Washing your Giant

[Jansy123]

Hey all, I got my 2020 Explore E+ 4 a bit dirty recently so set out to give it a clean.

Checked the manual and it talks about 'no excessive water' and 'no soap' or at least 'neutral' solutions to clean.

I then saw this video on the Giant site:

How to wash your e-bike | Giant Bicycles Official site

Learn tips on how to washing your electric bicycle

www.giant-bicycles.com

Water on the battery
Water in the connectors
Soap

Haha...what to believe?
What do you do use?

 

[CSH]

Well........................... Better to have Hope in Your Soul, then Soap in Your Ho!e............

Craig

 

[Browneye]

I saw this vid recently, seemed reasonable for excessive dirt.

When I get back and it's really dirty, I give it a quick sprits with a nozzle set on fan, mostly the wheels and tires, and any excessive dirt or mud. I don't soap it, I don't blast it.
Then ride it around the block to dry it off some, blow the excess water out.
Next I turn the bike over and wipe tires and wheels, hubs, spokes, and the lower frame with a synthetic chamois, and treat rubber plastic and vinyl with 303 Aerospace Protectant.
Next I wipe the chain down with WD40 and a cotton rag to clean it, and then oil with Triflow, wipe off excess. It should not be dripping.
Check derailleur adjustment.
Then turn the bike back up, finish drying off the frame, and good to go.

The lower picture is my bike after about 400 hard miles of dirt mountain bike trails.

 

[GravelGrindR]

Well, they are engineered to ride in the pouring rain, through mud, so I doubt gently washing with gentle soap, with an immediate gentle rinse, will void the warranty. Motorcycles also have exposed electrical components, and the only caution (also applicable to any vehicle) is to never use high pressure water.
For soap I use Dawn Ultra Premium Power Wash...I also use it on the house, in the house, on my bike chains...it is freakishly fast and efficient. Oh ya...does dishes too

 

[Browneye]

And strips any wax or protective coating off everything.

 

[GravelGrindR]

Oh yes! Sorry...should have mentioned what I assumed was the well established final step in bike cleaning...reapplying protectants and lubricants ..we all know about what assume does... ....having said that, I use a Park Tool Cyclone chain scrubber, so if I don't re-lube it's rust the next morning even after drying.

 

[GravelGrindR]

Oh yes! Sorry...should have mentioned what I assumed was the well established final step in bike cleaning...reapplying protectants and lubricants ..we all know about what assume does... ....having said that, I use a Park Tool Cyclone chain scrubber, so if I don't re-lube it's rust the next morning even after drying.