Florida Chrome Problems...
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Florida Chrome Problems...
I’ll try and make a long story short…Like you’ve never heard that before but I’ll give it a shot!
April of 07 wife decides she wants a different bike, decides she wants a Deluxe.
We’re both from Iowa, but her parents stay in Sarasota, Florida now.
At some point the local dealer or somebody auctioned, raffled or gave away a 2006 Deluxe with all the bags and some other extras. The winner put 900 miles on it then decided they didn’t want to keep it, and traded it in for a car at a local dealership.
So that is where in-laws came across it, told us about it and we ended up buying it and having it shipped up here. Beautiful Bike, great price.
It arrived here with 991 miles on it and when we unloaded it the lower forks (Not chrome) looked like had a couple chips in them or something had rubbed against them while in transport. Since I already planned on getting the lower fork skins chromed eventually I didn’t worry about it.
Took it into my dealer for the 1000 mile service and to have them look it over in case I was missing something. Said it looked great and I had a good deal.
In the meantime…I’ve dropped the rear about 2 ¼ inches, added a lot more chrome, put the stage one on, piped it, changed rear light and license plate and took off all bags and made it a solo seater. Damn good looking Deluxe!
Anyways while detailing and cleaning it up thru the summer and fall noticed some little “bubble like” pits on the front rim and even on the rear. Looked to me like dirty metal that wasn’t prepped very good prior to chrome plating. The chrome wasn’t cracked or peeling anywhere.
Mentioned it to my Service Rep one day and he said he’d like to have bike here when factory rep was here and have him look at it. So we decided sometime over the winter since warranty was up in May 2008.
So between snowstorms rep was to be there and I didn’t have time to get complete bike up there so I just dropped off the front rim.
Forgot to mention that this dealer is “Super Cool” and has gotta be one of the best in the country. But in the meantime this Service Rep (That knew the whole story) got transfered to the other store , but this new guy is just as good just not as familiar with the story.
So when I brought in the front rim the local reps find a lot more and bigger spots that are bubbled. Still none are cracked or peeling.
Factory rep shows up, looks at rim says bike been to Florida got salt on it or something, nothing he can do about it. Still don’t forget ONLY 991 miles on it.
Factory rep now wants to see all of bike because he says it’s probably all over it.
The wife rode it up there yesterday since I’m off on knee surgery so probably won’t be there when he shows next Wednsday.
I figure that must be what is on the forks than.
Seems to me it’s bad metal prep, metal, cheap work again with only 900 miles! I don’t know!
What do you Floridians do to prevent this crap
Whats been the practice down there on this type of crap.
Sorry for taking so long just need to get some answers or suggestions.
Thanks
April of 07 wife decides she wants a different bike, decides she wants a Deluxe.
We’re both from Iowa, but her parents stay in Sarasota, Florida now.
At some point the local dealer or somebody auctioned, raffled or gave away a 2006 Deluxe with all the bags and some other extras. The winner put 900 miles on it then decided they didn’t want to keep it, and traded it in for a car at a local dealership.
So that is where in-laws came across it, told us about it and we ended up buying it and having it shipped up here. Beautiful Bike, great price.
It arrived here with 991 miles on it and when we unloaded it the lower forks (Not chrome) looked like had a couple chips in them or something had rubbed against them while in transport. Since I already planned on getting the lower fork skins chromed eventually I didn’t worry about it.
Took it into my dealer for the 1000 mile service and to have them look it over in case I was missing something. Said it looked great and I had a good deal.
In the meantime…I’ve dropped the rear about 2 ¼ inches, added a lot more chrome, put the stage one on, piped it, changed rear light and license plate and took off all bags and made it a solo seater. Damn good looking Deluxe!
Anyways while detailing and cleaning it up thru the summer and fall noticed some little “bubble like” pits on the front rim and even on the rear. Looked to me like dirty metal that wasn’t prepped very good prior to chrome plating. The chrome wasn’t cracked or peeling anywhere.
Mentioned it to my Service Rep one day and he said he’d like to have bike here when factory rep was here and have him look at it. So we decided sometime over the winter since warranty was up in May 2008.
So between snowstorms rep was to be there and I didn’t have time to get complete bike up there so I just dropped off the front rim.
Forgot to mention that this dealer is “Super Cool” and has gotta be one of the best in the country. But in the meantime this Service Rep (That knew the whole story) got transfered to the other store , but this new guy is just as good just not as familiar with the story.
So when I brought in the front rim the local reps find a lot more and bigger spots that are bubbled. Still none are cracked or peeling.
Factory rep shows up, looks at rim says bike been to Florida got salt on it or something, nothing he can do about it. Still don’t forget ONLY 991 miles on it.
Factory rep now wants to see all of bike because he says it’s probably all over it.
The wife rode it up there yesterday since I’m off on knee surgery so probably won’t be there when he shows next Wednsday.
I figure that must be what is on the forks than.
Seems to me it’s bad metal prep, metal, cheap work again with only 900 miles! I don’t know!
What do you Floridians do to prevent this crap
Whats been the practice down there on this type of crap.
Sorry for taking so long just need to get some answers or suggestions.
Thanks
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
Did you ask the rep why HD sells bikes in Florida, if they can't handle the climate?
I have no signs of rust on my 2005 Fat Boy andI live 40 miles south of Sarasota. I also don't have the factory wheels or exhaust on it.
Mine gets a thin film on it, from the salt air. I just wet towel/dry towel it about twice a month.
It is hard to see the film. I uselint free towels and when I wipe it off it is almost like taking very fine lint off it.
I have a pickup I bought new, a couple of years ago, as a second car. I don't drive it much, so it sits in the garage, weeks at a time. I can wash it and 2 weeks later without leaving the garage it has a film on it.
Tom
I have no signs of rust on my 2005 Fat Boy andI live 40 miles south of Sarasota. I also don't have the factory wheels or exhaust on it.
Mine gets a thin film on it, from the salt air. I just wet towel/dry towel it about twice a month.
It is hard to see the film. I uselint free towels and when I wipe it off it is almost like taking very fine lint off it.
I have a pickup I bought new, a couple of years ago, as a second car. I don't drive it much, so it sits in the garage, weeks at a time. I can wash it and 2 weeks later without leaving the garage it has a film on it.
Tom
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 304
Likes: 38
From: Port Orange, FL
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
Welcome to the world of the Florida motorcycle. We came down from Minnesota in 2004. Wife loves chrome, and I powdercoat mine. We have identical '02 Standards. We live in Daytona Beach next to the ocean. I wash 'em a good 2 times a week. They are kept in a shed under covers with a fan blowing for air circulation. Guess what...each time I uncover them the latent little "salt air" film is all over them. Her chrome is pitted so bad it looks like someone threw sand on it and chromed over it! My powdercoating held up till about 6 months ago when the salt got under it and started lifting it off. It's the nature of the Florida beast, man.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,523
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
Living in Florida for over 25 years and not one of my motorcycles ever has had any issues with chrome peeling, pittingor paint lifting. I dont live near the beach but my scoots get cleaned every time they get ridden specially if I ride or go near the beach. Now if you dont clean the bike often I am sure that some issues could come up.
Banned
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 0
RE: Florida Chrome Problems...
Mine parks in the garage and my truck stays outside. Lived on the bay in Miami for 16 years and never had a problem with chrome on my car or truck. Someone either road it on the beach and never washed it or the HD rep doesn't want to honor the warranty. Just a wash every week or two to keep off the salt air residue.
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