wheel discolouration

[baldycop]

As a new ish Gs owner, only able to afford a 2000, w 1150 can some one help, i realise that i am stuck with the paint lifting on the fork legs, etc, BUT my alloy rims seem to be discoloured under the laquer, everything i have tried will not shift the dark markings, turps, white spirit, brake cleaner, wonderwheels, is this something i have to live with or is their anything i can do apart from buying new rims!

 

[Speggo]

Take it offroad and get it all muddy. you won't notice the marks then

 

[GSdude]

Hi Baldy (can I call you that ?)...Ive recently (a) joined the forum amd (b) purchased myself a second hand GS. Although mine is only 2/3 years old, this issue was the first thing I brought onto the forum. It seems that from a few years back there appear to have been numerous GSs which have simply suffered from corrosion type issues. This appears to be simply down to individual bikes and the tolerances of metals/ coatings used. My bike is suffering from the electroplating finish coming away from the mid cylinder head sections of the engine. Fortunately Rainbow have agreed to rectify the matter this wek under an extended waranty type clause although on closer inspection I have found several areas on the bike which could have lasted a bit better. When I originally posted my question I got a cross section of replies ranging from 'dont look at it....just use it!' across the board to ' youve bought a bag of s***e !'.......none of which really assisted me ! Ive come to terms with the fact that these bikes will (eventually) go a bit Pete Tong as regards overall finish, although you will ALWAYS come acros someone whos had one for 3000 years and never suffered any kind of problem. Its just down to pot luck I suppose. Enjoy !! Regards MJK (thinning on top Cop !)

 

[Bryn]

Hi Baldy... my GS is a 2000W also, and had no probs with the rims until i tried a strong wheel cleaner on them and left it on too long. The result was that the wheels looked like they had "waterstain" marks all over them.

Couldnt get rid no matter what , until someone suggested BELGOM ally cleaner, which i picked up from the BMF.

Bit of elbow grease and no more marks... Cost about £5 a bottle, lasts forever!

Bryn

 

[baldycop]

bryn, bought one of your wonderful oil cooler covers if thats you, looks the part, thanks for your advice, gs dude likewise thanks , finding advice helpful, however believe more abuse will be on its way from older members, dont know if anyone who reads this can assist further on another thing ive noticed about my bike ,the seat is possibly previously an instrument of torture 100 miles me arse is numb as is the good ladies.
what solutions are availiable, work?
gel pads, air seats, new seats?
before anyone else says it i dont fancy riding whilst standing on the pegs, etc

 

[JAY]

The rims are suppose to be hard anodized - according to my dealer - but I find them a sod to keep clean. They may look the biz but looking forward to going back to alloys on the 1200.

John

 

[bikermike]

Numb bum

Hi BC (sounds less cheeky), the numb bum syndrome, mmmm..sounds very familiar. I also asked on here for advice about this, and had very helpful replies. Tried an Airhawk for SWMBO, but she couldn't get away with it at all, so sent it back (30 days money back guarantee from Airhawk by the way!!) Now, I've just had both seats on our Black 1150 GS re-upholstered by Tony Archer form Huddersfield (£70....bargain of the year if it works!!), to our requirements, so if this works...yipppppeeeeee!!! if not..then at least we got rid of the red (pink!!) seat. Good luck with your decision.

 

[harry]

stained rims

Several winters back my GS1150 was caked in salt crap and i took it to acar cleaner who asked me if he could use rim cleaner on it, i replied yes but asked him to not leave it on too long. Well the cleaner was on no longer than three minutes but alas the rims were ruined and no amount of EG or Begom ALU would remove the stains. I informed my insurers who initially said it was'nt an accident and i was'nt covered. I asked them,literally, if they thought i'd destroyed the rims on purpose.They said no so i said that makes it an accident then. They agreedand out came the Loss Adjuster. I got nice new rims i'm pleased to say.

 

[Deleted account W]

you will ALWAYS come acros someone whos had one for 3000 years and never suffered any kind of problem. Its just down to pot luck I suppose.

Mines a 2000 model, I've decided to leave the crap on them. Underneath it they're like new

 

[Bryn]

bryn, bought one of your wonderful oil cooler covers if thats you, looks the part, thanks for your advice, gs dude likewise thanks , finding advice helpful, however believe more abuse will be on its way from older members, dont know if anyone who reads this can assist further on another thing ive noticed about my bike ,the seat is possibly previously an instrument of torture 100 miles me arse is numb as is the good ladies.
what solutions are availiable, work?
gel pads, air seats, new seats?
before anyone else says it i dont fancy riding whilst standing on the pegs, etc

Baldy.. Have a look at www.alaskaleather.com

You need a sheepskin Butt seat cover...

Barb at Alaska Leather was doing a 10 percent discount for ukgser last time people were asking... quick service too.. rang her on the saturday, got me sheepskin the following friday.

It was useful on last years eastern bloc tossers tour!

Bryn