When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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.Thanks in advance
Looks like it may be too late..... you can make it look better with some mothers chrome & aluminum polish,but if any of that is pitted there is no removing it. To prevent it next storage season clean & polish b-4 storing & maybe coat it with wd-40 until u get it out again.
Last edited by Chris gibson; Apr 1, 2019 at 02:49 PM.
Humid locations will do that to a bike.After hurricane Harvey I had to leave my bike at a friends house as my house flooded completely (56" inside).It stayed on his covered back porch for 9 months with a bike cover before I could get it.That same pitting crap was all over the wheels,the polished fins,chrome ,etc.I had no idea . I used chrome polish on all the chrome and used scotch guard pads(i used the green ones,a fibrous matl.)on all the aluminum wheels and fins.It's tedious monotonous work but it works.My bike 16 SGS looked like sh*t then,it looks good now!
Do you ever take it out of the shed and wash it or at least rinse it off when the weather allows? Even during non-riding weather, it can't be bad enough not to at least take a water hose to it.
I had a bike that got to look like that from being stored in a damp garage. Yeah - it was neglected, no need for anyone to lecture me. Anyway, I tried a lot of things and the only thing that took that crud off was called Elco Stainless Steel Cleaner. I figured it must be good stuff because it had a skull and crossbones on the package and it did work amazingly well. I think Sears used to sell it under the Kenmore brand also. Be forewarned: I don't know what it does to the finish long term because I got rid of the bike right after that so use at your own risk.
Was that tarp clean or impregnated with salt?
I had a warranty issue with new 2008 sporty that got just a little bit of that under the clear coat after 5 months.
turned into a little fight, with the dealer but in the end I won
Here is an update of my situation, I spray coated her with "Rust Check Rust Inhibitor Spray" that I picked up at the local Canadian Tire store and left it on her overnight. After 24 hours I went back and wiped her off all over with a clean rag and all the salt deposits came off with no difficulties. I then spay coated her with WD-40 and did another complete wipedown just so a thin coat of it serves as a protection film for the following days. As you can see in the pics the chromed and aluminum areas are not as "polished" looking yet, but at least the surface is now back to its smooth finish. I will make sure she will be coated with a corrosion inhibitor (maybe the ACF-50 or the CRC that was recommended in this thread) when the riding season ends and when she goes back in the shed. Thanks again for all those who gave positive replies and recommendations
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
East Coast Salt Problem
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.Thanks in advance 
