Review – Muc-Off Pressure Washer Starter Kit Bundle

For many years, I would have advised against using a pressure washer to clean your bike; the high pressure jets can wash grease out of areas such as wheel and bottom bracket bearings, and damage suspension seals. However, last year Muc-Off released what they claimed to be a world-first — a pressure washer designed specifically for bicycles and motorcycles, safe to use on the above areas. I have been testing it out over the last few months.

The Muc-Off pressure washer is a compact unit and weighs just six kilograms. It comes with a neat 30 litre dry bag that can safely house all the component parts, and allows you to transport it without fear of leakage.

The unit plugs into a standard three pin plug and a Hozelock style water connector, then you are ready to clean.

You get a choice of three lances: bicycle, motorcycle, and spray. In this order, they vary on their pressure output, with the bicycle lance being just the pressure deemed safe for bicycle washing. There is also a snow foam lance included that allows you to fit a bottle of Muc-Off bike cleaner, dispersing it as foam over the bike for optimal cleaner coverage.

The unit is simple to operate, with an on-off switch on the main unit body and a trigger switch on the lance. On the spray lance model, you can adjust the spread of the spray from pin point to wide angle.

My experience with the Muc-Off pressure washer has been resoundingly positive. It is easy to use, speeds up the cleaning process, and seems reassuringly robust. The tailored ‘bicycle’ pressure level still shifts stuck on mud with ease, even from the recommended 30 centimetre distance. Closer up, it can also be effective at stripping dirt and grease off a chain, ready for re-oiling.

I would strongly caution against putting even the bicycle specific lance too close to delicate components such as the jockey wheels and suspension parts. As mentioned above, Muc-Off advises no less than 30 centimetres, but I would say keep it at least 50 centimetres away from delicate parts, to avoid stripping out valuable grease that you want to stay put.

Overall, this is a brilliant tool. You will reduce the amount of time you spend scrubbing, and enjoy a more powerful bike clean. I am looking forward to having it at my disposal as we head into the muddier months of the year.

>> Shop the Muc-Off Bicycle Pressure Washer here

Disclaimer: Muc-Off provided a pressure washer unit for test and review.