So, I applied the ACF50..........

[Gonzo]

And another thing...........

Is it better to leave your bike overnight dry but covered in salt, or clean but dripping wet?

I find whenever I wash my bike I have to take it out "to dry it off". Kind of a vicious circle

I'm told you should always use cold water as the salt gets extra fierce with warm water. So does spraying cold water on a hot engine count as cold or hot by the time its finished - and does the very fact that the engine has heated the water up mean yer bike's sh@gged anyway?

 

[Smalesy]

Cos I don't really consider the time that the bike's running outside whilst I'm inside having a cuppa really counts.

 

[wolfboy]

Hmmm, I got through last winter with my fazer, riding all weather, all I would do is get home and spray scottoiler f365 all over the bike, (excluding the brakes etc..) and then wd40 the nuts on the brakes and hose connectors.

F365 is meant to neutralise salt, repeated applications should produce a nice 'layered' effect, where the f365 gets itself in to every nook and cranny, so washing it off after you get back sounds a bit counter productive..

The fazer which hadn't the best finish according to the mags, used to come up gleaming everytime I washed it, which wasn't often.

I have been doing the same with my GSA...

whaddaya reckon?

 

[GSmonkey]

I used F365 last winter, regularly applying and washing every weekend. The front engine cover on the 12GS still went - rest of the bike was OK.

 

[Mouse]

Yes but the front cover of a 1200 would corrode in a vacuum

I rarely wash mine, and use the Scottoil stuff on it when I remember. The only part of the bike with corrosion so far is the front cover

 

[GSmonkey]

Yes but the front cover of a 1200 would corrode in a vacuum

....think I'd agree on that. Not sure what I'm going to do post warranty (03/06)

 

[Gonzo]

....think I'd agree on that. Not sure what I'm going to do post warranty (03/06)

Nor was I. But now I've resigned myself to living with the corrosion and replacing the cover only when I come to sell it in (hopefully) many years time.

 

[Mouse]

People with 1150s have had the cover blasted clean and powder coated, don't see why this wouldn't work. That's what I plan on doing with mine if the replacement one I'm going to get soon starts corroding.

 

[AndyW]

This seems as good a thread as any to mention this..............

I always like to give a new bike a good going over and have stripped all the plastics and the fuel tank from my newly acquired 08/2004 bike, bought privately a couple of weeks ago, to familiarise myself with what's what and give the bike an 'andyw' clean!

The condition of the bike (21000 miles) is excellent but there's a couple of really disappointing bits :sad10:

I will take this up with my Dealer (the bike is under warranty until 08/2006) but thought I'd post up some pics for two reasons;

# I'd appreciate feedback from you guys - similar issues? - what's the chances of getting my Dealer to do something about it?
(I've read up on the many posts on the plastic/ally front engine cover - seems that's a regular warranty claim!!!)

Thanks

 

[Sprocket]

Hey Andy,
Looks like the fuel pump problem was the subject of a recall:

"Defect Details
It is possible for water to ingress into the cavity underneath the fuel pump electronics and corrode the electrical contacts of the fuel pump. This will lead to sporadic failure of the fuel pump and cause the engine to cut out and possibly back in. "

Don't know about the others but you should get your friendly dealer to help with the fuel pump

Check vosa.gov.uk for the relevant VINs.

 

[Tricky]

Andy

Some "quality control" issues on early bikes. I'd take up these defects shown with your dealer.

 

[Yellow Peril]

Well having read all the about them guys that clean for all they are worth and knowing a few non-gser's that are even more extreme, me I don't bother at the service it gets cleaned. Have read too many threads where the dealer has asked "what do you clean it with?" my answer is easy you clean it you tell me!

And apart from the normal corrison hot spot of the front cover no other probs to report, please bear in mind as well I probably live in one of those places where salt is in the air most of the time.

 

[UKBasque]

I read my GS12 rarely in the winter - and only when the sun is shining (often down here!)

However, I'm still concerned about corrosion - as far as I know, the roads round here are not salted - it rarely goes below freezing.

Still need to apply F365 etc?

Or will a good wash now again suffice?

 

[Pukmeister]

Heres my method to keep my bikes tiddly through winter:

1) Hose off the worst cack with cold water.
2) Apply 'Hein Gericke' bike cleaner from hand spray bottle (cheaper than Muc-Off).
3) Get a bucket of hot soapy water, brush liberally onto panels, into frame and wheels to dislodge grime.
4) Rinse thoroughly with the cold hose.
5) Use my leaf blower to blow off the water (gets rid of heaps especially on top of cylinders and behind switch gear/instruments.)
6) Spray WD40 onto switchgear/suspension/electrics and FS365 onto engine/gearbox/frame. Avoid brakes.
7) Put bikes in garage.

 

[iangough]

Guys, the acf50 is obtainable from Nippy Normans, but where do i get the scottoil stuff from...

It's xmas soon, and i need to give her lots of help....

p.s. glad i'm not alone in cleaning it every time i go out in the winter/rain... Currently i just clean with the autoglm motorcycle cleaner...
Bike is not corroded, but it does take me 20 mins each time i get home. I use motorcycle cleaner/brush hose/shampoo/sponge/leather

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Guys, the acf50 is obtainable from Nippy Normans, but where do i get the scottoil stuff from...

Up here in sunny Nottingham Heine Gerricke and my local BMW dealer (Pidcocks) sell it. Most decentish bike shops should stock it.

HTH
Andres

 

[nadeem]

F365 available online from here Good deal from the manf. with no carraige charges at the moment.

 

[AndyW]

This seems as good a thread as any to mention this..............

I always like to give a new bike a good going over and have stripped all the plastics and the fuel tank from my newly acquired 08/2004 bike, bought privately a couple of weeks ago, to familiarise myself with what's what and give the bike an 'andyw' clean!

The condition of the bike (21000 miles) is excellent but there's a couple of really disappointing bits :sad10:

I will take this up with my Dealer (the bike is under warranty until 08/2006) but thought I'd post up some pics for two reasons;

# I'd appreciate feedback from you guys - similar issues? - what's the chances of getting my Dealer to do something about it?
(I've read up on the many posts on the plastic/ally front engine cover - seems that's a regular warranty claim!!!)

Thanks

Mixed news ..............took the bike in to Bristol Motorrad today. Straight off they said they'd replace the front engine cover but said I'd have to approach BMW Customer Service about having the rest looked at as some of it was high cost stuff and they thought insufficient cleaning/preventative measures by previous owner likely to be to blame!!

Any help or advice, info on personal experience approaching BMW etc will be useful.........I think I may be in for a fight so any help will be greatly appreciated. Anyone good at writing letters?!

Thanks

 

[Gonzo]

Mixed news ..............took the bike in to Bristol Motorrad today. Straight off they said they'd replace the front engine cover but said I'd have to approach BMW Customer Service about having the rest looked at as some of it was high cost stuff and they thought insufficient cleaning/preventative measures by previous owner likely to be to blame!!

I'd really love to hear what us laissez-faire owners could do to stop the fuel pump/heat sink thingy from corroding. A) I don't know what one is b) I don't (well didn't) know where it was and c) where does it say in the manual to dry it out every now and again?

Un-feckin-believable!

 

[BBB61]

At least BMW will do something about it. Try taking a Triumph in for a warranty claim with corrosion issues and see how they respond. They will tell you that corrosion isn't covered by the warranty and that the owner should have cleaned the bike as per the instructions in the handbook.