P500 Do you need to take off the skid plates on a 520 just to clean it?

[JoPete]

well, bought a new 2025 pioneer 520 for deer season last fall. i have put 478 miles on it this deer season. i went to clean it up this week, and after A few hours of washing i thought i had it pretty clean. i took off my 27'' gorilla 2's and put the stockers back on and then i realized i did not clean the bike worth a darn because there was plenty mud left between the frame and the skid plate. is it better to just leave off the skid plates or just get used to the fact that they have to be pulled in order to clean the bike?

The pioneer 520 hasn't missed a beat all deer season, some suspension and a locker would be a great upgrade, but i am a Honda man and had a great time putting the bike through it's paces!!!

the last Honda i had was a 300 4x4, so this is a new adventure for me!!! i can" t beleive where this thing passes!!!!

 

[Admin]

 

[futzin]

Park it on an incline and spray, spray, spray . . .

 

[KYhillbilly]

if you don't remove skid plate bolts shortly after purchase and put some anti seize on them they just break off when trying to remove them.

 

[futzin]

if you don't remove skid plate bolts shortly after purchase and put some anti seize on them they just break off when trying to remove them.

True.
Another thought: remove the seat and unclip the rubber flap underneath (driver's side); a good access point for spraying

 

[KPM]

I always take my skids off post season and clean and inspect everything. I can spray spray spray but it’s like the mud grows like a weed. And gets trapped.

Also don’t install the bolts back on with an impact. An impact can snap the bolt heads. I also change all fluids while my skids are off. Part of my annual maintenance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JoPete]

thanks, I will take off the skid plates for the after deer season cleaning! I run a front rack, so i will have to take it off and clean under the hood as well.
the first time I took the 520 out to the deer lease i folded back the rear skidplate, i figured it was missing some bolts from the factory so i never seized the old ones added new bolts/washers wherever i could.
their is a P500 on the lease that has had the rear stock skidplate folded back on it for at least a year. lol

 

[DRZRon1]

general rule if not in the desert is 1 hour of riding = 8 hours of cleaning

 

[trigger]

thanks, I will take off the skid plates for the after deer season cleaning! I run a front rack, so i will have to take it off and clean under the hood as well.
the first time I took the 520 out to the deer lease i folded back the rear skidplate, i figured it was missing some bolts from the factory so i never seized the old ones added new bolts/washers wherever i could.
their is a P500 on the lease that has had the rear stock skidplate folded back on it for at least a year. lol

The factory skid is one of the first things to replace. Didn't anti seize mine the first couple yrs and didn't have a problem, until it was a problem. 🤦‍♂️