) and five spray settings. Washing accessories 1. a canister as a spare tank for the water supply; various sizes can be found in hardware stores. 2. an old hand towel or a microfiber towel * for drying. 3. chain spray or oil * to lubricate chain and bearing surfaces after washing to prevent corrosion. 4. coarse brush * for pre-cleaning and for stubborn dirt. 5. wheel cleaner * or dishwashing liquid, preferably in a pump spray bottle. Available at hardware stores in various sizes. 6. waterproof gloves. 7. a simple wheel stand keeps the wheel in position. You can find this article in BIKE 4/2019. You can read the entire digital issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or re-order the print issue in the DK store. to reorder – while stocks last:

Downloads:

In some of our appearances we use so-called affiliate links. These are marked with asterisks. If you click on such an affiliate link and make a purchase via this link, we receive a commission from the online store or provider concerned (such as Rose or Amazon). For you, the price does not change. Mobile Bike Wash.