Salt corrosion

[sn1p3r]

My 1150GSA is at the dealer at the moment for its 6000 mile service. Its a demo bike I bought with 2000 miles on the clock. Thing is the dealer couldn't loosen some of the screws needed for some of the adjustments (don't ask me which ones!) because they were seazed from salt corrosion!

Now is just me or is it shocking to have such a new bike with screws\bolts seazed because of salt corrosion!?

All will be fixed under waranty but I am still a little dissapointed that such a supposedly tough world traveller bike is so easily and so early on affected by a little salt

 

[DavidHale]

Got to agree with you there - the corrosion issue is pants for a bike that costs this much. I've had various bikes over the years, ridden them in the same conditions; ie year round, and the BM is definatley the worst relative to it's price. My '94 Triumph Speed Triple had a lot less corrosion than my '02 1150 Adv, and yet that was ridden through the winter as well. It ain't good enough, I say it ain't good enough Rant over!

 

[Sir James]

My 1150GSA is at the dealer at the moment for its 6000 mile service. Its a demo bike I bought with 2000 miles on the clock. Thing is the dealer couldn't loosen some of the screws needed for some of the adjustments (don't ask me which ones!) because they were seazed from salt corrosion!

Now is just me or is it shocking to have such a new bike with screws\bolts seazed because of salt corrosion!?

All will be fixed under waranty but I am still a little dissapointed that such a supposedly tough world traveller bike is so easily and so early on affected by a little salt

Picked up an ADV SE 2 weeks ago with 2 miles on the clock and had to use a power bar to remove the can . I think the production line might be using air tools and your dealer got his tool kit from the early learning centre . { hopefully }.

 

[Twotter]

My first BM was a 1995 R1100RS and it held up to my year round commuting much better than my 2002 1150GS on the corrosion front. But I'm a big fan of ACF-50 so...

 

[pomm001]

I have to agree with the corrosion comments
My 2002 Adventure looks as if its been dipped in the sea, especially the fasteners.
Around 2001/2 there has been legislation in Europe to do away with the aggressive chemicals used in the electro plating of components, especially the Phosphate coating and the use of Hexavalent Chrome, and by 2006 will be otlawed wordwide .
This has forced manufactures to use environmentally more friendly corrosion protection, it just so happens that its crap !
I have the same problem with my wife’s Mercedes, so its not just BMW.
But I take your point on a bike costing this much they should be stainless, to convert the bike to stainless fixings at the design stage would cost less than an additional $ 15 I know, I know stainless is not without its problems in Aluminium , but would be 10 times better what we have now.
Best get yourself a stainless kit from Steptoe!!

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

do a search above. read. weep.

 

[artman975]

I use my GS all year round and don't go in for that washing it off after winter trips game so it looks quite scabby in many areas due to salt but the worst problem it has caused was when the salt ate its way through the sealing washer under the oil pressure switch on top of the engine, started off with a little oily area near the top of the crank case but in a couple of days it had developed into a gusher. easily cured with a copper washer rather than the stock alluminium one.
All in though the finish is crap for such an expensive bike

 

[sn1p3r]

Got the bike back from the dealer today who had to replace GBP600 worth of parts due to corrosion.

He had some story about how the government has bought cheap road salt somewhere that contains animal fats and all bikes are effected, not just BMW's. Whatever.

 

[pomm001]

Got the bike back from the dealer today who had to replace GBP600 worth of parts due to corrosion.

He had some story about how the government has bought cheap road salt somewhere that contains animal fats and all bikes are effected, not just BMW's. Whatever.

I think you did well to get the items replaced under warranty, i would have expected some excuse that there would not be any corrosion in Germany ! and your bike is the only one in the world suffering this problem. Well done !

I agree the finsh on a bike costing this much is grim, they are designed and made in Europe where they have winters, if they had come from somewhere where they never seen frost or snow you might understand if you had corrosion

 

[Pukmeister]

Don't get me started on BWM and corrosion..............

 

[thornley]

Corrosion

The annoying thing about the corrosion problem is that BMW do nothing about it. My R1100RT had both fork legs and the cross brace replaced under warranty 4 years ago. New Gs's are still being sorted under warranty for the same problem. The economics of this seem strange unless they work on the basis of minimum complaints from riders so use poorer quality finishing and reduce production costs. Really no excuse for poor finish of this type. Salt solution by the way is salt solution may be weaker or stronger but its used through out Europe and the western world, could you imagine the uproar if the front wings of cars starting falling off after a winter!! any dealer who tries to blame cheap salt is talking through his derriere. Be carefull if you jet wash off the salt, some soaps used are caustic and will eat expose aluminium making the corrosion worse rather than better. Pretty poor though for a premium lifestyle product.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

BMW 2003 GS1150 paint

Honda 1989 CB1 400

 

[Wizard]

Honda 1989 CB1 400

Ha, 95 SFR eats it

 

[ELIMINATOR]

What's a SFR? Being a 90's model the finish hasn't had a chance to bed in compared to a CB1 at 16 years old!

 

[Wizard]

SuperFour Version R

Bit like a 400 Hornet, but a bit more retro

www.cb400sf.co.uk

 

[BBB61]

At least BMW will replace corroded parts. Unlike Triumph, who blame the owner for not cleaning the bike properly and then refuse to replace the parts under warranty.

Bob