I skateboard a lot so I know how to clean bearings and take care of them and the general rule is to avoid riding over lots of dirt and water. But an ATB on a beach has all that. You have salt water which is worse on bearings than regular water, and you have beach sand which is really fine and manages to get itself into small places. So, my question is...how do you take care of your bearings when you're doing power slides or just crusing around on a beach? Do you guys take apart your bearings every time and clean or just buy new ones after a while? Is there a way to avoid getting clumpy bearings? Thanks in advance

I wouldn't worry about it so much.From expierence I can tell that steel bearings should last fo no more than a year and I do ride very often.My buddy was riding atb in wather with same result.However we always wash our gear just after each day of fun and that help big time.On the other hand my other friend don't wash gear at all and he had to change his after 2 months not regular riding.Try not to use high presure because You will trap salt in side bearings but just rainse it off.You may find that even if You fallow this steps Your wheels will not turn so easy after long brake and that is why I have SS now.Just for a record thay are starting to be ,,loud'' just like steal one,so time will tell if it was worth to pay much more.
Cheers

Here's a little trick I found that seems to work quite well. I spray all around the outside of the bearings and adjacent areas with a dry teflon spray. I effectively keeps sand and dirt from sticking. The less sand and dirt hanging around, the less sand and dirt that works its way into your bearings.

I reapply it every time before I go out, and my bearings are still shiny and silver - even after a summer of playing in the salt spray!! (I changed them out this last spring)

Doing that, in conjunction with a low pressure washing afterwards will prolong their life considerably. Still, getting new bearings every few years is a good idea. Things wear out, even under ideal conditions.

i use brakleen (auto brakes part cleaner) to clean my bearings, it will clean all the debris off , but wont leave an oily residue wich is bad because with oil residue on the bearings all the dirt and sand will be atrracted to the bearings and you will be worse off then before....

dont use wd-40
use compressed air but lightly not high pressure just enough to remove heavy build up....
wipe them clean with a rag then wash with brakleen....
then wipe again....

works well for me, im sure others have there own way but i ride in beach sand 90% of the time and havent had to change bearings yet....

I take the bearings to peices after about 40 hours of beach time and clean and re-grease them. If you look after them bearings should last for many years.
I like the Teflon spray idea, might try some of that.