Getting a swamped bike back on the trail

If you swamp your bike, here's what you need to do to get moving again:

1. Lay the bike on its side and pull the spark plug. If your bike has a CDI ignition (most bikes these days do), ground the plug to avoid smoking the CDI.

2. Turn off the gas, kink the tank vent hose (not necessary if you have installed a one-way tank vent) and turn the bike up side down, resting on the handlebars and seat.

3. Drop the tranny in 2nd gear and spin the rear tire in the normal direction that it spins when riding. If water made its way into the cylinder, it should be force out of the spark plug hole. Keep spinning the rear tire until you do not see any more water exiting the head.

4. Pull the air filter and thoroughly squeeze it out. Depending upon your bike, you may not being to do this with the bike on its back however, the airbox should have emptied during step 2. Reinstall the air filter.

5. With the bike now on its wheels (spark plug still uninstalled) give it 10-12 kicks to force any leftover water vapor from the cylinder.

6. Unkink the fuel tank vent, disconnect the fuel supply line from the petcock and open the petcock valve slightly to rinse the spark plug with fresh fuel. Shake the spark plug vigorously to evaporate the excess fuel and reinstall in the bike's head. Of course, if you carry a spare spark plug you can skip this step.

7. Now you're ready to kick the bike, but don't be frustrated if it takes a bit to fire. They usually don't start right away. But, in my experience, this procedure works the vast majority of the time and should get you back on the trail.