Winter Riding Question

CheesyRider2 · 01-10-2012, 01:24 PM

Up here in Wisconsin we are again having a "unusally" warm winter. I see bikes out and about. I always wondered, so here is a general question.

If you ride in the winter do you worry about the road salt/acid mix getting all in your bikes sh@t? Do people wash it real well after every ride, or just don't think about it?
Any how kinda want to take my bike out but don't want to ruin the dam thing
Thanks
Todd

ChR1s · 01-10-2012, 01:44 PM

I've ridden a KLR through winter, and now a 990 Adventure. I prefer to ride after there've been a few really cold days, as that helps keep to keep the roads dry and clear of snowmelt & re-freeze. Temps in the 30's after a snowfall are the worst, and I avoid riding the bike then.

If the bike's wet, I hose it off & blow dry w/shop vac before letting it sit. If the bike's dry, I just park it.

The salt will do damage to a new bike sheen, no doubt about that. The only harm I've noticed is a few fasteners growing dull. The chain may begin to look worn on the outside as well.

jules083 · 01-10-2012, 02:30 PM

I have an old CB 500 that I'll ride, or the XR. Anything that's still shiny is parked until spring. It's not going to 'ruin' the bike, but after a few winters you'll be able to tell you rode it for sure.

FinestYearK · 01-10-2012, 03:22 PM

Rinse off the bike. If it's a newer bike with a decent finish, I wouldn't worry about it. The dry, dusty salt won't be as bad as riding through puddles of slush.

llamabomb · 01-10-2012, 06:50 PM

I'd just do a quick check underneath to see if there's any salt accumulation after you ride, if there is, give it a wash.

rider33 · 01-10-2012, 07:01 PM

My first KLR I road at least once a month all winter and by spring it developed a fine patina of rust. There are things you can do to cut down on that (wash it, protectorents etc) but if your from the great state of cheese you know the drill:
buy a beater or let what you've got become one. Shinny bits and de-icer just don't mix. As with a car, body work can hide that but Tupperware on a bike in winter presents it's own set of problems.

wiseblood · 01-11-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheesyRider2

Up here in Wisconsin we are again having a "unusally" warm winter. I see bikes out and about. I always wondered, so here is a general question.

If you ride in the winter do you worry about the road salt/acid mix getting all in your bikes sh@t? Do people wash it real well after every ride, or just don't think about it?
Any how kinda want to take my bike out but don't want to ruin the dam thing
Thanks
Todd

One bit of advice I got was to use WD-40 everywhere... plastics, frame, etc. Just spray it in a cloth and give the bike a rub-down. Anyone try this? It's supposed to better preserve it, and make it easier to clean.

'05Train · 01-11-2012, 01:46 PM

I've never worried about road salt. If the roads are ice-free, I'll ride.

Yossarian™ · 01-11-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseblood

One bit of advice I got was to use WD-40 everywhere... plastics, frame, etc. Just spray it in a cloth and give the bike a rub-down. Anyone try this? It's supposed to better preserve it, and make it easier to clean.

Yes, it does help to keep any rust from taking hold.

Just make sure you don't spray it on your brake disk.

woodnbow · 01-12-2012, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseblood

One bit of advice I got was to use WD-40 everywhere... plastics, frame, etc. Just spray it in a cloth and give the bike a rub-down. Anyone try this? It's supposed to better preserve it, and make it easier to clean.

I've used a light spray coat of diesel and hydraulic oil mixed 50-50 before. It works well enough but like WD-40 attracts dust and dirt like you won't believe. A friend of mine calls it the 'protective crust'...

Jim K. · 01-12-2012, 04:17 PM

I've always ridden in the winter & never had any serious problems. The hose is taken in & the outside faucets are drained & turned off, so a rinse after each ride is not in the cards. I've had reasonable success with just cleaning the worst off by hand with watered down windex & then using regular paste wax on everything below knee height. 11 years & 50,000 mi. on my old Concours & the only problems were a few fuzzy fasteners (easily replaced with stainless) and the 8"length of pipe that crossed over right under the motor. That was pretty rough but still intact when I sold her. I've got to say that all my Hondas over the years remained pristine, even though some of them spent the winter outside under canvas.

Mgbgt89 · 01-12-2012, 06:16 PM

My CB 350F i rode for 2 winters and never washed it. It was blowing half a quart of oil a week out of every seal on it though. Everything behind the engine looked as good as it did before. Only the front end showed more rust. Most of the frame had a good 3/16 inch thick coating of grease. Thank god for the plastic inner fender to keep it off the back tire.

cnw126 · 01-12-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheesyRider2

Up here in Wisconsin we are again having a "unusally" warm winter. I see bikes out and about. I always wondered, so here is a general question.

If you ride in the winter do you worry about the road salt/acid mix getting all in your bikes sh@t? Do people wash it real well after every ride, or just don't think about it?
Any how kinda want to take my bike out but don't want to ruin the dam thing
Thanks
Todd

Yes, I worry about the salt. I even worry about it with my car.

In my area, if there is a residue of salt left on the road, I will not ride my "good" bike. I always wait until we get some rain to wash the salt away.

If I come across salted roads by accident, I always wash the bike. Better to be safe.

Worroll · 01-13-2012, 09:48 AM

In CT they supposedly use some other stuff on the roads that works like salt, but without the corrosive properties. So other states may also.
I've road almost all of my bikes regularly during the winter and never really noticed any rust, I don't do any extra washing.
Depends on the bike, how much exposed metal there is, and how good the factory coating is.

When I had my Shadow Aero I did wash it after I rode it in the winter cause of all the chrome and shiny stuff.

GarrettRB · 01-24-2012, 07:26 AM

Interesting thread, I was going to post something similar. I live in MA. If the roads are dry does the salt dust still hurt the bike? Is the corrosion mostly cosmetic or will it start to damage things over time?

01-10-2012, 01:24 PM	#1
CheesyRider2 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Milwaukee, Wi Oddometer: 38	Winter Riding Question Up here in Wisconsin we are again having a "unusally" warm winter. I see bikes out and about. I always wondered, so here is a general question. If you ride in the winter do you worry about the road salt/acid mix getting all in your bikes sh@t? Do people wash it real well after every ride, or just don't think about it? Any how kinda want to take my bike out but don't want to ruin the dam thing Thanks Todd

01-10-2012, 01:44 PM	#2
ChR1s Spherical Bastard Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Massachusetts Oddometer: 332	I've ridden a KLR through winter, and now a 990 Adventure. I prefer to ride after there've been a few really cold days, as that helps keep to keep the roads dry and clear of snowmelt & re-freeze. Temps in the 30's after a snowfall are the worst, and I avoid riding the bike then. If the bike's wet, I hose it off & blow dry w/shop vac before letting it sit. If the bike's dry, I just park it. The salt will do damage to a new bike sheen, no doubt about that. The only harm I've noticed is a few fasteners growing dull. The chain may begin to look worn on the outside as well. __________________ Chris

01-10-2012, 03:22 PM	#4
FinestYearK Rain, rain, go away Joined: Dec 2011 Location: Tacoma Oddometer: 40	Rinse off the bike. If it's a newer bike with a decent finish, I wouldn't worry about it. The dry, dusty salt won't be as bad as riding through puddles of slush. __________________ 2006 Katana 1992 Shadow 1987 CBR 600 - Track and commuter 1984 Suzuki GS550es - Leaving the nest... Cage: Land Rover Discovery I - the last "real" Land Rover

01-10-2012, 07:01 PM	#6
rider33 Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: The Wilds of Western Wisconsin Oddometer: 873	My first KLR I road at least once a month all winter and by spring it developed a fine patina of rust. There are things you can do to cut down on that (wash it, protectorents etc) but if your from the great state of cheese you know the drill: buy a beater or let what you've got become one. Shinny bits and de-icer just don't mix. As with a car, body work can hide that but Tupperware on a bike in winter presents it's own set of problems. __________________ “many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased”- Steinbeck

01-11-2012, 01:46 PM	#8
'05Train Mind is not for rent Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Maryland Oddometer: 843	I've never worried about road salt. If the roads are ice-free, I'll ride. __________________ 2005 FXSTB/I 2012 R1200GS/A

01-10-2012, 02:30 PM	#3
jules083 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Richmond, Ohio Oddometer: 1,083	I have an old CB 500 that I'll ride, or the XR. Anything that's still shiny is parked until spring. It's not going to 'ruin' the bike, but after a few winters you'll be able to tell you rode it for sure.

01-10-2012, 06:50 PM	#5
llamabomb Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Milwaukee Oddometer: 23	I'd just do a quick check underneath to see if there's any salt accumulation after you ride, if there is, give it a wash.

01-12-2012, 04:17 PM	#11
Jim K. Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: New Haven, Ct. Oddometer: 396	winter I've always ridden in the winter & never had any serious problems. The hose is taken in & the outside faucets are drained & turned off, so a rinse after each ride is not in the cards. I've had reasonable success with just cleaning the worst off by hand with watered down windex & then using regular paste wax on everything below knee height. 11 years & 50,000 mi. on my old Concours & the only problems were a few fuzzy fasteners (easily replaced with stainless) and the 8"length of pipe that crossed over right under the motor. That was pretty rough but still intact when I sold her. I've got to say that all my Hondas over the years remained pristine, even though some of them spent the winter outside under canvas.

01-12-2012, 06:16 PM	#12
Mgbgt89 Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio Oddometer: 811	My CB 350F i rode for 2 winters and never washed it. It was blowing half a quart of oil a week out of every seal on it though. Everything behind the engine looked as good as it did before. Only the front end showed more rust. Most of the frame had a good 3/16 inch thick coating of grease. Thank god for the plastic inner fender to keep it off the back tire.

01-13-2012, 09:48 AM	#14
Worroll Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Southern CT Oddometer: 624	In CT they supposedly use some other stuff on the roads that works like salt, but without the corrosive properties. So other states may also. I've road almost all of my bikes regularly during the winter and never really noticed any rust, I don't do any extra washing. Depends on the bike, how much exposed metal there is, and how good the factory coating is. When I had my Shadow Aero I did wash it after I rode it in the winter cause of all the chrome and shiny stuff. __________________ 2011 Sprint GT, 2008 Kawasaki KLR650, 1981 Honda CB750F, 1957 BSA Bantam D3 restoration project, Past bikes -1986 Honda Shadow VT1100C, 1998 Honda Shadow Aero VT1100C3, 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 2006 Kawasaki ZX-14,1980 Yamaha XT500

01-24-2012, 07:26 AM	#15
GarrettRB Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Hanson, MA Oddometer: 115	Interesting thread, I was going to post something similar. I live in MA. If the roads are dry does the salt dust still hurt the bike? Is the corrosion mostly cosmetic or will it start to damage things over time?

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