Preserving Harley
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
There's a lot of road salt put down in Michigan during the winter, so I don't park my bikes in the garage where they would be next to my salt encrusted pickup truck. During the winter, my bikes are parked in a wood walled storage room or in my cargo trailer. If the Road King gets parked in the storage room, the battery comes home with me.
The only corrosion preventing spray I've used on anything is BoeShield which was developed by Boeing. It did the job.
The only corrosion preventing spray I've used on anything is BoeShield which was developed by Boeing. It did the job.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 10,760
From: livingston co,mi
^^This would be my main concern^^
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,623
Likes: 6,442
From: Honah Lee
Mine sits more and more. I just wipe it down with pledge. Someday, some new young person can take the white chrome polish to it. Kinda thinking there is little you can do for hard chrome over aluminum.
Something happens below the surface that makes it pit. Harleys chrome on steel tends to clean up. The microscopic cracks on it just show stains that chrome polish removes. Aluminum tends to undo chrome in small circles and pop off in flakes.
Levers, risers ect are pretty cheap to replace. Don't make yourself a slave to any toy . Make the toy your slave.
Something happens below the surface that makes it pit. Harleys chrome on steel tends to clean up. The microscopic cracks on it just show stains that chrome polish removes. Aluminum tends to undo chrome in small circles and pop off in flakes.
Levers, risers ect are pretty cheap to replace. Don't make yourself a slave to any toy . Make the toy your slave.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jan 11, 2020 at 09:32 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 102
From: Waukesha, WI
Don't ride if there is salt on the roads, ever. Even if it's an odd 60* December day, unless there has been a good hard rain to wash the roads just don't do it. The dust gets in and on everything and corrosion sets in. During the summer I run a dehumidifier in my garage (usually damp due to being built into a hill) to keep my tools and other things from rusting. Otherwise wash and dry as normal.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
just use some good wax and good metal polish, that is all there is to it. i live in FL one of the worst states to live in for this stuff. and my bikes are not in a garage. they are on a carport. ill go out and see the manufacture of the product tomarrow. too late and too many beers tonight.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 141
Likes: 62
From: Vermont
In northern Vermont, my bike is put up from November till March, in an unheated garage. I change the oil, pull the battery and bring it inside, fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer. Its usually too cold to give a wash and wax when I get around to winterizing.
In the spring, I charge the battery and start it up. Its a 1993 EVO. Bike has no rust. Always starts right up and OEM batteries last me about 5 years.
In the spring, I charge the battery and start it up. Its a 1993 EVO. Bike has no rust. Always starts right up and OEM batteries last me about 5 years.
Last edited by eglide_vt; Jan 12, 2020 at 04:03 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Nothing special here. Wash the bike a few times a year, wax it after the wash. Store (Minnesota) winters uncovered in my attached unheated garage.
No rust at the 6 year mark.
No rust at the 6 year mark.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
I keep it clean and dry in the garage. I run a dehumidifier when it's over 60ﾟ. In the winter when it's colder, if there's any water on the ground that dripped off the cars, I make sure it gets pushed out and dried up fast.