So I was going over my bike and Iv been finding rust in strange places. The one place that bothered me most is the bottom end of the steering shaft. Why is it like caked with rust? and what can I do about that? is there a cap I can buy for it?

 

Just brush it with a small wire brush and paint it with car touch up ....color of choice....

 

Allowing moisture to remain on just about any surface will eventual result in rust. Once it sets in there is no magic cure. As suggested above, scrub it with steel wool or a wire brush then touch up paint. Give it a few days then wax it.

I'm pretty careful about getting water off my bike quickly. If I wash it, a leaf blower works good, then I towel it down. A lot of folks here don't bother but I like my ride to look nice. Just me.

 

+100000 on the leaf blower. Gotta have that, moisture of any kind will destroy your bike.
If you wash it, take the time to get all the water off of it. Might as well as go ahead and apply a detailer spray to it also, just in case.

 

Thanks guys, Ill be spending a LOT of time doing just that this winter.

 

I would take it to the dealer. If it was painted at the factory and it now has layers of rust it is not a moisture problem.

Do you have any pictures?

 

[QUOTE=Recon Dad;7752768]I would take it to the dealer. If it was painted at the factory and it now has layers of rust it is not a moisture problem.

What makes you think it's a factory paint problem? There is a screw and bracket in this location that when left to gather and retain moisture will rust... not the factory's fault. I spray my bike down at least once a year with WD-40 or a dry silicon like Jigaloo... I take the seat off and loosen the tank and spray everywhere... no problems on my 7 year old Fatboy and I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. A little PM goes a long way.

 

Huh? Rust is the result of moisture...period. Factory paint or no.

 

I have seen several that were rusted around the nut on the bottom. Not sure the motor co. used a plated nut there. As said, just clean it off, and rather than paint it, I think I might just wax or a light coat of grease.

 

But aren't you worried about all that unfiltered air from your leaf blower? lol