I got caught in the rain coming home two days ago for just a few minutes. I immediately parked under my covered porch and went back to work. I went to get on it the next day and noticed white liquid all over the front fender. It appears that rust water dripped all down the handlebars, etc. Even the handlebars themselves have rust on them. What the hell? Why would it do that?
Also, you can see where the seepage around the front brake fluid reservoir. That's been like that for a while though.
(http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2571/pic0065ns3.jpg)
(http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9746/pic0066ch6.jpg)
Any chance you can take clearer pics? It's hard to tell if we're looking at dirt or corrosion. ???
Quote from: DucAtomic on August 09, 2008, 08:29:46 PM
Any chance you can take clearer pics? It's hard to tell if we're looking at dirt or corrosion. ???
Sorry. Thats a cellphone camera. The 2nd pic is better. Look at the upper section of the chromed handlebar and you can see the rust that formed in only 2 days. All the white on the black cable parts is dried oxidation that ran onto them. In the top picture, notice the the bottom screw is dull and corroded while the top is shiney silver. Even my rizoma mirror screw has that white rust on it today. I shoulda took a picture of my plastic fender. Yesterday it looked like a huge bird crapped all over it where that rust dripped and ran down the forks.
I ride in the rain when necessary, and my bike does not look like that after.
Although, my bars did rust a little, but that took a year or 2 to start showing. And, it still wasn't as bad as yours.
Where are you from?
Weather/road salt?
Are you sure it wasn't already like that, and you are now just noticing?
White rust? It's oxidation on the aluminum. This must have been accelerated with a salty environment. It's happened on my bike this past winter. It was a dry day but the roads still had some road salt on them. It was enough to corrode the surface on some aluminum fasteners. The rust on the handlebar seems excessive for the amount of time you exposed your bike to the elements, though.
Quote from: DucAtomic on August 09, 2008, 09:25:05 PM
White rust? It's oxidation on the aluminum. This must have been accelerated with a salty environment. It's happened on my bike this past winter. It was a dry day but the roads still had some road salt on them. It was enough to corrode the surface on some aluminum fasteners. The rust on the handlebar seems excessive for the amount of time you exposed your bike to the elements, though.
I'm in Mississippi. We don't salt the roads here unless there's an ice storm. It's wierd. The (I guess it's aluminum) connector for the right hand brake fluid reservoir is oxidized really bad as well. Just before the rain it was perfectly normal. I noticed this when I was at the gas station yesterday and saw all the dried white on the front fender. I followed the white to see where it was coming from and both handlbars are covered in it. I took a damp paper towel and wiped what I could off but it's still begs the question of why this happened. I just installed handlebar risers last week but they are black powdercoated and located in the middle, so that wouldn't explain why the ends around the grips are coroded. That was my first thought though.
A friend says it must've been an acidic rain. I don't know. Strange. All the cables running from the handlebars have this dried white oxidation on them and the silver parts are corroded
Could it have been something on the road that was sprayed up on you as you rode in the rain? Who knows what matter of crap is being dumped by transport vehicles these days. White residue isn't from rainfall normally.
Quote from: DucAtomic on August 09, 2008, 09:54:29 PM
Could it have been something on the road that was sprayed up on you as you rode in the rain? Who knows what matter of crap is being dumped by transport vehicles these days. White residue isn't from rainfall normally.
That would be possible if the bike had it everywhere but it's just the handlebar, which then ran down the all the wires and forks. I'll take better pics tomorrow. When I got back and the bike was wet I put the cover on it as it sat under the porch since this was a thunderstorm with blowing rain. Maybe that cover didn't allow it to air out.
Dude, sharpen up and read the owner's manual: On page 61 near the top it expressly tells you to,"... under no circumstances ride the unit in the rain if you live in a state beginning with the letter 'M'".
This is yet another classic case of someone who is all bent out of shape, when they could have just paged through the owner's manual and saved themselves some grief.
Quote from: tangueroHondo on August 09, 2008, 10:37:38 PM
Dude, sharpen up and read the owner's manual: On page 61 near the top it expressly tells you to,"... under no circumstances ride the unit in the rain if you live in a state beginning with the letter 'M'".
This is yet another classic case of someone who is all bent out of shape, when they could have just paged through the owner's manual and saved themselves some grief.
Sorry. I read the Cliff's Notes version of the manual and it didn't cover that. Live and learn I guess.
Quote from: DrNo08 on August 09, 2008, 09:41:21 PM
A friend says it must've been an acidic rain. I don't know. Strange. All the cables running from the handlebars have this dried white oxidation on them and the silver parts are corroded
Have you tried cleaning it yet?
Possibly galvanic reaction between dissimilar metals hastened by the enhanced condivity when rained on.
Read here:
http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm
Quote from: ducpainter on August 10, 2008, 05:47:45 AM
Have you tried cleaning it yet?
Nothing more than a damp paper towel to remove what was on the fender b/c it looked bad. I wanted to see how to clean it. Don't want to make it worse somehow by doing the wrong thing. It looked like someone poured milk on it and it dried.
Alot of pictures to come. I'm about to upload them.
Still not the best quality but you can see how the oxidation just ran all over everything. I just washed this bike 4 days prior to this and it was clean up until the brief rain on Thursday.
Notice the white milky look where it ran from the aluminum parts to cables, mirror, horn, etc..
Notice the screws. The black one is now gray and the bottom silver is coroded
(http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3339/pic0067fb3.jpg)
dried on the mirror and coroded the screw that holds the rizoma on the bar end.
(http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/9084/pic0085go7.jpg)
Rust on handlebar and corrosion of the metal lever joint
(http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7964/pic0070gn4.jpg)
(http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1364/pic0071sb7.jpg)
(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1751/pic0072ch1.jpg)
(http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7720/pic0073dq8.jpg)
(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2867/pic0074rv7.jpg)
(http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9810/pic0075nl9.jpg)
(http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/6564/pic0076fy1.jpg)
Horn is covered
(http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6823/pic0078ue7.jpg)
ilver front break fork hose clamps are corroded
(http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3634/pic0079zn7.jpg)
The metal joint portions of the levers are corroded.
(http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4061/pic0080jb2.jpg)
Spark plug shows the dried white
(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4265/pic0081fe1.jpg)
Airbox clamps are corroded
(http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3149/pic0082ez1.jpg)
(http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4015/pic0084bg1.jpg)
looks fine to me. [roll]
Yeah I kind of see what your talking about, but it not that bad at all. Just clean up what you can, or what bothers you most, and ride the f'er. [moto]
When parts get bad enough, it will give you a reason to upgrade. [evil]
Quote from: iamiubu on August 10, 2008, 07:17:20 AM
Possibly galvanic reaction between dissimilar metals hastened by the enhanced condivity when rained on.
Read here:
http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm
This must be what happened. This was a big thunderstorm that I was trying to beat to my house and I got caught in it about a mile away. I almost wrecked b/c I was nearly blown off the road by the gust. I had to slow down to 15 mph in a 50 mph zone to keep it vertical.
The question now is how do I get this crap off? I just got this bike a month ago and I'll be sick if I'm stuck with it like this.
Quote from: DarkStaR on August 10, 2008, 08:44:26 AM
looks fine to me. [roll]
Yeah I kind of see what your talking about, but it not that bad at all.
- It's worse in person.
Oh me. It's always something. :'(
The screws will corode either way. Thats normal because they arent corrosion proofed. Buy a Stainless Steel kit and replace all your bolts.
Everything else, looks like the rain had some chemicals in it, or was very salty, and the mineral was left behind after it dried. Just wash it of. If it doesnt wash of, then you have a problem. It might of been acid rain. If thats the case, id check your leathers too.
I've ridden probably 1000+ miles in heavy rain, and my bike has sat in rain storms for about 2-3 days in a row. I have no problems except rusty bolts. (SS kit comming)
Quote from: He Man on August 10, 2008, 10:01:56 AM
The screws will corode either way. Thats normal because they arent corrosion proofed. Buy a Stainless Steel kit and replace all your bolts.
Everything else, looks like the rain had some chemicals in it, or was very salty, and the mineral was left behind after it dried. Just wash it of. If it doesnt wash of, then you have a problem. It might of been acid rain. If thats the case, id check your leathers too.
I've ridden probably 1000+ miles in heavy rain, and my bike has sat in rain storms for about 2-3 days in a row. I have no problems except rusty bolts. (SS kit comming)
I just picked up some Meguiar's Motorcycle All Metal Polish. I'm gonna give it a shot. It says it "Quickly & Easily Removes Oxidation".
key word removes, not prevents.
Quote from: DrNo08 on August 10, 2008, 08:19:47 AM
Still not the best quality but you can see how the oxidation just ran all over everything. I just washed this bike 4 days prior to this and it was clean up until the brief rain on Thursday.
What sort of chemicals did you use in the wash water? Soap, bleach?
Perhaps the surface of the road you were traveling on had a corrosive coating such as lime, used to keep dust down. I had a KTM dirt bike that looked 40 years old after just one ride on a road covered in lime dust when it was raining.
Quote from: 64duc on August 10, 2008, 03:30:50 PM
I used the highly acclaimed S100 to wash it. Nothing more than that.
Quote from: gearhead on August 10, 2008, 09:46:30 PM
Perhaps the surface of the road you were traveling on had a corrosive coating such as lime, used to keep dust down. I had a KTM dirt bike that looked 40 years old after just one ride on a road covered in lime dust when it was raining.
- you know, that very well may be it. I may call the city tomorrow to ask them about that.
Well, I used the Meguiars metal polish and it cleaned it up quite well. The rust even polished off except for a spec. I couldn't get into the tight spots with a rag but I got the bulk of it off. May try using a tooth brush on some of those places. I'm relieved I must say. I'm gonna wash the bike again in a day or so to get all the white off the black cables and horn, etc. That should wipe right off.
I'm going to order this sealant/polisher via the recommendation of Webbikeworld
http://www.britemax.com/finalshine.html
About the seapage on the reservoirs:
When I installed aftermarket caps/covers there was seepage when I tightened them down. I think that is normal - just dried it off. After a wet ride the seepage reappeared - I guess the water flushes the small remaining amounts of fluids out (what was left outside the gasket). It didn't happen again after the first wet ride.
Quote from: stopintime on August 11, 2008, 05:40:23 PM
About the seapage on the reservoirs:
When I installed aftermarket caps/covers there was seepage when I tightened them down. I think that is normal - just dried it off. After a wet ride the seepage reappeared - I guess the water flushes the small remaining amounts of fluids out (what was left outside the gasket). It didn't happen again after the first wet ride.
Mine has had the seapage since the day I got the bike. I haven't opened them to clean the seals but I plan on it.
Heres some food for thought, maybe a little sarcastic .... ok you live in Mississippi? its a sometimes hot humid enviornment; now where is all that humidity comming from? This warm dewey air comes form; and on those windy days do you drive on a road close to that gulf? or maybe even go for a ride along a salty, sandy, gravely road? Were do ytou store your bike? Outside with a cover on? Do you cover after a ride when its still damp then the next day the sun hits it wiith the cover on? or do you wash and then put the cover on? What do you use to wash the bike? .... detergent? bleach?
One of the First monsters I was going to buy was a commuter from a guy who rode to a ferry; he crossed a salt water body on the ferry and left it outsdie for the day; Looking at the aluminum break resivoirs; so why so much corrosion? ( which are prone to having the paint flake due to br. fluid topups) and asked about the corroded aluminum; he says .... "its the Speed ....!" I say "wow! no s**T!", and continued looking at the bike similar corrosion issues; most noticable on the lower cam access cover, horn and piston fins ... for 11k it looked like ti had been ridden 50k ... and maybe! I offered lower on the price; I'm so glad he wouldn't budge on the price! noticed he was still trying to sell her months later ("its the speed" .... what a .... dip stick!) but he was looking for a sucker; buyer beware!.
I'll have to live with it I guess but this is what the dried oxidation did after it ran onto my plastic front fender. It discolored it.
(http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1881/p1000214df9.jpg)
(http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4549/p1000220nb9.jpg)
(http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/4926/p1000223uj0.jpg)
Dried oxidation ran onto your plastic fender ??? dried oxidation, i assume in flakes/grains/powered form, which is totally inert managed to give your fender streaks that look like a liquid rolled down.
Will ya people just clean your bikes already. Its a motorcycle, not a ice sculpture. You just need to find hte right stuff to clea nit. S100 isnt a cleaner, its a miracle in a can, and i wont clean properly. You need a tough buffer to get into the clear coat. Just try a bunch of different things before you go slitting your wrist man. [roll]
I ride in NYC with the most toxic and disgusting pavement ever. Acid rain, bird poo, dogs pissing, the worst kind of salt in the winter. You need a good degreaser, usually the most badass sounding shit is the best.
I had some wikid spots on my rims, Brake fluid wouldnt wash it, WD-40 wouldnt wash it, Simple Green concentrate wouldn't wash it, Paint thinner woulnt wash it. You have to have some really harsh chemicals to pierce todays clear coats. Only soaking your fender in brake fluid for hours or paint stripper, vinegar will get it stain like that. So seriously, go buy some differnet products, and buff it out.
You guys make my bike look like a homeless whore.
Quote from: He Man on August 11, 2008, 10:50:48 PM
Dried oxidation ran onto your plastic fender ??? dried oxidation, i assume in flakes/grains/powered form, which is totally inert managed to give your fender streaks that look like a liquid rolled down.
- It's very difficult to grasp. (/sarcasm)
Oxidation from metal bits ran down the fender to which it dried leaving the marks behind after cleaning.
Metals that are highly reactive to air will rust (oxidation). this causes the metal that was once very reactive, to become stable because it enters a lower energy state. The two metals that are in that area of your bike is Aluminum and Iron. Both Aluminum Oxide and Iron Oxide are not corrosive to my knowledge. In fact Aluminum Oxide is what most sandpaper is made of, which we all use to smooth out paintjobs.
Also for any liquid to leave a streak like that, it would have to be either a homogeneous solution of corrosive elements, or a high concentration of the corrosive element traveling in a liquid medium.
And if your saying you somehow have a highly corrosive metal oxide, it would have to be a in a pretty damn high concentration if it isn't soluble in water or it would have to dissolve in water. Oxides generally do not dissolve in water, Aluminum Oxide definitely does not dissolve in water.
So seriously. stop :'( and wash your bike. Its a motor vehicle not jello.