Salt Maintenance
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
This right here. Either wait until the salt is washed off or deal with rust.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
I usually wait until we have a good rain, to wash the salt off. But I have ridden on salty roads, and it does result in rusty bolts. Usually when you ride in salt it's during a thaw, and then it returns to freezing, so you can't wash the bike for several weeks. This Spring there is no snow on the roads, but plenty of salt. I may ride in salt if we get a thaw, I'll just wash the bike with plenty of water.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,410
From: Jackson, OH
It's not the visual corrosion that concerns me so much. It's what's happening to bearings, bolt threads, pivots, electronics and all the things you can't see. The comment above about salt dust is exactly right. That fine powdery salt dust infiltrates every place that wind can carry it. That includes air cleaner, engine surfaces, inside the fairing and so on.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
If you have spoke wheels, the salt water will wick into the rim and where the spoke end and rim contact, will rust heavily and spread out on the inside of the rim. This even happens with clean water, but takes much longer usually. I've seen spokes break off at the rim that were nearly rusted through. I got my '04 Sportster with a spoke front when it was 10 years old, and when I replaced the tire, it had a lot of rust inside. Thought I could clean it off, but under one large patch of rust, the rim was cracked in the butt weld, so I replaced it. Just as well, some of the spoke ends had lost a lot of material, too.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 378
Likes: 100
From: PA
I vote to just wash your bike like you usually do. It sounds like you've got a pretty good cleaning regime in place, just keep doing what you're doing.
FWIW, I ride year round in Pennsylvania and my bike is just fine. Jack it up, spray it with a hose. you'll be able to clearly see all the areas any road spray got onto.
FWIW, I ride year round in Pennsylvania and my bike is just fine. Jack it up, spray it with a hose. you'll be able to clearly see all the areas any road spray got onto.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,531
Likes: 30,855
From: Pennsylvania
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 784
Likes: 317
From: NE Ohio
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 132
Likes: 15
From: Matlacha, Fl.
Go to bass pro or Cabelas online or in person and get some "SALT OFF" it's made by star bright and I've been using it on my boats for years, spray it on, you can get it with an applicator that hooks up to your hose. Spay it on, let it sit for a while then wash it off, salt just washes away.Plus it leaves a PTEF (protective polymer barrier coating) that makes it come off easier the next time. Will not effect your paint or wax I even flush my outboard engine with it.
I have also used it on my Fatboy a few times when the canal flooded my street. I live on the water here in SW Fl.
Also use it on my boat trailer & my Jeeps, top to bottom
Salt Off is different then Salt Away, never used S A but I believe they are both about the same
I have also used it on my Fatboy a few times when the canal flooded my street. I live on the water here in SW Fl.
Also use it on my boat trailer & my Jeeps, top to bottom
Salt Off is different then Salt Away, never used S A but I believe they are both about the same
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Mar 28, 2018 at 02:39 PM.
