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Few people think of bike cleaners when they hear the name Stihl. Rather, most people will inevitably think of loudly screeching chainsaws and wildly flying wood shavings. However, the Hessian company with the distinctive orange logo now has all kinds of useful garden tools in its range. A new addition is the battery-powered RCA 20 pressure washer, which is available in a practical set with two batteries and all kinds of useful accessories.
Features of the Stihl RCA 20
Stihl supplies 2 batteries, charger, gun and a nozzle with 4 spraying functions at a price of 229 euros >> e.g. available here. Slightly less, namely only 169 Euro must be placed on the counter if you already have compatible Stihl batteries.
The practical transport bag also contains a lance for extension, a hose for the water connection and a folding canister with a volume of 20 litres. You can either fill it at home and take it with you on your trip, or fill it up with water from streams or lakes - a filter attachment then prevents small particles from getting into the hose.
Smart handling
Stihl takes a comparatively long time to assemble. However, once all the parts have been assembled, the cordless pressure washer is very practical. The water canister is easy to fill and just as easy to transport to the place of use - even if the thin-walled tank does not hold its shape when carried.
Thanks to the long, flexible hose, you can move quite freely around the bike and easily reach all areas. Another great feature is the option to connect the gun directly to the garden hose, provided it is fitted with a Gardena coupling.
With the integrated cleaner tank, a thick film of foam can be applied to the frame - good for particularly muddy mountain bikes or gravel bikes. For spraying down, you can either use just the gun and attachment (somewhat more compact) or an additional extension lance. A total of four spray modes are available, but only a maximum of two of these make sense on the bike.
The pistol itself sits comfortably in the hand. The two available pressure levels can be conveniently selected on the back, and the trigger is nice and smooth. The battery indicator also works reliably.
During prolonged use, however, the gun feels comparatively heavy in the hand - as if you were doing a weights workout while washing your bike. This is due to the fact that the motor and battery are completely integrated into the gun and not housed in a separate casing, as is the case with devices such as the Aqua2Go Evo or Muc-Off Pressure Washer. This has both advantages and disadvantages.
Conclusion on the Stihl RCA 20 cordless pressure cleaner
- Price 229 euros (including 2 batteries and charger), Price solo 169 Euro >> available here
- SCOPE OF DELIVERY 2 batteries, charger, foam pot, lance with nozzle, gun, hose, folding water container
- OPERATION Battery / 10.8 V, 2600 mAh
- RUNNING TIME (highest level) 2 x 12:45 min
- TANK / HOSE LENGTH 20 l / 5 m
- PRESSURE / delivery rate 24 bar / 2.4 to 3.9 l/min
The chainsaw professionals supply a universally applicable device that draws water from the garden hose, the 20-litre folding canister or, thanks to the integrated filter, also from lakes and rivers - which is very practical. The long, flexible hose and high-quality workmanship are also pleasing. The foam pot can be used to lather the bike properly, but only two of the four spray modes are suitable for bikes.
Thanks to two batteries, you can easily clean four bikes at once. The heavy gun is criticised. This shows the disadvantage of this system with integrated motor and battery. Everything can be conveniently stowed away in the compact bag for transport. Only 169 euros are due if identical Stihl batteries are already available.
Advantages & disadvantages of the Stihl RCA 20 cordless pressure washer
+ High-quality workmanship; flexible water connection; long battery life; easy to transport
- Gun with motor and battery is heavy in the hand; only two useful spraying modes
Here are the other mobile cleaners that we have also tested
Stefan Frey
Editor
