looks fine to me. 

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. 

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. 

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.