Corrosion again!!

[dizzyrascal]

CORROSION

Hi

Thought I would add to this link as I believe that being in denial is letting BMW of the hook.
Yes I agree that corrosion when salt is put onto the roads is going to happen unless precautions are taken however I believe that BMW is the worst offender, we are paying a premium price for what should be a better than average finished product.
I love my GS but have taken the decision to take it of the road during the winter months and to run my ZZR 1200 only, because the finish on the Kwaka is far better and it is easier to keep clean.
I like to ride all year however with the BMW I have found that I have to balance out the joy of the ride over the time spent undertaking major cleaning after every ride.
We need to ensure that BMW hear our complaints overwise this situation will not improve, lets not let our pride in the bikes mask the problems.

 

[karnevil]

I think some of you need to find out exactly what rust is!It aint the white stuff you get on aluminium or on the zinc plated fastners.

The Kwaka 1200 yeah looks nice and clean on the outside its just the same on the inside where any fastners/casting etc are uncoated by paint,oil,underseal whatever.

The complaint raised in an earlier thread about the exhaust balance pipe being pitted,well it aint,in use it gets hot all kinds of crap get baked on to it,take a look at the pic in another post these pipes can glow red hot,thats not an expression but a description of the colour it can attain when in use.All that needs to clean it is some elbow grease and to stop the crap get an extender!

As for the car situation and rust alot of cars in the 70's and 80's rusted from within the metal,BL had to use poor quality recycled steel it would not have mattered how good the paint protection was the metal itself had a cancer built in.

The fastners are not,as I understand,In the main,corroding from within,just reacting to the elements,AND,this includes the water you spray on when cleaning.

What a lot of people are wittnesing on their machines is just a simple chemical reaction nothing more and nothing less.

However I would not let BMW off lightly where a genuine case of corrosion occured,and I speak from expierience,my first GS had paint problems on the rear frame it was changed on warranty,also it had probs with the front around the frame number and again this was sorted out.Indeed I have had my fuel cap replaced on this newer machine and i intend to ask the question about some rust that is showing around the filler neck,but nuts and bolts, sorry guys its just life and dont tell me cars have em sorted cos they do not look under the bonnet,closley,away from where there could be"lubricated air" and you will have Chemical reactions.

Its what happens to a real machine,on real rides,in the real world.
If ya dont want it get a virtual bike,take virtual rides and live in the "Sims"

 

[Engineer]

Does anyone know, specifically, how the fasteners and other vulnerable parts can be permanently protected from Winter corrosion and still remain cosmetically acceptable?

What materials and/or coatings would be a practical solution to the problem?

 

[karnevil]

Does anyone know, specifically, how the fasteners and other vulnerable parts can be permanently protected from Winter corrosion and still remain cosmetically acceptable?

What materials and/or coatings would be a practical solution to the problem?

Chrome plate them.
But first chase each thread down so that the plating does not cause the thread to bind.Then refit all the fastenings to the machine usung reberised Torx keys so as not to damage the surface.Make sure they are all tight.But do not tighten them so much as they touch the faces of that which they are clamping so as not to damage the chrome.Or and its a big one........................................................................JUST LIVE WITH IT AND SPAY ON SCOTTOILER OR SUCH WHEN YA CLEAN IT

And no Anodised Ally would not be suitable as it does not have the Tensile streanth and neither does stainless steel in usual circumstances although higher tensile strength stainless is available but costs more and it has a dull.....errrr corroded appearance

Im now officially bored with this its just life accept it

 

[GSmonkey]

Every bike I've owned has corroded to some degree, including the Honda's. I've hence concluded its not worth worrying about on the scale of things. When my new GSA rusts I'll either fix it, or leave it.

 

[52blackshadow]

2004 R1200GS.....................................

Hi, I normally run a winter hack (R1100RT), which after the past 7 or so winters still looks reasonable on the outside, but is corroded to hell under the plastics. It gets a wash and service every summer, then anywhere really bad gets dosed with Waxoyle.

This year I had a problem with the winter hack and didn't have time to fix it immediately so dragged the R1200GS back out of the garage for a few weeks. Washed it down earlier this week and couldn't believe how badly corroded it had got! The front engine cover had already been replaced under warranty, but now has a strip about an inch wide by about 5 inches long where paint has bubbled / fallen off. The rear of the frame has too many little cracks and chips in the paint where rust is bubbling through.

I understand what is being said about salt causing corrosion, however my bikes are used for everyday transport, and I don't have time to wash it down every time I ride it. I have run various other bikes through this weather, including Triumph Tiger, Cagiva Elefant etc and have not had such poor finishing on any other bike.

Anyone know how the KTM Adventure fares in the salt?

Ride safe,

Keith.

 

[gavin@iow]

Does anyone know, specifically, how the fasteners and other vulnerable parts can be permanently protected from Winter corrosion and still remain cosmetically acceptable?

What materials and/or coatings would be a practical solution to the problem?

I replaced my corroded disc bolts with stainless items, see here - http://www.r1200gs.info/forum/showthread.php?t=246

 

[birdseye]

Does anyone know, specifically, how the fasteners and other vulnerable parts can be permanently protected from Winter corrosion and still remain cosmetically acceptable?

What materials and/or coatings would be a practical solution to the problem?

The nearest you will get is to use type 316 or A4 stainless steel fasteners. If they are holding down ally castings, bed the fasteners in with Duralac to minimise the chances of galvanic corrosion. Type 304 or A2 fasteners will rust on the surface.

An alternative would be anodised ally fasteners but only where its very light duty.

 

[davegs]

Corroded bolts.

Contact H.M, Steptoe at once for a comprehensive stainless steel allen screw kit, corrosion of bolts problem sloved.
dave gs.

 

[Our Gee]

Just whipped to Plastic Cover off my 2007 GS and everything is Pristine. The Sponge Thingy is Black in Colour and "does" soak up water. ( Held it under the Tap for a Moment and Rung it out ). Does the Cover need those little Slots at the Top or could we seal then to stop water ingress ?. Oh, and what are those two Rectangular (2"x1") Holes with machined edges for. ?
Mike Tee.

 

[Doc Savage]

My 57 GSA's pans are pitted to Feck at the back, thought they would have been coated. BMW need to look at this, Its a bad problem - a fully loaded pannier doesn't want to have FS 365 all over it, you wouldn't be able to take it off without slipping

 

[Engineer]

So..... The conclusion seems to be that there is no way a manufacturer of motorcycles can make their products corrosion proof at reasonable cost AND still look good.

OK you can do something about some of the non-stressed fasteners at no too great a price increase; but unless one spends an absolute fortune and employs aircraft technology throughout then the rest of the bike will always be a compromise (accepting, of course that occasionally the paint finish goes awry on a few bikes in each batch).

If BMW were to increase the price of their bikes by 10% and provide a 3 year cosmetic corrosion guarantee would that be acceptable? Don't know if they could do it for that price though.

 

[Doc Savage]

the cost of a replacement panniers on warranty should outweigh a solid treatement of them in the outset IMHO

 

[karnevil]

I replaced my corroded disc bolts with stainless items, see here - http://www.r1200gs.info/forum/showthread.php?t=246

Yeah?Well I wouldn't.What is their tollerance to fatigue,stress?
Dunno?Still they look nice!

Vehicle manufacturers spend literally Millions testing materials and the end user?Spends literally minutes taking a punt on a dodgy guess.

You wanna see some of the bloody messes people bring into my place of work wanting them back pristine after they have bodged a repair on a Guess.
I repair all kinds of plant,pumps,gearboxes all sorts.
I have seen people assemble conrods and pistons with Nyloc nuts!!!!
Still it pays the rent.

 

[gavin@iow]

Yeah?Well I wouldn't.What is their tollerance to fatigue,stress?
Dunno?Still they look nice!

Vehicle manufacturers spend literally Millions testing materials and the end user?Spends literally minutes taking a punt on a dodgy guess.

You wanna see some of the bloody messes people bring into my place of work wanting them back pristine after they have bodged a repair on a Guess.
I repair all kinds of plant,pumps,gearboxes all sorts.
I have seen people assemble conrods and pistons with Nyloc nuts!!!!
Still it pays the rent.

What are you on about?, perhaps if you did a search you may find some companies selling stainless disc bolts, i'm sure they would have looked a the stress involved.

 

[karnevil]

What are you on about?, perhaps if you did a search you may find some companies selling stainless disc bolts, i'm sure they would have looked a the stress involved.

What am i on about?
M8 x 20 Button head are not,NOT,brake disc bolts.Simple as that.

There will be issues with how and where the tread runs out,how the thread was produced,(rolled,pressed,cut) the land between end of thread and head the shoulder,length and diameter(if required) the radius from shoulder to under the head............................
Oh any old stainless bolt will do............

 

[Pressurized]

Anyone know how the KTM Adventure fares in the salt?

Mine got salty just before Christmas and stayed salty and damp for about a week before I cleaned it. So far, very good. Rusty spoke nipples are not uncommon but mine are OK. Very, very light furring of front brake banjos. All I could find of note was the small bolts that hold the silencers on are fairly rusty - bit disappointing but easily fixed.

I use the FS365 stuff but not on the spokes and haven't been hitting the exhaust bolts either.

So..... The conclusion seems to be that there is no way a manufacturer of motorcycles can make their products corrosion proof at reasonable cost AND still look good.

Ah, I see what you did there

 

[Gazzabart]

Chrome plate them.
But first chase each thread down so that the plating does not cause the thread to bind.Then refit all the fastenings to the machine usung reberised Torx keys so as not to damage the surface.Make sure they are all tight.But do not tighten them so much as they touch the faces of that which they are clamping so as not to damage the chrome.Or and its a big one........................................................................JUST LIVE WITH IT AND SPAY ON SCOTTOILER OR SUCH WHEN YA CLEAN IT

And no Anodised Ally would not be suitable as it does not have the Tensile streanth and neither does stainless steel in usual circumstances although higher tensile strength stainless is available but costs more and it has a dull.....errrr corroded appearance

Im now officially bored with this its just life accept it

this site is for all of us to learn a little - say a little - we are not all experts in everything to do with GS's - all we did was to buy a GS and ride it and look after it but most importantly enjoy it

sometimes when things go wrong like our bikes corroding after a short while we have a right to be upset as we all paid alot for our bikes

after only about a month of joining we seem to have an agressive expert here who loves ramming his expertise right down our throats and pointing out to most of us that we are idiots who know nothing about BMW finishing

this is a forum to say what ever we want - right , wrong or indifferent any time we want

so in your own words your bored with this subject

simple dont reply to anyone elses post on this subject - you said your bit
we have all read how stupid we are

we dont need you keeping on about it your opinion is your opinion and we respect that but this is our site not exclusivly yours to ram home your points of view

 

[karnevil]

LOL nah not all of ya are stoopid

 

[Gazzabart]

2 of em

Please close this thread and use the typing time to go clean your bike.... Alkaliane detergent/bike cleaner by any chance?

dont beleive it two of em

i read the above question from a gser
simply said went for a ride - cleaned bike - concerned about corrosion - asked if anyone had any good ideas how to protect bike - then wished everyone a happy new year - cant see the problem with this can anyone else or am i missing the point

we now seem to have a select few that want to sensor what we chat about on here

no one on this site has the right to tell anyone to close a thread simply cos they dont agree with whats written

simple why bother to send negative replys why dont you go out for a ride and play on the icy roads