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Rust from salt on the roads

1K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  OydnaR 
#1 ·
Was riding through a mountain pass in March and there was some serious salt on the roads. Washed the bike with soap n water after a week had gone bye as the salt was doing some nasty work on the metal on my strom. Thought that would be good but now I examined the bike a lot closer and it seems the salt is still munching on my bike!!! The pipes are getting some rust as well as a few other areas.:headbang:

Was going to pick up some CLR and give that a go. Any suggestions on a product or technique to use to stop and remove the rust?
 
#2 ·
ACF-50 is to anti corrosion as WD-40 is to water displacement except it took ten more tests.
 
#3 ·
We have rock salt on our roads for about three months of the year.

Leaving the bike to dry or even part dry in the garage with salt on the plated metal or any damaged paint tempts corrosion. No brand of bike is immune.

Secret is to hose the bike down with plenty of cold water as soon as it gets salted. Every nook and cranny so you soon get familiar with where it collects. The salt disolves into the water and is carried away by the flow. Then wash as normal followed by another generous cold water rinse well into the corners.

Most of us treat the bike with the likes of WD40 or other mineral oil based sprays just after purchase. This contiues after each wash. No need for it to be expensive branded stuff as much of it washes off each time. Fortunately it builds up and is seldom washed out of the small gaps where salt does its damage so a bike gains some immunity by the time winter arrives. Applied when dry (or near dry) after each washing and its good until and into the next salting. A look at a three year or older version of the bike you buy can be a good indicator as to where you might concentrate your efforts.
 
#6 ·
I honestly don't get corrosion from salt on the frame or engine, calipers get it bad, chain especially, salt is very fine aggregate that eats o-rings in no time, during winter, I mix ATF with about 25% kerosene (straight ATF in summer 1 drip,45 seconds) in winter increase drip rate to 1 every 10-15 seconds max

if salt gets in your wire harness, forget it, its toast green cancer on copper wire is virtually unstoppable

the worse corrosion on my engine is from spilled/puked out overflow 10% ethanol gasoline. corrosion on forks is from summer bug splats (probably the most corrosive of anything you can encounter on a bike

and remember the corrosion of plastics & rubber from UV

I got no place to hose down a bike in winter I use about 1½ ton of salt/sand mix in my own driveway, I don't need to be adding more water to freeze, sometimes I stop at a car wash, but it's always dirty again by the time I get home

depending on how sloppy the ride is, I spray a half can of WD at the bike and brakleen on the calipers, and dab the caliper pins with grease



 
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