Help needed

I have just been having a good look at the beast, my 02 1150GS. I have noticed that the brace thingy that holds the front mudguard appears to be corroding. The paint has visibly bubbled and flaked off around one of the bolts. Also, I was already aware, that both of my wheels have rusty spokes.
Looking at this forum these seem to be commons faults. Obviously I'm going to get them replaced under warranty, but I was wondering if one of you knowledgable people out there could provide me and other viewers with a comprehensive list of common problems with GSs. The bits that go rusty, fail, etc.
This would be a great help to everyone I am sure. Also if everyone insisted that these problems were rectified before the warranties expired, then surely more effort would be put in to higher production standards. We can at least hope.
I do find it quite disappointing. Fair enough, I ride all year - road salt etc, but this is my main form of transport. If my other 'alf's car corroded after just one year everyone would be horrified.
It seems to me that more effort needs to be put in re the quality of bike components.
Sorry to ramble on, but if someone could help I would be very appreciative.

Jon,
Three months and same problem with lower brace and also lower fork legs both being done under warranty on 22nd. Good luck with yours. Hopefully the replacements will be better or I'll be back moaning again!

Use Search.........

Jon,

If you use the search facility, say type in Corrosion, you will any number of previous posts on this and other stuff.........

CC

I think with the cost of these bikes it is f**kin outragous that they rust this early, are they cutting corners on the new ones ?
Took the mud scraper off mine yesterday an noticed bubbling paint behind it (water trap) on the shaft, also under the pillion seat 2 screw holes for something both rusty, I fuggin hate rust

flaky paint

My good buddy "Sgt Bilko" had his front brace replaced a week or so back on his new adventure. At the time we were speaking to one of the guys from our local dealership, who put the trouble with poor paint finish and the like, down to the "enviromental rules" which many manufacturers in the EU have to adhere to, IE chroming, galvanising and paintfinishing and stove enamelling all produce high levels of toxic wastes and pollutants, to comply with the "green lobby", many manufacturers are trying to lower the levels of pollution in their production methods and make their products more "enviromentally friendly". Unfortuanately the good old tried and tested non green methods give the best finishes, so until technology manages to make better green paint finishes etc we seem to be destined to poor finish on our bikes, at least we can take consolation in the fact that Harley Davidson have never even managed to get this good!!!

Having read the threads re 'corrosion' and 'paint bubbling', here's my bit: bought a 2000 1150 GS which had some signs of bubbling, which are mostly around the bolts at the front of the engine, but also around the cylinders. Apart from that and the fork brace, the paint is fine. The question I have is - what can I do in the medium to long term (no, not selling the bike, has only done 30k miles and intend to run it for a few years.

A mate told me that if there is corrosion under the paint (i.e. where the bubbles are), this could go deep into the aluminium. So, is it possible to do anything radical about it? Take everything apart and get it powdercoated? Again, matie tells me that this is not only a major job re taking it apart (as GS doesn't have a frame, but also the 'internals' are fitted in such a way that it's a hell of an expensive job to rebuild the engine, etc. Has anyone got experience re this? Cost? Companies who specialise in this kind of work?

thanks

Martin