The way I see it, things corrode quickly enough without adding salt to the mixture. There's no way any bike of mine is being ridden when there's PA salt brine down on the roads. That chit corrodes everything, and quickly. No thanks, bike will be parked in the garage until spring once I bring it home.

Btw, the vid of the guy in the car wash--moronic. Nothing like riding your bike to the car wash, getting the engine and pipes up to a nice hot temp, and then spraying cold wash water over everything. That's just asking for chit to get cracked.

 

Yeah, I undersatnd this 1, I too am getting too old to spend an hour or more cleaning or buying another new 1.

Hopefully the coatings used today are better than the older stuff. I know my 81 FXRS started life with a beautiful wrinkle black painted motor and primary. By the 5th or 6th year of riding on winter salt the black was popping off everywhere. I actually did a tear down every winter to repaint the wrinkle black until I sold it in 91. I purchased my '03 with laced wheels, spent more time than most cleaning and polishing, and now 10 years old they have rust anywhere the chrome wasn't perfect. I just don't want to see that on my new 1....

 

Just get the salt off as soon as you finish the ride

 

To those unfamiliar with winters...:here are some thoughts from a born and bred old school New Englander

I'm almost 50. I don't spend an hour or two washing it off in the cold. I quickly rinse it off, have a winter-proof faucet right next to the garage door, I usually just hose it off when I come back from rides where the roads were heavier with salt..ya know, you can clearly see all the white dust on the roads and then on the bike a bit. Rinse well with the hose, quickly give it a patting dry with a big towel, pull her into the garage. I tip the bike side to side to dump out accumulated water, quickly pat dry again, wipe the wheels quickly with the towel. Really a "less than 5 minute" thing. Sooo worth it to get rides in.

Many rides in the winter are salt free. I don't go riding the day after it snows and they lay down a ton of it with sand. We can go days and weeks without snowfall, and the can clear up nice 'n clean. When I'm done with those rides I just pull her back in the garage...no wash needed.

Prior bike was an '06 and she did lots of winter riding each and every year. Sold her in gorgeous condition..absolutely gorgeous condition...great glossy black paint job with no rust or imperfections, chrome still all beautiful, wheels 'n spokes nice.

The bike only needs occasional basic care. They won't rust and crumble in front of you. They aren't made out of paper mache.

Riding conditions...black ice, I know when and where to expect it, my dad raised me up learning to handle winters, not be afraid of 'em. Not a concern..esp in daytime rides.

Sand on the roads, that's usually only after heavy snow, and it doesn't last on the roads long, they're pretty clear a few days later.

Those that don't ride in the cold...missing out on a whole different experience....engines love cold air. Esp carb'd ones. Plus...riding after all the leaves all off the trees...you're missing out on a whole new sound when ripping down the highway. Less of an echo from the trees lining the sides of the roads. It's really a unique sound. For those few riders left that still ride to hear the music of their bikes instead of the noise of their headphones with music....it's a wonderful sound..that cadence coming from the pipes, without the muffled echo of the leaves on the trees, and the sound does change in the denser cold air.

I too don't want to have to replace my bike every few years, this Shovel I recently got...I plan on having a long long time. Winter ain't gonna hurt it.

 

Ever hear of rain?

 

I don't ride in salt mainly because it never gets dry around here in the winter (MD), so you get salt spray on everything. It dries out your gear, your face, your neck, your nose. . .

I'd much rather just put up the bike and drive my truck. My truck was cheaper than my Harley anyway.

 

I was thinking that. I was worried the other day when I wanted to wash the bike just after a short run. Then I realised that a quick hose off wouldn't be any different to a rain shower, so went ahead.

 

I paid more for my daily-driver car too, but the bike is still the one that gets all the attention. I enjoy the hell out of riding it, and also enjoy keeping it clean & looking like new.

And yes, I probably will keep it 20 more years. My 8-year-old sone already says that it's his bike, and if he becomes a good rider, I'll give it to him when he's ready. By then, it will be ready for antique plates. I plan on it looking like new, even in 2033.

Pretty sure the previous owner never rode it on a salted road, since it only had about 100 miles a year put on it. But maybe I'm wrong & he used it like a snowmobile or tractor.

 

Every electrical connector and bracket I've pulled off my bike has corrosion in it from the previous owner. Believe what you want, but there's no way to get salt and moisture out of all those tight/hidden spots, until you've got some kind of electrical problem years down the road or chrome bubbling up from a chipped bolt hole somewhere.

 

OK, so then if a problem crops up years down the line, you fix it. That's a whole lot better than letting the thing sit idle for months at a time.