Marking on black panniers

[vee5]

I sailed on P&O Calais Dover last Sunday and fitted one of the provided tie downs once I was parked on the vehicle deck. I noticed that the securing point “D rings” for the tie downs were located in wells set into the deck which were filled with water. As it was necessary to reach into the water to pull up the D ring to attach the tie down to, I left my riding gloves on whilst doing this, after which I took them off and temporarily put the gloves on top of my panniers whilst I faffed about.

When I returned to my motorcycle on arrival in Dover I noticed some white marks on my panniers which I assumed was some kind of residue from the deck water my gloves had been soaked in and would wash off.

After returning home I washed my panniers with car shampoo and a sponge and the marks were still there. I have now tried washing them a second time, using repeated rubbing with the sponge and the marks will not come off – whatever was in the water in the deck well appears to have damaged the black finish on my pannier lids, and these marks are now extremely apparent, as per the photos below. Should mention that there marks are smooth to the touch when you drag your fingers over them, they don't feel powdery or like the surface has been badly etched.

Has anyone seen anything similar and if so did you manage to get the marks off ?

 

[team duvet]

Salt water residue.

Probably have to have them wrapped or re painted?

TD

 

[glenn2926]

I bought some stick on rubber tops for my black panniers on my Triumph tiger Rally pro as I was kicking them getting on and off. This not only solved the problem of marking them but it also meant that I could put my brew on the panniers and it didn’t slide off. I have since fitted the same to my R1250GSA as I know I would also have booted the them getting on and off.
They’re very cheap from the likes of TEMU and as all they need to do is stick on then they’re just the job.

 

[vee5]

I bought some stick on rubber tops for my black panniers on my Triumph tiger Rally pro as I was kicking them getting on and off. This not only solved the problem of marking them but it also meant that I could put my brew on the panniers and it didn’t slide off. I have since fitted the same to my R1250GSA as I know I would also have booted the them getting on and off.
They’re very cheap from the likes of TEMU and as all they need to do is stick on then they’re just the job.

Yeah I'd already thought about some stick on tops, just trying to see if I can get the marks off first before resorting to covering them up!

 

[vee5]

Salt water residue.

Probably have to have them wrapped or re painted?

TD

I thought it was salt residue at first but that would have washed off, and the marks don't feel dusty or rough to the touch so I'm guessing there was something else in the water. It looked like a freshly refitted ferry deck so there could be some kind of residue from the deck coating?

 

[Gee-]

Possible spills or droplets from other vehicles, mixed with sea water including, a bleach or other deck cleaning agent used to clean up any contaminate, diesel, petrol or worse brake fluid. Good suggestion for putting on rubber tops, or a wrap to protect from boot scrapes, think I might now do the same.

 

[GSian]

It's probably a reaction between the metals in the leather and the anodised surface, caused by the salt in the water.

You could try an aluminium bluing solution from a gunsmiths, but you may still get som visible marks. Otherwise just apply the rubber tops.