Winter riding

[Jed]

Totally new to biking - just passed test and bought a GS12 to use for year round commute - 80 miles round trip mix country lanes then joys of the M4.

Does anyone know of a really really easy to understand (with pics) book/site etc which shows how to maintain condition of the bike throughout the winter.

Looked at the various threads which say grease this and that but need something for a totally thicko scouser (me) who until I did the CBT wouldn't know how to check the oil i.e. buy this type of grease and put it on this bit of the bike as shown in pic 1.

Don't slat me too much - at least i've joined the biking community and i know i'm a thicko

 

[mikey5]

winter riding

Hi There
the general rule is hose the bike down after riding with cold water to wash the salt off cos thats the enemy
and then get some scot oiler fs535 protector spray and spray it every where thats metal APART FROM THE BRAKE DISKS!!
this stuff neturalises any remaing salt and keeps bike as new
this will add 10 mins to your day but will keep bike looking good
i have been using this method for last few years and bike is as new
ride safe Mike

 

[MarkShelley]

I would suggest using the search facility and look up ACF50.
It is a product which leaves a protective film on the bike. I put it on my bikes before the first frost and just leave it, without washing, until the last of the salt has gone from the roads. The bike will look sh1t by the end of the Winter but it is very satisfying when you remove the crud!
You can put it all over the bike apart from tyres and brake discs/pads. Some areas can be done by simply spraying from the tin, but a 1" paint brush is handy for wheels and fiddly bits. Just spray some into the lid and use the brush. It is good for electrical components also.

 

[cocokid]

If you are lucky enough to have a garage with power, then do the cold water wash with spray cleaner as required followed by a good blow off with air compressor (machine mart) others are available, then a liberal squirt of wd 40 ,job done.

 

[Yonkyo]

I would suggest using the search facility and look up ACF50.
It is a product which leaves a protective film on the bike. I put it on my bikes before the first frost and just leave it, without washing, until the last of the salt has gone from the roads. The bike will look sh1t by the end of the Winter but it is very satisfying when you remove the crud!
You can put it all over the bike apart from tyres and brake discs/pads. Some areas can be done by simply spraying from the tin, but a 1" paint brush is handy for wheels and fiddly bits. Just spray some into the lid and use the brush. It is good for electrical components also.

+1

You wont want to be cleaning your bike every day. So use the ACF50 treatment (for easier application warm the can up first, in a bucket of hot water).

Here's one method: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253108

 

[AshR1]

Agree that getting the salt off it is top priority.

Have a look at some well weathered bikes to get an idea of the parts of the bike that rot then pay special attention to keeping those parts clean & protected.

 

[Jed]

cheers guys - booked a work from home office tomorrow
so that'll keep me busy

 

[bod]

I know the ACF boys have faith in their stuff, and I know it works

But I could not sleep at night knowing my bike was covered in salt all winter!
I also use Scotoiler FS365 & my 5 year old 1200 is mint

 

[tommygun]

Www.allyearbiker.com

 

[NLC]

Have used both the Scot and ACF and have switched to the ACF. Have to support my motherland of Canada! Boy you have to be careful. I got a little on the disc break and had to ride around the block five times with the front brake applied to get it off. So make sure you do a test run before opening her up. I am sure the Scot is good but the ACF seems more "robust". Having spent a good part of my life in Canada the most important part is to wash the bike with cold water.

 

[Barry G]

Am I the only person using DUCK OIL and thinks it Dogs Bits.

 

[FatBob]

I know the ACF boys have faith in their stuff, and I know it works

But I could not sleep at night knowing my bike was covered in salt all winter!
I also use Scotoiler FS365 & my 5 year old 1200 is mint

Does ACF really stop all the corrrosion, especially this winter and last winter which have been particularly cold and loads of salt put on the roads? I have always tried to look after my bike, had it treated by All Year Biker last winter and again this winter. I used it for commuting most of last winter, hosed it down at weekends and come the spring clean there was corrosion all over the place. There is more corrosion showing now, around the bolts on the front of the engine, despite hardly riding it this winter.

I am terrified to ride it on salted roads now for fear there will be no metal left by Spring! If I have to hose it off every night when I get home, in the dark, it becomes a huge pain in the ass. Then the bike will get put away in the garage still wet which is probably also going to encourage corrosion. You just can't win!

And are you supposed to let the engine cool before you hose it off?

 

[Yonkyo]

Does ACF really stop all the corrrosion, especially this winter and last winter which have been particularly cold and loads of salt put on the roads? I have always tried to look after my bike, had it treated by All Year Biker last winter and again this winter. I used it for commuting most of last winter, hosed it down at weekends and come the spring clean there was corrosion all over the place. There is more corrosion showing now, around the bolts on the front of the engine, despite hardly riding it this winter.

I am terrified to ride it on salted roads now for fear there will be no metal left by Spring! If I have to hose it off every night when I get home, in the dark, it becomes a huge pain in the ass. Then the bike will get put away in the garage still wet which is probably also going to encourage corrosion. You just can't win!

And are you supposed to let the engine cool before you hose it off?

If applied correctly and plentifully, the ACF should protect your bike through the salty winter months.
The knack is to not wash the ACF off with cleaners/solvents until the salt has disappeared from our roads.

 

[mikey5]

yes let it cool down

Does ACF really stop all the corrrosion, especially this winter and last winter which have been particularly cold and loads of salt put on the roads? I have always tried to look after my bike, had it treated by All Year Biker last winter and again this winter. I used it for commuting most of last winter, hosed it down at weekends and come the spring clean there was corrosion all over the place. There is more corrosion showing now, around the bolts on the front of the engine, despite hardly riding it this winter.

I am terrified to ride it on salted roads now for fear there will be no metal left by Spring! If I have to hose it off every night when I get home, in the dark, it becomes a huge pain in the ass. Then the bike will get put away in the garage still wet which is probably also going to encourage corrosion. You just can't win!

And are you supposed to let the engine cool before you hose it off?

yes let it cool down hot engine = hot water =catalyst for salt corrosion

 

[Rasher]

Does ACF really stop all the corrrosion,

A lot of people reckon so, I had my last bike done by All Year biker, the chap had an 85k Fazer that was used year round and it was in very impressive condition.

I am running an experiment to help pass the winter boredom:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168147&page=4

Scroll to bottom of page 4, still topping the salt up each week to see how well ACF works with prolonged abuse.

 

[FatBob]

If applied correctly and plentifully, the ACF should protect your bike through the salty winter months.

Interestingly Roy from AllYearBiker said the mistake most people make when applying ACF is to use too much. This results in a layer of sticky gunge which more salt and dirt can stick to. Thier approach is to apply a very fine coating by high pressure spray and/or wiping with a cloth.

Its easy to test out the various approaches. All you need is a bike that you are prepared to let rust into a pile of scrap metal. Unfortunately I'm not rich enough to treat the GS as disposable. Any rich benefactors reading this forum who can do an experiment?

 

[IainMac]

As a newbie to ACF I started using it on my new Xt1200z as I wanted to get some miles on it running it in over the winter. I had probably fallen into the get it on thick camp but also couldnt resist the hosing off the bike after a ride as it tends to pick up mud and crap on my way into the yard as last stretch is over an unmade lane. As a result I may have rinsed off some ACF around the exhaust header /studs or it could have just burned off but one of the nuts on the header studs is starting to fur so cleaned it and reapplied.
this area is in line of fire from front tyre so may need a mud guard extender to help and the exhaust heat could just be burning the ACF off so no hope of protection. all other areas are unscathed where I've coated though it does need a good clean mostly under the sump and back end.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Does ACF really stop all the corrrosion, especially this winter and last winter which have been particularly cold and loads of salt put on the roads? I have always tried to look after my bike, had it treated by All Year Biker last winter and again this winter. I used it for commuting most of last winter, hosed it down at weekends and come the spring clean there was corrosion all over the place. There is more corrosion showing now, around the bolts on the front of the engine, despite hardly riding it this winter.

I am terrified to ride it on salted roads now for fear there will be no metal left by Spring! If I have to hose it off every night when I get home, in the dark, it becomes a huge pain in the ass. Then the bike will get put away in the garage still wet which is probably also going to encourage corrosion. You just can't win!

And are you supposed to let the engine cool before you hose it off?

Dont wash it unless your prepared to put more on. You have to re-apply in areas where crap gets hammered onto it from the wheels but other than that I never touch mine and it was fine last winter.

 

[Jed]

Erm - spent half the day cleaning and applying the ACF50. Word of warning - once completed DON'T turn the bike on whilst in the garage and go into the house to make a brew. I did and the old lady across the road called the fire service cos she saw the smoke

 

[FatBob]

Dont wash it unless your prepared to put more on.

You mean wash with detergent as opposed to just hose off with water? ACF is supposed to withstand getting wet.

You have to re-apply in areas where crap gets hammered onto it from the wheels

That's everywhere isn't it? After AllYearBiker had finished with it the bike was all clean and shiny. One winter ride on a wet road and it was covered in shite everywhere. Hosing off with water (no detergent) doesn't seem to make it any cleaner, it just moves the dirt around a bit but its still there when the water dries off.