You are correct, I've not brought any evidence because I'm not the one making claims that appear to be unsupported.
It is always the same on here - someone states something as fact and as soon as you question it or the methodology you get told to look it up yourself.
Because most of what I am saying (as already pointed out) is common sense. It doesn't need me to go into the granularity of how salt exposed to steel will cause rust, or how a caustic cleaner will remove wax protection exposing porous paint to steel.
But on the basis that you may live on Mars, your Professional Disposition could actually contribute to this topic in a positive way if you read up on it.
I've mentioned most of my argument on this thread here
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/453065-2016-gsa-rust-issue
Firstly Cleaning Products.
Most Public Facilities for car cleaning use cheap, fast action, caustic based cleaners. They are not friendly. They strip wax, grime, grease and all the protection off your motorcycle. They try and sell you the follow up WAX cycle, which then attempts to protect your vehicle following the caustic cleaning cycle (but people don't usually spend that money because it 'looks' clean so why bother). You stick your bike through that and it'll have no wax protection on anything.
Some people also use Domestic Jet Washers with Snow Foam. Its the same, its a Caustic Cleaner. It might be fun spraying your bike in this stuff, but its stripping all the protection off it.
Jet Wash Foam
Here's a typical example..
http://www.britishchemicalproducts.c...istory=related
Forecourt jet wash detergent
Premier Hi-Foam Jet Wash Shampoo
Caustic based non-ionic detergent blend it is an economical and highly effective traffic film remover for use by professional car wash operators in forecourt jetwashes.
Meaning of Caustic
ˈkɔːstɪk,ˈkɒstɪk/Submit
adjective
1. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.
"a caustic cleaner"
Road Salt
This is obvious. But I wrote my comments here
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...a-rust-issue?p=4706099&viewfull=1#post4706099
Corrosion or rusting is an electrochemical reaction requiring oxygen, water and an electrolyte like salt (to allow conduction to take place). The warmer the water, the faster the conduction (corrosion).
Some hard tap water has salt present, so I've always used car wash with rust inhibitor in it. That helps a bit. I also use car wax in places and ACF50 on bolts and difficult exposed areas.
I've also riden brand new bikes through winter salted roads and they take weeks to rust badly if you leave salt water on them, for even a few days in a garage. So months would look really bad. Once that paint coating is breached it'll rust very quick.
Salt damages bikes quickly if left unattended and will damage alloys (oxidization), chains, bolts and steel frames quickly even when washed regularly.
Its why Road Bridges spanning salt water need to be painted constantly to prevent corrosion.
I've also had alloy framed fairing bikes like VFR1200 that weathered well (except brakes siezing with salt damage). So some bikes are built more hardened to corrosion naturally from materials used.
If salt exposure, must wash it immediately with cold water (not warm water as it expedites the electro chemical reaction with salt). Even then once salt takes hold its difficult to stop rust.
At the end of winter I have to regularly go around and repaint (touch up rust spots) on my steel framed Bandit 1250 with black smooth direct to rust Hammerite paint. To keep on top of it. Its the way it is.. not quite a road bridge but same principle.
Salt, water and bikes don't mix well.
Motor Industry Paint
Automotive paint is mixture of basic ingredients that include a pigment, a binder and thinner. It’s the composition of each that is the tricky part. The paint itself can be water, acrylic or oil based and the chemical composition, application and properties of each base vary widely.
Most modern automotive paint is water based, using a low solvent urethane does produce a softer and more
porous paint. This recipe is mostly for environment regulations and are non-toxic.
This means if you use a power washer, it'll wear down the paint and make it more porous exposing water to the steel. It'll rust !!
Stone chips from regular riding will cause paint removal and exposes steel to water. It'll rust !!
Taking Care of your motorcycle
Wax it and wash it in rust inhibitor car wash, by hand preferably.
Take note of stone chips and repaint if necessary.
Don't use Caustic Cleaners and preferably don't use high power jet washers up close (as it'll expedite paint removal and steel exposure).
