Firstly, If you truly drown the bike (or car), don't be fooled into thinking there's any quick way to restart it!

What’s been said so far is pretty much spot on but I've found the key thing is to get it all done in the right order.

I’ve drowned two bikes, an AJS and a DRZ (and far too many Land Rovers); this is pretty much what I’ve done each time and it seems to have worked with no long term damage…

1. Work logically through the path the water took through the engine, starting at the filter and ending at the exhaust and take your time. Take the filter out (a well-oiled filter will shed water quite quickly) shake and leave out to dry the best you can, drain the airbox or mop it out, remove breathers and drain them including and oil traps/separators.

2. Ease crankcase oil drain plug open to let water ooze out till oil is apparent (the water will sink to the bottom) don’t try to turn the motor over before doing this as all you will do is mix oil and water into a worse emulsion.

3. Take the plug out, clean and dry it and with an open throttle, turn motor over to force the water out of top end. If it won’t turn on the starter a short tow or even a push in gear should does the trick.

4. Tip the bike up on the back wheel (if you can with help) and fully drain exhaust, turn engine over if possible. (Watch for headers that are like 'S' bends that may trap water - it may flow back into cylinder.)

*You can do 4 before 3 and then again after.

5. Don’t try to start bike before doing 1 – 4.

6. Fit the plug (or a fresh one if you have a spare) and attempt a start - be persistent.

7. Flush and change oil at first available opportunity.

8. If you sucked in lots of sand and silt, sell the bike at the first available opportunity!

Tip: Don’t enter deep water if you engine’s hot and the fan is running as the fan blades will deform in the water and carve a nice circular hole in your radiator! Seen this happen several times.

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