Cleaning Bike?

[chevyho]

New to 4 strokes, and havent ridden a dirt bike in about 10 years. I own a 02 crf450r, and after reading the manual it says to pull off the left crankcase cover after washing and wipe out any moisture. Is this really necessary? I find it odd that water would be able to get in there. What do you guys do?

 

[Patman]

Water can get lots of places, also condensation... If you have never taken a side cover off that hasn't been off you'll never know how dirty, oily, rusty it can get. I don't do it EVERY time but a few times a year.