I bought a dog dryer a few years ago, which is odd because I don’t have a dog. I’m sure I wasn’t the first to wonder what the difference was between a dog/pet dryer and a Brühl Motorcycle dryer, and I went for the cheaper option. Now I know the difference; I’m not sure I made the correct choice.
Who Needs One?
After having my bike cleaned and covered in ACF50 a few years ago, I decided I needed a motorcycle dryer after witnessing the amount of water that Trevor from AllYearBiker was blowing out of the nooks crannies and switchgear.
The bike had been washed and dried with microfibre towels before the motorcycle dryer was used. The bike looked dry, yet the amount of water the dryer was blowing out was all I needed to see.
It’s Just a Big Hairdryer
Shamefully, I must admit I did try using a hairdryer, but it didn’t work. Yes, hairdryers heat the air, but the volume of air they move isn’t enough to push the water out of the hard-to-reach places you find on a motorcycle.
Next up was a leaf blower. This time it wasn’t me, but I do know someone who tried this. Although extremely noisy and shifting a lot of air, leaf blowers don’t have the directional control or the flexibility to get into all the important places.
You could take the bike for a ride, but that isn’t going to blow the water from the switchgear and having just cleaned the bike, the chances are you will cover it in a fresh layer of grime during the darker months.
Dog Dryers
Dog dryers are where a lot of motorcyclists look next, and I was no different.
The pet dryers on eBay and Amazon range in price from £50 to £130, depending on the features. Most of them appear to be the same unit, plus or minus a few labels and attachments, and with varying delivery times.
I can’t say I understand why – as a motorcycle dryer – I need a dog dryer with variable temperature or airspeed. Flat out is how I’ve been using mine, and if you avoid the dog dryers at the very bottom of the price range, they get the job done, and I’ve used one for the past couple of winters.
So, if a dog dryer is OK, why am I talking about Brühl Motorcycle Dryers? Good question.
Brühl Motorcycle Dryer
The difference between a Brühl motorcycle dryer and a dog dryer from eBay is quality, and yes, you have to find a few more quid for that quality.
I can’t comment on the internal workings other than the power of the motors. A lot of the dog dryers make a big deal out of the wattage quoting 2800w and 3200w. I think they are trying to convince me these figures are important.
Perhaps I’m too dense to notice, yet the 1600w Brühl motorcycle dryer I’ve been using is every bit as effective as my pet dryer and costs half as much to run.
Where you can immediately see the quality is in the electrical cables and switches. Considering that any dryer’s electrical parts will not mix well with water, this is a very good thing.
Along with a water protected mains cable and plug, there is also an integral RCD on the power lead of the Brühl to protect against any unwanted mixing of water and electricity. The power switch on the Brühl is also sealed to prevent water ingress.
The attachments for the end of the hose are pretty much the same, although the hose itself is longer on the Brühl dryer and easier to work with. The hose on the dog dryer is thicker and more resistant to pointing into some of the areas I wish to get to.
Conclusions
Using a motorcycle dryer is a good idea. It might seem excessive to some, but it is stopping the problems caused by water ingress. Sadly, this is something I’ve had first-hand experience of which my V-Strom spat the dummy. Or you can ask my colleague who has the Africa Twin corroded kill switch problem.
Even if you are not into cleaning your bike, using a motorcycle dryer reduces the amount of time you spend cleaning it as motorcycle dryers are faster and way more efficient than a rub down with an old towel.
As to whether a dog dryer or a Brühl dryer is the better option, having used both, I think the Brühl is the better value option.
As to which one you choose, it will come down to the question of quality over cost.
Clarity
I was sent a Brühl Dryer when the importer discovered I was using a dog dryer. They suggested I’d made the wrong choice. I argued. They decided to prove me wrong.
