Blaster vs. Leafblower
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Bynum NC
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
Toro Powersweeper dedicated for bike drying, about 130 mph wind. S-100 wash, sometimes followed up with Armorall carwash and rinse and then blow dry it. Meguilars detailer and ride.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
Guess I'll go 'against the grain', but I love the Blaster...
Couple of us threw some money in a pot, and when enough was collected we purchased one last year after seeing them used at some custom bike shows we attended.
They do an excellent job with the various end attachments,and the warm, filtered air can do a bike in just a few minutes.
Myself and others I ride with don't keep our bikes 'spit shined' like many do, but when it's time to give them a bath S100 and the Blaster will have a dozen or so dirty bikes looking like new in no time flat.
I'd give the Blaster an A+ rating.
And yes, prior to purchasing one of these we used leaf blowers, air compressions, and about everything else, so I have compared 'other' methods, including the old manual towel method...
Couple of us threw some money in a pot, and when enough was collected we purchased one last year after seeing them used at some custom bike shows we attended.
They do an excellent job with the various end attachments,and the warm, filtered air can do a bike in just a few minutes.
Myself and others I ride with don't keep our bikes 'spit shined' like many do, but when it's time to give them a bath S100 and the Blaster will have a dozen or so dirty bikes looking like new in no time flat.
I'd give the Blaster an A+ rating.
And yes, prior to purchasing one of these we used leaf blowers, air compressions, and about everything else, so I have compared 'other' methods, including the old manual towel method...
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
I'm glad to hear that OldFenderGuy. I've wondered about s100 and would love to have a blaster. I have had great results with leaf blower/mr clean. But the leaf blower is a bit clumsy, not filtered or heated. Now I can say I know a guy who has a blaster and says it's well worth it and get it by the wife easier.
edited for typos
edited for typos
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
A leaf blower is sucking in air from right next to you, so why does it need to be heated?Also filtered?I have'nt seen a giant air filter for the front of my bike to filter the air when I'm riding it.Unless you have the suction side of the blower sitting in a frozen pile of gravel It works just fine.The "blaster" is fluff bs for someone who has a little extra cash to blow after all the chrome bolt-on stuff has already been bought.I was reading the "features" of the blaster, one says, "no more messy towel drying".Seriously, messy towel drying?How messy does it get wiping off 4 square feet of sheetmetal?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
I have a Blaster and like it real well. They cost more because they do more. The air they blow is filtered so you don't blow dirty air on a clean bike. The air is heated so it drys faster and causes less spotting.
Bill
Bill
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 952
Likes: 7
From: Waterford, MI.
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
I have tried the S100 route and used the leaf blower and have a Blaster Jr.(only $100 and much smaller). I will say that I have very hard water and it does like to spot on the chrome (I have thought of Mr. Clean and you guys have sold me on it). I find that the best course of action in my case is the Blaster and a towel at the same time. It does cut my cleaning and drying time significantly. The fact that the blaster blows warm air leaves less spotting and is cleaner than using a leaf blower. My paint is spotless on both my bike and my wife's black 1200L is also. Take it for what it is worth but we have about $30K into these bikes and I think that a $100 investment into protecting the paint is a small extra cost. The leaf blower is for blowing leafs, is pretty filthy and I don't want any of that crap to damage my paint.
Mark
Mark
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Sunny Sedona AZ
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
S 100 Leaf Blower, and if you just gotta wipe somethig, spray on a little Pledge first!
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
My family and I show cattle, we use a cattle blower to dry the cattle. Works awesome forthe Harley. You can have it dry no time. Kinda pricey at around $300. It has two vaccuum motors working in reverse with a heater to warm the air.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Blaster vs. Leafblower
Water filter sounds good regardless of drying method. I used the leaf blower until it died. I don't have a great compressor and I didn't want to spend the big bucks on the Blaster, so I bought the Cycle Dry. Kind of cheap, but very light compared to a leaf blower and it's working great. Definitely painless enough in the wallet to give it a try.