Is there a cure for a filthy rear end?

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spencetj

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One ride to work in this weather, even if I spent all weekend lovingly restoring my GSA to showroom shiny condition (which I don't!) and its utterly filthy. By the time I get home again the numberplate is almost unreadable (I guess it wouldn't come out too well in a speed camera photo...shame!) and I could grow crops in the layer of mud on the swingarm.

This all came as a bit of a shock to me. I got the bike last November so I haven't ridden much in any decent weather, and my only other bike was a Honda Deauville where the rear wheel is almost entirely enclosed by the panniers.

I fitted a Mudsling which I guess stops the crud reaching the battery and rear shock but it doesn't seem to do much else. Is there a solution, other than becoming a Power Ranger and only riding when its dry?

Rear hugger maybe, but I don't really want to shell out another £100.
What about those number plate extenders, has anyone tried them and do they have any effect? I see RuggedRoads do one with a lip that is supposed to create an aerodynamic force to keep you cleaner. http://www.ruggedroads.co.uk/shop/article_1000/Rear-Splash-Guard.html?shop_param=cid=52&aid=1000&
 
People do make reg plate carriers that have a kink in the bottom to catch the crap off of the tyre.

Mine came from a noe defunct company, but a bit of Ali/steel sheet and a vice and a hacksaw could see one make very easily.

BRB with pics of what I'm describing
 
I fitted the touratech number plate extender a few weeks ago which does help but there's still an awful lot of muck coating the back end.
 
Buckets of cold water... (or a hose if you're posh)

if your bike has been treated with ACF then you'll be used to the dirt.

if not - then imagine how much salt is mixed in with all that grime.... doesn't matter what you use to keep the grime off... if you don't protect it with acf or fail in religiously rinsing it down after every ride. then it won't just be a dirty rear end you'll be fretting about.
 
motobiker said:
Buckets of cold water... (or a hose if you're posh)

if your bike has been treated with ACF then you'll be used to the dirt.

if not - then imagine how much salt is mixed in with all that grime.... doesn't matter what you use to keep the grime off... if you don't protect it with acf or fail in religiously rinsing it down after every ride. then it won't just be a dirty rear end you'll be fretting about.
Click to expand...

:thumb for ACF50. I applied mine in Nov last year, rode the bike all through the winter (apart from when the snow the other week) and cleaned it all of on Sun. Result after one hours cleaning, a bit of SDoc100 and a brush? Absolutely stunning - no rust, no corrosion, everything cleaned up very nicely indeed. I was gobsmacked myself tbh!

So yes, crudcatchers do a good job, but prevention is the way to go here.

Mike
 
SilverFish said:
:thumb for ACF50. I applied mine in Nov last year, rode the bike all through the winter (apart from when the snow the other week) and cleaned it all of on Sun. Result after one hours cleaning, a bit of SDoc100 and a brush? Absolutely stunning - no rust, no corrosion, everything cleaned up very nicely indeed. I was gobsmacked myself tbh!

So yes, crudcatchers do a good job, but prevention is the way to go here.

Mike
Click to expand...

Whats Sdoc100 ?
 
Go to McDonalds ...

... or Burgerking, I can't remember who does Black trays ... Anyway, order to eat in and they'll give you a tray, take it home and cut the lip off three sides, then bolt it under your numberplate with the remaining lip facing out (see Touratech catalogue for correct orientation)... Free crud deflector :thumb
 
i have noticed that some owners have substituted the standard shape number plate for the long rectangular style - i don't know whether that alteration would help
 
oblertone said:
... or Burgerking, I can't remember who does Black trays ... Anyway, order to eat in and they'll give you a tray, take it home and cut the lip off three sides, then bolt it under your numberplate with the remaining lip facing out (see Touratech catalogue for correct orientation)... Free crud deflector :thumb
Click to expand...

excellent - gives me an excuse for a McDonalds big breakfast in the morning :)
 
I've made two triangle pieces which fit just under the set, L/H and R/H side, and a bit that slots round the tool tray, and in front of the battery out of some old conveyor bet. got the plans from Adventure rider (USA) site, i think. works really well at keeping the crap off the back of your boots, so is a good improvement.

BTW i didn't quite follow the instructions as i didn't want to start drilling holes in the tool tray. i just used cable ties, and all was OK.

Hope this helps.
 
Damn, and I just finished my last piece of old conveyor belt! ;-) Any thoughts on where I could get some suitable material?

Anyway I guess fitting these bits on the side of the frame will keep some crud off the back of the legs but it won't do anything for the rest of the frame, swingarm, brake caliper, rear lights and topbox. Is a hugger the only thing that will stop/reduce this? Or does a hugger not make much difference anyway?

I did give the whole bike a liberal coat of ACF50 at Christmas which seems to be keeping the corrosion at bay. Its hard to tell under all the crud! I cleaned a few sample areas a couple of weeks ago and there was no sign of corrosion underneath, but you can't be sure its all OK until you clean it properly - then you have to reapply the ACF50 again! And that took hours last time to get the bike clean and dry, then apply the ACF into all the nooks and crannies without getting any on tyres and brakes.
 
A hugger makes not one jot of difference. When you think of the spray fired up and about by the back wheel and the turbulance of you and the bike whizzing along theres not a lot you can do to keep it clean. :nenau Don`t worry about it, I don`t :D I do give it a quick rinse down if it`s been wet when I return home to get the grit off
 
Oh well...at least that saves me spending £100 on an overpriced bit of plastic!
 
I put a wunderlich inner fender on my 12GS and am well pleased with the result, not really that cheap to buy, but it keeps the shite where it's s'posed to be and off yer leg. Doesn't look out of place either.
I think it looks better than a hugger, but s'pose that's a personal thing.
I have just traded for a new GSA, and I will be putting an inner fender on the new bike.
(incidentally - my new GSA has got ESA so this inner fender won't fit, anybody want a used fender for an upto '07 GS --?? Reasonably priced)

Phil
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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