Riding in salt

[2cats]

My new Futura arrives at my home tonight. How do people feel about riding in the spring when there's got to be a lot of salt on and around the roads? Please, intelligent, successful people who live in nice climates, don't rub it in.

I'm getting a little choked up over trading in the Ducati. Someday, I hope the Futura has become a keeper, and I add a yellow Monster 1000 (or whatever the big air cooled 2V is at the time).

[podpeeze]

Congrats for the bike! :D
How did your Duke cope with the salt? As long as you wash regularly with a non-salt based detergent, (I used to use washing up liquid till I found out it's got salt in it!) It should ride the storm with no probs.
Jon

[rowdy lee]

I try to not ride until the spring rain has washed the salt off for good... but I am trying to keep it nice. I am also trying to avoid too much washing thinking that less is better... but that's just my way. I'am thinking there's a lot of aluminum and lots of hiding places for salt to work it's nastiness once it gets in there. Whatever.

[2cats]

Last night. I shoe horned the thing into my garage, sideways, behind the Fiat. The snowblower will just make it past. I felt all kinds of pangs as the Ducati disappeared into the delivery van. I thought I would ride it again this year; I didn't expect to make this move so quickly.

It was less than two years old, and last spring was quite reasonable, so it never really saw any salt, or had time to suffer the effects. And it was probably easier to wash it effectively, being naked and all.

Will that aluminum go bad, like alloy wheels on cars used to, with exposure to a winter or two? Or will the frame be protected by its thick layer of warning labels? (Do those things come off easily?)

I'd love to get more data from you folks, but I'm right now leaning toward waiting for more rain. This is just a real nasty winter.

The Futura seems huge compared to the Monster; I'm surprised it's as light as it is. The leg room is most welcome, and I actually think I'm less leaned over on this bike than I was on the Ducati. I've got to ride it to really bond with it, though.

Just have to be patient.

[jameyers22]

Joe - I thought that was you - then the Fiat comment drove it home! This is Jeff - for you others out there, I bought my silver Futura in October, then I see Joe with his silver Futura just the other day. Joe lives three houses away! I guess great minds think alike!

I don't plan on riding until the salt is largely gone. Let's ride as soon as that happens!

[Ricky J]

While we don't have road crews salting
highways in California those of us who
live near the Pacific Ocean face a sim-
ilar situation. What works for me? Ap-
plying a spritz of something like Maxi-
ma chain wax to EVERY exposed fastener.
It's important to do this while a bike
is clean- upon delivery would be great!
It makes a nice barrier against corros-
ion and resists wash-off in rain. I've
never had a bolt so treated show signs of rust, ever. By all means do get und-
er the bodywork and hit stuff that may
be hidden to the eyes but not the salt!
Put car wax on every metal surface that
you can find and dry the bike well aft-
er washing.

[Dan]

If the roads are dry the salt will only be dust. If it's wet, it might get more places. Just rinse it off with a hose when you get home.... whatever salt is left won't be much worse than the chlorine in the wash water or the flouride in some water.

I've had good results using Turtle Wax car wash and use real wax only on the 'high spots' like the rear of the tank. Try to keep the wax out of the cracks where it's hard to remove.

The stickers come off better if it's warm, peel them slowly and remove any glue residue with Goo Gone, available most anywhere.

[2cats]

. . . like the three month old snow banks. It was over 60° and sunny - two things that almost never happen here on the same day. Went for a little over 30 miles. I only stopped because I was dodging pot holes in the dark.

I did have the EFI light flash on a couple/three times rapidly, as the bike bucked, during some modest acceleration out of a very slow corner. Never did it again. I also have some of that -18.8 gallon fuel guage deal going on. However, the guage still read full after my ride, so my mileage can't be that crappy.
It was very nice. I like the way it sounds.

Yes, Jeff, it is me. I rode by your house at the end, and saw lights on, and wondered if you might hear me and come running out.

[ssroadrage]

Just to be sure my subject doesn't offend, I was talking about the stickers. I too was a bit concerned of the best method for sticker removal. I talked to a bunch of people and they all said the same thing...

Wait for a really hot day (that means 80+ here), park bike in sun being sure that your stand is not going to sink. After sitting for a bit the stickers will come right off, goo and all !

I was thinking up very creative ways which involved blow torches, turbine engines, and gasket remover, but my friends and OSHA both advised against them!

With all seroiusness, they came off in one piece without even an drop off stickiness.

OBTW...
Congrats on the obession....uhm... Oh, I mean bike!

[podpeeze]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr> I rode by your house at the end, and saw lights on, and wondered if you might hear me and come running out. [/quote]

You obviously can't have the stock exhaust!! :rollin: :rollin: :rollin:
Jon

[2cats]

well, got up to a little over 50 miles; the bike is filthy.

The gas guage now indicates 3.5 gallons.

I'll be asking about cleaning tips this weekend . . .

[BossBob2]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>I'll be asking about cleaning tips this weekend [/quote]No problem , thats easy . . . .

call wife out, present pail and sponge, open six pack and observe closely . . . . . . just so your sure she didn't miss a bit :rollin:

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