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Hello everyone, I just wanted to share my little problem here regarding salt buildup on my motorcycle. I moved to Nova Scotia last year and I have kept my HD Sportster XL-883-L Superlow inside a shed for the non-riding season. Sometimes I kept her under a tarp and sometimes not but she was in the shed all the time.
For those who do not live near the Maritime Provinces, the "salt = rust (or corrosion)" that vehicles endure here at the East Coast is all thanks to the salt in the air (and rain) from the Atlantic.
As you can see in the pics I have attached, they are more visible on the chromed areas of the motorcycle but they actually are all over her
I guess my question is can anyone who has had the same predicament provide their own technique on how to avoid this buildup, or how to effectively get rid of them?
A neighbor told me to use a WD-40 laced piece of cloth to wipe them off, but I would rather get further advice from actual riders.
Those of us, most of us in the snow belt states stay off the road after winter until the salt is washed away. The eastern seaboard has this problem of oceanic air corroding/pitting aluminum, trying to keep the polished covers nice would be a full days job. to clean the aluminum I use the Mothers Alum/Mag polish followed by a marine wax/polish from Starbrite. Get this from marine/boat supplies stores (West Marine). Has good wax properties to protect aluminum in salt water environments.
Not sure how to remove the salt deposits, but I would pitch the tarp. It traps moisture that creates condensation on the bike, which in your case contains salt.
I live by the ocean and the salt air will destroy chrome, iron, steel, and aluminum if you don't keep it totally clean. You have to stay on top of it constantly, you have to store your bike in a totally dry area also, rusting cannot occur without both water and oxygen. Moisture is easier to control obviously.
Aluminum is a different animal, the only painless way to protect it is to powdercoat it. I have to polish my aluminum weekly to keep it from oxidizing.
First thing, get rid of the tarp, second, put more vents in that shed. I live in NS too, and no rust on my bikes at all. One was in a cargo trailer all year with the roof vent open. No problem. And lastly, get busy with that WD-40, hose down everything that can rust. I've been doing that for many years, and it works perfect.
That does not look like salt buildup, more like oxidation of the Aluminum and pitting of the chrome. What other have said, clean it well and put corrosion penetrate on it before you store it for the winter.
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East Coast Salt Problem :(
