OK so I probably haven't got a leg to stand on because she is 3 years old now (and I've had her from new) but...

Today's service was kind of the last straw. Apparently the horn was not working very well ...so I had a look and sure enough looks as if there is water in it so it gurgles rather than beeps, lol

Closer inspection and I find the plastic body of the horn around where the two parts are stuck together is as brittle as **** so no guesses really needed on how the water is getting in ...but thats going to come under the "sale of goods act" and "fit for purpose"

Anyway, paint and chrome ...now that I've had a look, the chrome bell cover for the horn seems to be quite merrily rusting away on the inside

So more p'eed off than usual in the apparent general lack of the ability to put the word "quality" with the name Harley, I had a good look all around and find that underneath, the chassis cross member where the shocks bolt into has next to no paint left and is also rusting away quite the thing. Actually the paint on the whole frame is a bit pish, it seems to be as soft as.., very easily marked, and difficult to get any kind of a polish on it. I already put vinyl film in places to try to protect it.

Also, the voltage regulator needs yet another re-spray, and the two brackets holding it on, and the connectors underneath it, also have the paint gradually being replaced by rust ...and the dealership already resprayed the reg last year!

The other thing I find, on account of having removed the rear seat so I can see them is those holes for seat mountings that are plugged in the rear fender have all started to blister so the dreaded rust is already making headway there too.

It's only 3 year old and only has 14000 miles on her ...and remember this thing cost as much as a decent sized family car!


Does that sound about as good as it gets? ...are these things not meant for driving outside on the roads?



(gets down off soap box n slopes off for a few beers...)

 

Hmm, what are the roads like in the UK, salt?

 

Naw, I don't let salt anywhere near it. Cleaned top to bottom at least once a week - washed and dried. Winter time, she's cleaned, polished, and protected with engine brighter and PTFE bike spray, then hap'ed up safe n sound in a nice garage until the salt wagons are long gone and the roads have been washed clean again.

 

The fact that Edinburg, UK is situated right next to the North Sea has everything to do with your bike rusting in the places that you've described. It doesn't matter so much that it's a Harley, I would imagine that any bike would have the same issues there because of the salt that naturally occurs in the air.

 

Remind me to go black next time instead of chrome ...or get something Scottish-proof, if that's possible lol

mind you, paint is still a bit pants and rather lacking a few coats

 

Washing your bike once a week... do you rinse the soap off really good? A lot of soaps are concentrated and can cause your bike to rust way faster than normal. I know it sounds funny but it's true. I literally sit there and spray my bike for 20+ minutes after I wash it until there are no soap bubbles in sight. Then it gets hit with the leaf blower to dry it off.

 

sometimes twice (blush) ...but I do use her, she 'aint no garage queen

Good point. I actually use Duragloss 902 which is supposed to be acid/alkali free (duuu ...that will be ph neutral then ...don't you just love the marketing guys). The car detailing world used to really like it was why I use it.

So wash down with sheepskin glove and or long thread microfibre towels, then lots of rinsing off, and dried with a microfibre towel and or leather chammy. No hoses or power washers go anywhere near it