Removing road salt
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1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5
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From: Slc
Removing road salt
Against my better judgement, I rode my brand new 2015 RG this last Tuesday. The roads here in Utah were dry, although they had been salted probably....4 days prior. I'm pretty worried about the sat dust that probably accumulated on the bike. It's got a brand new stage 1 and the bike itself is flawless. I only had the chance to put 1100 miles on it after I bought before the weather turned to crap. I've been told that as long as it's dry, I should be fine for a month or so until I can wash it....but being that it's brand new, expensive, and its my pride and joy I'm kind of losing sleep about it. Should I be worried? Should I wash it? Is there some kind of special treatment I should use? Help!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Order some Salt Away from a Marine dealer. Mix it up and put in a yard sprayer. Hit the bike with it after you're done riding and spray it off with COLD water. Blow dry with a weed wacker or a portable blower and you're good.
In the meantime I'd rinse the bike with cold water and dry it.
In the meantime I'd rinse the bike with cold water and dry it.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,083
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From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by Just Me
I'd sell it. It's in everything now including salt dust sucked into the motor.
But if you still want to keep your pride-and-joy, what everyone else said, and don't forget lots of water underneath the bike including fenders and inside the header shields.
And if you have any chrome covers like starter cover, front axle nut, rocker box head bolt, etc, remove and clean good.
Last edited by RKZen; Jan 15, 2016 at 10:31 AM. Reason: add'l stuff
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 346
Likes: 84
From: Toronto, Canada
You may consider using a mobile detailing service, if there's one available in your area. They'll wash and detail clean your bike and wax it as well. May cost you a C note but you'll get some sleep in the meantime.
Here's an example of such a service in my area: http://www.washmenow.ca/
Good Luck!
Here's an example of such a service in my area: http://www.washmenow.ca/
Good Luck!
All BS aside, that is the one thing that will "ruin" your bike.
There is not way to get it all off.
You will find in a year or so, many many rusted fasteners, clamps... Your paint will be fine, and the bike will still look great, but when you go to work on it you will start finding corrosion.
I made that same mistake 10 years ago. The only way I found to fix it was to trade it in.
I truly wish you the best.
There is not way to get it all off.
You will find in a year or so, many many rusted fasteners, clamps... Your paint will be fine, and the bike will still look great, but when you go to work on it you will start finding corrosion.
I made that same mistake 10 years ago. The only way I found to fix it was to trade it in.
I truly wish you the best.