The Kärcher OC3 Drive Washing Machine Is So Helpful, I Can’t Imagine Life Without It

Worth: round £130/$170

Weight (empty): 2.2kg/4.8lbs

Capability: 4 litres/ 1 gallon

Power: 5 bars

As a result of I paintings in biking media, fairly than finance, AI, or crime, I are living in a rented flat and roughly all the time have. This implies I’m with out get right of entry to to an out of doors faucet. Given I spend maximum of my iciness checking out time driving outdoor protecting iciness jackets and water resistant jackets I finally end up with completely filthy motorcycles, and British gravel, even in top summer time, could be a sloppy affair. I’ve muddled via with quite a lot of issues prior to now: a trusty bucket and a lot of journeys to the sink (tedious), a Mobi moveable drive washing machine (it died in no time), and simply leaving my motorcycles filthy (dangerous for the motorcycles). 

When taking into consideration merchandise for our information to the most productive drive washers I stumbled upon the glorious little Kärcher OC3 and, to not exaggerate an excessive amount of, it’s been completely transformative, to the purpose I even put it in my equipment of the yr. If you happen to are living in a flat too then this generally is a overall recreation changer for you. 

I’ve used it week in, week out for the final six months or so and it’s been lovely flawless. My handiest actual gripe is the capability isn’t enough for 2 motorcycles, however then Kärcher additionally makes the OC3 Plus and OC3 Foldable variants, either one of that have better water tanks. 

Symbol 1 of three

This excellent little dice has stored my motorcycles clear all iciness(Symbol credit score: Will Jones)The elevate maintain is helping, and manner you’ll hang it and use it on the identical time conveniently(Symbol credit score: Will Jones)The higher tank detaches, with its personal maintain in-built, so that you elevate it to the sink, fill it up, and simply pop it again at the base after. (Symbol credit score: Will Jones)Design and aesthetics

I’m now not going to reside on aesthetics right here any longer than I’d over a couple of pliers or a drill. It’s a device, so whether or not it purposes correctly is principally all I care about. What you get with the Kärcher OC3 is a squat little yellow and translucent plastic dice, the highest part being a water reservoir able to retaining 4 litres of water, and the bottom incorporates the pump, and has a recess wherein the hose and nozzle gun will also be saved. 

The hose is tightly coiled, and the spray gun on the finish is small and simple to manoeuvre in comparison to that of a giant, complete energy drive washing machine. There’s just one nozzle spray atmosphere, which is somewhat a good cone. You’ll be able to purchase a bath head for it one by one, despite the fact that. The highest tank, being translucent, additionally presentations the remainder water degree, and has its personal elevate maintain for simple refilling. 

On the entrance of the OC3, there is a unmarried, huge button (on or off, if that wanted clarifying), and beneath this can be a charging port lined through a silicone plug. I’ve had a Mobi moveable washing machine die on me as a result of its charging port wasn’t lined, and so the contacts rusted away. Thankfully that shouldn’t be a topic right here, or a minimum of it hasn’t been up to now. 

There if truth be told isn’t a lot more to it than that; it’s splendidly easy. It weighs 2.2kg/4.8lbs empty, after which some other 4kg/8.8lbs on peak of that after it has a complete tank. Simply fill the tank, flip the button on, squeeze the cause and away you cross. 

Symbol 1 of three

The nozzle is inconspicuous and brief, however this makes it very good for cleansing in tight areas. (Symbol credit score: Will Jones)You handiest get one nozzle atmosphere, which is a horny tight cone. (Symbol credit score: Will Jones)You’ll be able to retailer the gun and hose within the base when now not in use, however I tended to only depart it out. (Symbol credit score: Will Jones)Efficiency

Why do I fee the Kärcher OC3 so extremely? It’s on no account probably the most tough or with the largest tank. This can be very moveable, on the other hand, which additionally manner it’s extraordinarily storeable. Mine lives in a cabinet, tucked away and now not taking over a lot room like a complete sized drive washing machine can. That is key as a flat-dwelling millennial. 

I’ve owned a full-sized jet wash, and whilst they’re higher at taking out cussed crud, they’re no doubt extra bulky to arrange and use. With the OC3, I have a tendency to depart it through the entrance door, complete and completely charged. Then, I will temporarily graceful the worst of the muck off my motorcycle in an instant earlier than permitting it to dry.

The nozzle spray is satisfactorily tough to dislodge dust and mulch, however crucially, it’s now not tough sufficient to disenchanted any of your bearings. Clearly, be smart and don’t blast it proper at your headset at level clean, however actually, I’ve simply used it with satisfied abandon round my headset, hubs, and backside bracket with none rigidity. It clears out the amassed muck across the backside bracket finish of the chain remains conveniently, and when sprayed from a better distance away, it does a excellent process of moistening the entire motorcycle must you wish to have to rehydrate dried-on muck by means of a pre-wash. 

I nonetheless want a bucket, however the combo of bucket and sponge and the OC3 is in reality very good. I if truth be told complement it with a lawn sprayer stuffed with motorcycle wash, too, with my highest washing machine going as follows.

Step 1) Use the Kärcher OC3 to transparent any giant muck clods, leaf mulch, grit, dust, and the rest that may be simply sloughed off.

Step 2) Spray the whole thing down with a motorcycle cleaner and provides it a 2nd to get to paintings.

Step 3) Wash as standard with a bucket and sponge.

Step 4) Rinse the whole thing down with the OC3.

The 4-litre tank is near to sufficient to try this for one motorcycle. If it’s specifically filthy, it’s possible you’ll want a mid-clean top-up, however that is in reality simple; the tank simply pops off, and you’ll fill it up within the sink temporarily. Once more, in case you’re a mountain biker, you’d almost certainly be with the OC3 Plus, however for street and gravel, I’ve by no means in reality felt held again through the usual length. 

Battery existence is first rate too, and handiest as soon as has the battery died on me, however in case you fee it up each 3 or so tanks, then you definately must be completely golden. 

Every other get advantages that’s in reality treasured is portability. If you happen to’re racing, or simply using your motorcycle anyplace, you’ll chuck it totally loaded into your automobile able for a trailside dampen in an instant. Given the hose isn’t competitive (you’ll spray it at your hand level clean and it’s completely secure) you’ll additionally switch ‘muddy bike’ with ‘muddy dog’ and hose your filthy pooch down after a mucky iciness stroll, saving the automobile inside from the worst of no matter they’ve rolled in. Simply make certain they shake earlier than they get in.

This portability additionally manner you’ll hang it whilst it’s complete and stroll round your motorcycle fairly than repeatedly yanking at the hose to get it round a tough nook. 

In the end, the construct high quality has been very good. Washing motorcycles manner the Kärcher OC3 is regularly sat in a small pool of status water, showered with muck and chemical substances, and repeatedly banged about shifting from cabinet to doorstep and again. It’s been flawless up to now, and has survived a long way higher than different moveable drive washers I’ve used prior to now. 

Symbol 1 of two

One giant button to show it on, and a lined charging port are the one actual options at the entrance. (Symbol credit score: Will Jones)It is so excellent it went in through Equipment of the Yr for 2024. (Symbol credit score: Will Jones)Price

You’ll be able to pick out up the Kärcher OC3 for round £130/$170. This isn’t all that a lot less expensive than a full-size Kärcher drive washing machine, and about the similar worth as a Muc-Off drive washing machine. Muc-Off does make a conveyable choice that’s just about two times the associated fee, despite the fact that. 

Evaluating this to a full-sized drive washing machine isn’t in reality a good comparability in my thoughts, and for cyclists particularly I believe the OC3 is way more helpful. I discovered it to be transformative to how simple motorcycle cleansing is, and as such my motorcycles are cleaner, parts last more, and driving is most often extra stress-free, so on this appreciate, I if truth be told assume it’s cash neatly spent. 

Verdict

The Kärcher OC3 is, for other folks with out the luxurious of an out of doors faucet, probably transformative for conserving your motorcycles clear and working easily yr spherical. It’s round the similar worth as a full-sized drive washing machine in some circumstances, however I to find it extra helpful, less difficult to retailer, and most often more straightforward to are living with, and so I nonetheless assume it represents first rate worth too, even if it’s so much smaller of slightly of equipment. 

Swipe to scroll horizontallyTesting scorecard and notesDesign and aestheticsIt’s arduous to fault. It is neat, easy, with inside garage. The tank generally is a little larger, however upper capability choices exist inside the emblem. 9/10DurabilityI’ve given it a kicking all iciness and it is arise smiling every time. 9/10Cleaning powerIt’s now not going to rival a complete length drive washing machine, nevertheless it additionally would possibly not strip the grease out of your bearings in case you stray too shut both, so in that appreciate it is ultimate for bikes8/10Battery lifeYou’ll simply get 4 or 5 motorcycle deep cleans out of it between fees, which is greater than enough9/10ValueIt’s an funding over a bucket and sponge, however taking into consideration how a lot more straightforward it makes issues I believe it is nice value8/10OverallRow 5 – Mobile 1 86%