ACF-50 OR FS-365

[Micky]

You know those shiny racks you can get for the bathroom with suckers to stick them to the tiles? They all end up going rusty eventually... But not if you wipe them with a cloth sprayed with a bit of ACF 50

So what ya saying ... we should all be riding round on bathroom racks

 

[Greenman14]

I've used FS365 for several years and not had any problem with corrosion, but I've decided to try ACF-50 this year mainly so I don't have to clean the bike so often. Cotswold Motorrad picked my GSA up yesterday and it's come back today clean and protected for the winter. Well worth the £50 it cost.

Cotswold is my local dealer as well, what do you get for the £50? Full clean before application of ACF50? Last year I found it wasn't too difficult to apply, it was cleaning the bloody stuff off that took the time.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I use Halfords maintainence spray which is a bit thicker than WD40 and FS365. Works pretty well

 

[Martyn H]

Cotswold is my local dealer as well, what do you get for the £50? Full clean before application of ACF50? Last year I found it wasn't too difficult to apply, it was cleaning the bloody stuff off that took the time.

They certainly do clean it up well, then apply the ACF50. Bike looked new when done, & although it gets dirty as winter goes on, nice to know it's protected.

 

[Rasher]

ACF50

About twice a year I give the bike a mega clean and then apply ACF using a compressor, the mist gets into every nook and cranny and gives a showroom like appearance to the whole bike which is nice - plus I am confident the bike is well protected right down to the last hidden nut and electrical connector.

A 1L bottle will do about 15-20 complete bike treatments this way so it is very economical.

 

[er-minio]

Its a personal thing but I can't get my head around applying ACF50 and then leaving it dirty for the whole winter.

You can rinse it. It won't remove the ACF.
Or, rinse and reapply to remove any doubt.

I applied ACF50 two weeks ago on both bikes. The GS looked brand new and shiny after the application... works wonder, better than dashboard cleaners

Went on some mud last week and now the engine is coated though

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Advice seems a bit varied.

I got my bike ACF 50'd by the dealer when I bought it, determined to use it through the winter.
My understanding was that, once ACF50'd I needn't worry about applying any water to the bike until March, even if I went out on salty roads.
I've subsequently been told:-
A) That's right. Ride it, don't wash it, the ACF50 will protect it.
B) That's wrong. Ride it, wash it, then put it away.
C) That's wrong. Ride it, wash it. Re-apply the ACF 50 (which kind of negates the whole point of getting it ACF50'd in the 1st place doesn't it?).

I really, really don't want to be precious about the new bike as it's supposed to be an 'Adventure, Rufty-Tufty' bike & I'm also hoping to keep it for many years (as long as it's more reliable than my 2 previous BMW), but my OCD isn't helping.

 

[Rusty]

Ok mate .. ACF50 is the only way forward ... I use it throughout the winter .. I commute 3/4 days a week .. when the Gs needs washing I wash it .. wipe it dry, and then spray ACF50 onto a soft cloth and wipe around all the bits that need doing, especially the nutty bits at the front .. thats it, really simple, no fancy soaps or blasting just clean and wipe, do that every so often and your bike will remain in tip top condition ... if you REALLY want to make sure all is well there is nothing more theraputic than spraying a bit of "50 into the lid and using Johnson Baby Cotton Wool Buds to dip in and wipe around all those little nooks and crannies !!!!!!!

 

[Micky]

Seems to be coming down on the side of ACF50 ....

But I'll still stick with what I know .... FS365

100,000 miles, four full winters of use ...

 

[daytripper!]

afc50 regime

Advice seems a bit varied.

I got my bike ACF 50'd by the dealer when I bought it, determined to use it through the winter.
My understanding was that, once ACF50'd I needn't worry about applying any water to the bike until March, even if I went out on salty roads.
I've subsequently been told:-
A) That's right. Ride it, don't wash it, the ACF50 will protect it.
B) That's wrong. Ride it, wash it, then put it away.
C) That's wrong. Ride it, wash it. Re-apply the ACF 50 (which kind of negates the whole point of getting it ACF50'd in the 1st place doesn't it?).

I really, really don't want to be precious about the new bike as it's supposed to be an 'Adventure, Rufty-Tufty' bike & I'm also hoping to keep it for many years (as long as it's more reliable than my 2 previous BMW), but my OCD isn't helping.

Much ref on this forum on afc-50 inc:
http://youtu.be/pMdzx9lCrRI and www.shinybikesyndrome.co.uk also http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk
Vaguely recall all year biker site claiming they are accredited user of afc-50 so its interesting the two orgs mentioned have different approach to application of afc-50 eg masking of brakes, tyres etc. Accreditation implies compliance with some approved system which presumably not only details correct application technique but also what to do in the period before reapplication and i guess guidelines on the max duration of period before reapplication. So where are these manufacture's guidelines? If the military use this stuff i can't see them rinsing off each time the 'platform' gets used, more likely X hundred hours until retreatment subject to the prevailing conditions.

In the youtube videos high pressure water / detergent gets used to clean bike which causes bit of concern about seals etc and if application is say once a year job before winter, what happens if a bit of the bike gets missed (esp on bikes with fairings such as RT) and a casing gets corroded ~ is the org going to 'make good'?

Am i seriously going to rinse off the gs when i get home from work err cold dark with the run-off water freezing on the path overnight, hmmm?

 

[Bendy toy]

Get someone like All year biker to clean and treat the bike then top it up every time the bike is washed.

I did my Diversion including, rather especially the discs before it was put away last autumn. The discs are aftermarket iron so will get pitted especially under the brake pads. I took it out in the spring and went for a spin. Oops no brakes! Nope! it was fine the brakes worked as they should and there was no untoward corrosion on the friction surfaces.

I should have washed the brakes with Jizer but plain forgot and it stopped perfectly well. I presume the layer of ACF-50 was fine enough to rub off without causing problems. I'm not so sure the result would have been the same If I'd taken the bike out a few minutes after treating the brakes!

Pressure washing is a moot point. I personally don't go with the damaged bearings issue. Wheel bearings have integral seals and a separate outer seal so is water really going to get past that lot? Ditto fork seals. Gearbox seals are not exactly sitting in the line of fire. Also, a pal who rides motocross pressure washes his bike after every ride has never had any corroded bearings. He has lost some engine paint where the paint had lifted. Was the paint damage caused by the pressure washer or did it simply blow away the loose paint? Who knows, but leaving it muddy would be asking for corrosion problems.