Without a doubt, a pressure washer is the best tool to clean a muddy bike. However, power and water aren’t always at hand. That’s why the Muc-Off mobile pressure washer comes equipped with a battery and an integrated water tank. But does the concept of a mobile pressure washer actually work?
After a rainy trail session, you often ask yourself: when and how should you clean your bike? Ideally, before the mud gets a chance to turn into a stubborn dry crust on the frame. This is precisely where the Muc-Off mobile pressure washer comes into play: equipped with a 40V lithium-ion battery, a 500-watt motor, and a 20-liter water tank, this pressure washer promises a quick and thorough clean – either in the car park after a ride or outside your house if if you don’t have a garden with a hose pipe.
The pressure washer comes standard with four nozzles, each designed for different applications. A standout feature is the “Snow Foamer,” which, in combination with Muc-Off’s bike cleaner, produces a thick snow-like foam – whether you need this is up to you. Additionally, there is a nozzle specifically for bicycles (gentle), one for motorcycles (powerful), and an adjustable nozzle for particularly stubborn dirt (intense).
Assembling and disassembling the Muc-Off mobile pressure washer
The mobile pressure washer is designed to be intuitive and straightforward to use: simply insert the battery, fill the tank from the top, connect the hose to a nozzle and the unit using the click mechanism, and press the power button – one of the two buttons on the device. Switching to another nozzle can be a bit tricky at first but becomes easier with practice.
Switching from Eco to Boost mode is done via the second button on the back of the device. When dismantling, the connections between the hose and the nozzle or device need to be disengaged using a sliding mechanism. This works smoothly, though a bit of residual water might remain in the system; tilting the device briefly helps to drain it completely.
The Muc-Off mobile pressure washer in practice
For an extensive test, we took the Muc-Off Mobile Pressure Washer along on a major shoot in cold, wet weather. Initially, we tried to increase battery life by using the Eco mode but soon opted for more power. The Boost mode, in contrast, was quite impressive – a single charge in this mode is enough to clean up to seven muddy bikes.
A similar experience applied to the choice of nozzle: while the bike nozzle is certainly gentle on bearings and sensitive eMTB electronics, it’s also gentle on the dirt. The motorcycle nozzle, on the other hand, takes on the job with satisfying vigor. The combination of the motorcycle nozzle and Boost mode is particularly enjoyable– though you’ll have to be careful in sensitive areas of the bike.
The 20-liter water tank is sufficient for cleaning two very dirty bikes, making it practical for use in a parking lot after a ride or in front of a city apartment without access to a garden hose. Naturally, the main limitation of the mobile pressure washer is water supply: Muc-Off offers an additional water tank for transport in a car, as the pressure washer itself isn’t suitable for that purpose. At home, the tank can be filled from a tap or in the bathtub, although this means that you’ll have to carry the unit to the place where you’re washing the bike – on flat, smoother surfaces you can roll it on the sturdy wheels by pulling the handle.
Conclusions about the Muc-Off mobile pressure washer
While not every accessory managed to impress us, the Muc-Off mobile pressure washer performs its core task brilliantly. For a battery-powered pressure washer, the cleaning power is remarkable, especially with the right nozzle and in Boost mode. Both the battery life and the available water volume are suitable for the intended scenarios mentioned above. So, if you’re in the market for a battery-powered pressure washer for your bike, the Muc-Off’s mobile pressure washer is definitely worth considering.
Tops
- Mobile concept
- Easy assembly and disassembly
- Excellent cleaning performance
- Good battery life and water capacity
Flops
- Eco mode is too weak
- Accessories only partially useful
For more information visit mucoff.com
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Words: Jonny Grapentin Photos: Mike Hunger
