Bike being eaten to death!

[oxforshirerider]

Hi all,

Right, I have an issue......my bike is literally being eaten to death by corrosion! I put 12,000 miles on it in the first 6 months I owned it, then in January I broke my back being an arse on a Snowboard, so didn't use it for 3/4 months. I got the bike cleaned pretty early on into my rehab and got ACF50 applied liberally. I couldn't do the washing myself, but directed a couple of willing helpers and they did a great job to my eye!

But now I am back on the bike, I have been looking it over and can see the engine casing paint is starting to flake around the join, the brake disks have got some pits in them and generally I can see corrosion doing its stuff!

I have tried cleaning it, using the following method - spray it wet using a hose. Using Auto Glym Motorcycle Cleaner in a bucket of cold water, washed down the bike with a sponge and brush, trying to get into all nooks and crannies. Sprayed off using hose again. Dried off with shammy. Polished vital parts with Auto Glym polish then applied a liberal coat of ACF50!

I am fearing the worst as the in current weather its throwing it down with rain then the next minute beautiful sunshine, so the bike already looks a right old mess again and I'm worried its back to the metal eating!

Anyone else experiencing bad corrosion? Mine is a WC 2014 ADV.

I know I should probably just shut up and ride, but am worried the bike which lets face it is £15k+ is wasting away beneath me!

Anyone got any cleaning tips I may have overlooked?

Cheers

Rob

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Take it back to the dealer and let them have a look. Point them at the areas you are unhappy with. Ask them to take photographs and forward them to BMW as part of the warranty claim for all the corroded parts to be replaced

Let them do their thing

 

[DRAIN MAN]

Mine is the same !!! March 14 GSA with 31,000 miles, was ok until abour 6 week ago then blisters appeared on front engine cover and swinging arm. Pictures sent to BMW via Pidcocks, front cover put down to stone chips and told no chance of warranty, not heard any more yet about the swinging arm as BMW wanted some more pictures. At the time the pictures were taken it was obvious that the paint had blistered from underneath as the surface was not broken.

Just waiting to hear what Bullshit BMW are going to come out with, also just noticed that the paint is starting to peel on the underneath edge of both rocker covers!!!!

Wonder what will be next !!!!

 

[roadrider]

What he said you've nothing to lose by it.

 

[mikebarr]

Embarrassingly bad finish

Yup - get it in for a warranty claim ASAP!

I rode mine every day through the winter when I first got it - put 12K on it in less than a year.

The bike received lots of love - garaged every night, regular + liberal ACF-50 baths and hosing down after every ride - but it still melted.

I had a lengthy email ding-dong with BMW and several long discussion with my dealer - which finally resulted in a warranty claim for:

- engine
- gearbox
- swingarm
- final drive

Might as well have glued a new bike onto the wing mirror!!

It's great that they have honoured the corrosion warranty but the bike hasn't even completed the 600 mile run in for the new engine since I got it back months ago, as I'm worried it'll dissolve due to the slightest whiff of rain/road salt.

My 1992 CBR600 never corroded - and it got no love!

Mb

 

[mozz1982]

Mine has the corrosion around the engine casing (2013 GS TE LC). It's worse than I first thought.

Taken it in to my local dealer. Pics sent off to BMW and it is having a replacement engine under warranty.

Not quite sure how I feel about it tbh!

 

[Karlread]

Have a butchers on the RT Forum under 2014 R1200RT LC Corrosion!!

Welcome to the club, we pay enough for these bikes surely they should paint them with something other than poster paint!

 

[Wapping]

Hi Rob,

Nutty says the answer to your problem is easy: Don't be an arse on a snowboard and all your problems will be over.

 

[Wrinkly]

Mines just coming up to 1year old.

Looked after but ridden throughout the winter.

Just finished a full nut and bolt spring clean.

Not a sign of any corrosion anywhere.

Having said that....It's not a BMW...

But if it's of any help...My 2013 GS WC had serious corrosion problems starting after 1000mls. To be fair to BMW they wanted to swap the corroded parts, which was everything painted Silver.

Nothing they were telling me made me confident it wouldn't happen again...I got rid.

Steve

 

[Nutty]

I've ridden my bike all through the winter, on salted, gritted roads, and don't have one spot of corrosion anywhere.

Here it is caked in salty mud.

And yes, stop being an arse on a snowboard.

 

[Wapping]

I can vouch that Nutella's is as shiny as a shiny thing.

 

[Nutty]

I can vouch that Nutella's is as shiny as a shiny thing.

It wasn't when I got home last night. It is now though!

 

[oyster]

thanks for saving me a few Grand

My BMW GS 2010 Twincam is up for replacement, no corrision to date thanks to ACF 50 & SDOC 100,
i'll be keeping a bit longer, till you guys let me know when BMW have learnt their errors on QC.

 

[Nutty]

My BMW GS 2010 Twincam is up for replacement, no corrision to date thanks to ACF 50 & SDOC 100,
i'll be keeping a bit longer, till you guys let me know when BMW have learnt their errors on QC.

See post 10

 

[oxforshirerider]

Cheers for all the responses and advice. I am due its 16k service in a couple of weeks so will make sure I flag up the points for them to photo and bring up with Headoffice. I took a look at the swing arm a bit closer too and indeed paint blistering there too!

As for the don't be an arse on a snowboard comment, I couldn't' agree more, but sadly I am still to learn my lesson.....gagging to head back to the mountains now thr back has mostly fixed up......just need a snowboard attachment for the GS!!

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I can vouch that Nutella's is as shiny as a shiny thing.

Fair enough, but what about his bike?

 

[Humbug]

I've ridden my bike all through the winter, on salted, gritted roads, and don't have one spot of corrosion anywhere.

Here it is caked in salty mud.

And yes, stop being an arse on a snowboard.

Yes but Nutty slacks got one of them hot air fangled bike drier thingys (or was that for his poodle)?

 

[Davy F]

Yes but Nutty slacks got one of them hot air fangled bike drier thingys (or was that for his poodle)?

And shares in Waxoil..

 

[JimVonBaden]

Isn't cleaning and ACF50 application AFTER riding in the junk kind of like closing the barn door after the horse got out?

You guys have more problems with corrosion than anyone else. What do you put on your roads?

Jim

 

[Magwych]

You guys have more problems with corrosion than anyone else. What do you put on your roads?

I'm beginning to suspect it is a mix of rock salt crystals soaked in old brake fluid and battery acid.

This is after only 7 years and 150,000 miles. I am going to reject the bike a demand a replacement!

Just look at the state of my sub-frame:

And don't even mention what happened to the shed door!