A foam cannon is used with a pressure washer. A foam gun is used with a garden hose.

 

I use a pressure washer but very carefully, I put a plastic bag over the air-cleaner, I also remove the seat and put a towel over the wiring etc & instruments speedo etc, I spray the bike some gentle motorbike cleaner (mainly for the engine and wheels) then with a wide fan spray nozzle (40 degree) give the bike a pre-wash with the pressure washer being careful not to spray onto any delicate spots eg wheel bearings, wiring and not getting the nozzle too close to the paint to do any sort of damage,Next I use the foam cannon pretty much over the entire bike, then hose off the soap after a few minutes of soak time with the pressure washer, My pressure washer is lower than 2000psi, I use a small leaf blower to dry then either wax (ceramic) or I use a detailer if was recently waxes

 

Thanks for the clarification!!

My work shop is about 50 feet from the house, and my yard hydrant beside that is a long way from the my main well line. So I use a small electric pressure washer to help me wash my cages and RV. I use the low pressure tips. But I do not use it on my motorcycle. I guess I could using the low pressure tip to rinse.

Now I am wondering if I still have that GRIOT foamer...and try to figure out if it was intended for use on a hose or pressure washer.

 

No problem as for the foam cannon some are both for the pressure washer and just a hose, it depends on the connection i suppose you get a better foam from a pressure washer

 

I have this and really like it. Quick detach so you can switch back to just water.

 

that's what I use

 

A foam cannon (the one attached to a pressure washer) does not drive dirt into your paint or anywhere else if used correctly with the correct pressure, A pressure washer is not like the water-blaster pushing out 3000+ psi of pressure, a pressure washer should be around 2000psi or a bit below (using a wide angled spray nozzle when washing the foam off) I am pretty cautious and don't directly spray the speedo/tach, wiring connections and wheel bearings,

 

I use a foam cannon and a 1600psi electric pressure washer for my vehicles and even my camper. I don't break it out every time, as it just adds an extra step, but when really dirty I like using it as a pre-wash. the foam guns attached to a garden hose don't put out nearly the volume of foam that a cannon does. as others said, just keep the pressure rinse off switches, radio, wheel bearings and you'll be fine.

 

...

 

When I decided to try a foam cannon, I watched a lot of videos on car detailing. I got the cheap electric Walmart brand cube sprayer like around $100, and a good gun. The key for foaming is gpm. Most of the pro users like under 1500 psi at the gun, but like 1.5 to 2 gpm for output. You can get away a 1.2 gpm sprayer there are many, some better than others. Soaps that are ph neutral will not harm the paint finish. Soaps that are not, clean better but you need to be a bit more cautious and quicker to rinse. Overall it has been a positive experiment, I would however get a pump with a bit more output. You always lower a higher pressure pump by using a larger nozzle and increasing the volume. I use mine on the bike and family vehicles. Note, on the wheels, I may use s100 spray then rinse before foaming.