Florida Chrome Problems...
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 911
Likes: 3
From: Venice, FL
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
I have friends who live on the water herein Sarasota, and own Harleys. Chrome gets eaten alive down here. If it was on/near the water just once, and got a fine mist of good ol' Gulf of Mexico on it [and it wasn't cleaned/waxed shortly thereafter], it's toast.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 22
From: right down from the FloraBama
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
I live 40' from the Gulf of Mexico in North Florida.
This is the backyard and my '91 Sturgis.
My wife has a 90's era POS Honda Rebel she never rides or washes (which means it never gets washed because I won't wash it either).
All the original chrome on the Sturgis and Honda are fine.
I have had problems with crappy aftermarket chrome, but the original chrome is fine.
Front Yard
Don't they have salt on the roads up north?
Seems to me bubbles in the chrome would be a warranty problem.
Millions of cars and bikes within 5 miles of the coastline of Florida.
I don't believe we have a chrome pitting epidemic.
This is the backyard and my '91 Sturgis.
My wife has a 90's era POS Honda Rebel she never rides or washes (which means it never gets washed because I won't wash it either).
All the original chrome on the Sturgis and Honda are fine.
I have had problems with crappy aftermarket chrome, but the original chrome is fine.
Front Yard
Don't they have salt on the roads up north?
Seems to me bubbles in the chrome would be a warranty problem.
Millions of cars and bikes within 5 miles of the coastline of Florida.
I don't believe we have a chrome pitting epidemic.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 911
Likes: 3
From: Venice, FL
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
ORIGINAL: fishheadsaid
I live 40' from the Gulf of Mexico in North Florida.
This is the backyard and my '91 Sturgis.
My wife has a 90's era POS Honda Rebel she never rides or washes (which means it never gets washed because I won't wash it either).
All the original chrome on the Sturgis and Honda are fine.
I have had problems with crappy aftermarket chrome, but the original chrome is fine.
Front Yard
Don't they have salt on the roads up north?
Seems to me bubbles in the chrome would be a warranty problem.
Millions of cars and bikes within 5 miles of the coastline of Florida.
I don't believe we have a chrome pitting epidemic.
I live 40' from the Gulf of Mexico in North Florida.
This is the backyard and my '91 Sturgis.
My wife has a 90's era POS Honda Rebel she never rides or washes (which means it never gets washed because I won't wash it either).
All the original chrome on the Sturgis and Honda are fine.
I have had problems with crappy aftermarket chrome, but the original chrome is fine.
Front Yard
Don't they have salt on the roads up north?
Seems to me bubbles in the chrome would be a warranty problem.
Millions of cars and bikes within 5 miles of the coastline of Florida.
I don't believe we have a chrome pitting epidemic.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach, FLA
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
I have the same problem with my front rim I has started to rust the spokes and a few spots on the rim. But i have to store my bike outside under a tarp & I dont wash and wax like I should so there lies the problem mine is a 06 & it also has some spots on some of the aftermarket crap but nothing to bad. My front forks have the same thing as well. I live less than a mile from the ocean. I think it has a lot to do with how well you take care of it and if you have to store it outside.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 22
From: right down from the FloraBama
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
ORIGINAL: ConnMan
Nice pics, but that looks like the intercoastal or a bay of some sort.My only frame of refence is two friends who live directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Both Harleys, both with pretty sketchy chrome. Even a little bit inland doesn't seem to be a problem, but the two bikes that are exposed to the elements right on the gulf look hammered.
Nice pics, but that looks like the intercoastal or a bay of some sort.My only frame of refence is two friends who live directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Both Harleys, both with pretty sketchy chrome. Even a little bit inland doesn't seem to be a problem, but the two bikes that are exposed to the elements right on the gulf look hammered.
Water on 3 sides, nothing but open water until you hit Cuba due south.
That's a 98 Dodge pickup in the driveway. Not garage kept. Rain washed and hardly ever waxed.
The bumper is 10 years old and rustfree.Somehow those Dodge guys can build a bumper that doesn't rust, why can't Harley?
Like I said, I don't see an epidemic of "rusting" chrome down here on the cars.
Not saying your friend's Harleys aren't rusting,but mine hasn't (except for the cheap aftermarket chrome parts).
My wife's POS Honda hasn't rusted either. I don't think a little salt air should "rust" chrome. I think it's a bad plating job.
Bubbles under the plating usually means the base metal wasn't prepped.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
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From:
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
You know what would cause this? Someone cleaning the rims with simple green. I didnt know any better and cleaned my rims on my sportsbike with simple green and I got pitting and bubbles just like your describing from only one use. It wasnt immediate it took a couple days to show up. Hopefully its only your rims.
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