IP65, IP67, IPX9K: what they mean and how to wash your motorcycle without damaging the electrics

LED lights, handlebar switches, USB chargers, indicators… Almost everything we fit to a motorcycle boasts an «IP65» rating. But what exactly does it mean? Can you wash your bike with a pressure washer without worrying? Here it is, without the jargon.

What the IP code is

IP stands for Ingress Protection. It is defined by the international standard IEC 60529 (EN 60529 in Europe) and measures how well an enclosure keeps out solids (dust) and water.

It is written with two digits: the first one is for solids and the second for water. If one of them has not been tested, it is replaced by an X, as in IPX7.

First digit: dust

• 5 · Dust-protected. Some dust may get in, but not enough to affect operation.
• 6 · Dust-tight. No dust gets in. This is the maximum.

Second digit: water

IPX4 · Splashing water

Water splashed from any direction. Enough for rain.

IPX5 · Water jets

A jet from a 6.3 mm nozzle at about 12.5 litres per minute, from any direction and at around 3 m. That is hose water, not a pressure washer.

IPX6 · Powerful jets

A 12.5 mm nozzle at about 100 litres per minute. Far more water, but still not high pressure.

IPX7 · Temporary immersion

Submerged down to 1 m for 30 minutes.

IPX9K · High pressure and temperature

Close-range jets at very high pressure (around 80–100 bar) with water at about 80 °C. This is the test that most resembles a pressure washer.

One important detail: the ratings do not always add up. A component rated IPX7 survives immersion, but that does not guarantee it passes the IPX5 or IPX6 jet tests. That is why some manufacturers state both, for example IPX6/IPX7.

So, can IP65 handle a pressure washer?

It is not designed for that. A home pressure washer usually works at 100 to 150 bar and, a few centimetres away, the force of the water hitting a seal is far greater than in the IPX5 test. Water can push past seals, get into connectors and stay there. Over time you get corrosion, poor contacts and intermittent faults that are very hard to track down.

On top of that, the IP rating is measured on a new, correctly fitted component. An aged seal, a connector that is not fully seated or a cable badly sealed after an installation change things.

How to wash your motorcycle without damaging the electrics

1. If you use a pressure washer, keep your distance (as a guide, at least half a metre) and use the fan spray, never the pinpoint jet.
2. Do not aim straight at connectors, handlebar switch clusters, the dashboard, the ignition, steering head bearings, wheel and swingarm bearings, the air filter or the exhaust outlet.
3. On the handlebar and around the electrics, use a sponge or cloth with water and a motorcycle-specific shampoo.
4. Dry it with a blower or a microfibre cloth and go for a short ride so the engine heat evaporates any remaining moisture.
5. Every now and then, check the main connectors. If you see green deposits or corrosion, clean them with contact cleaner.

Always check your motorcycle's manual: some manufacturers expressly advise against pressure washing certain areas.

Why our switches are IP65

W89 push buttons, both the handlebar switches and the 12 mm buttons you can mount wherever you like, are IP65: dust-tight and resistant to rain and water jets. That is what a control that lives outdoors all year needs. And for that very reason, when you wash the bike, treat them like the rest of the electrics: water yes, point-blank pressure no.

Not sure which switch fits your bike? Write to us and we will help.

Cover photo: Julien Riedel / Unsplash