Hey folks, I have a 2005 Ultra up here in Rhode Island. I've put around 30K on it, it's always stored in a garage and for the winters I clean/wax it, cover it and zip it up in a a Motorcylce Jacket Bag ( http://www.carvaluesplus.com/moto_ja...otorcycles.htm ) with 5 lbs of desiccant in the bag. This year as I was polishing the chrome, I noticed a few spots where the chome is begining to flake off. Behind the "light bar" and more importantly, on many of the rims where the spokes meet the rim. This bike has the lace wheels (I think the lace rims were new in 2005). Wondering if this is a problem with the lace rims or just a problem with HD chrome? Should I not put it in the Motorcycle Bag? I figured a sealed bag, with the desiccant in it was far better than just a bike cover?

Thanks,
Joe

 

Oh that sucks , looks like you did everything you could to keep it protected ... just bad luck i guess.
I have a better one though.....my Streetglide is 3 weeks old and the chrome is flaking off the front heatshield on header pipe .... wtf??!?? Time to go back to the dealer and raise hell i guess

 

Bike covers hold moisture in, I don't use any. I'd doubt the desicant would make a significant diff. My bikes get dripping wet from condensation whenever we get a warm spike in the winter.
I do hang an old bed sheet over the bike in the winter just to minimize the dust that collects.
If you want to use the cover then I'd recommend getting a "goldenrod" that many people use when storing boats.

 

There are just some parts that chrome hasn't taken to and it eventually shows up, some much sooner than others. I have had some that started to pit (kuryakyn) and some others (harley) that started to wear out in a short period of time. You just have to replace it when it craps out and go on. Your doing everything you can to keep it looking good. I would also shoot some wd40 on it before you store it (except painted areas). This is a great way to store a bike over winter.

 

Look around your garage at anything else thats chromed (is it bubbing or peeling). Could be a chemical reaction to household cleaning products or pool/spa supplies.

 

Don't ever store pool chemicals in your shop or garage. It will corrode everything.

 

And how do we know that Robbie?..

 

If chemicals can be ruled out, you can blame it on nothing more than shoddy chrome work. Chrome is meant to be a hard, durable, attractive finish that protects metal, not something that you have to baby......The chrome bumpers on my 15 year old Toyota pickup sit out in the weather year round and get road salt on them every winter. They still look great.

 

I gotta ask:

Do you Rhode Islanders use salt on your roads in the winter?

 

I too have a 05 and am not happy with the chrome. I have replaced at least a half dozen parts due to problems with the chrome. I have been riding Harleys since 1966, at least a dozen different bikes, and never had a problem with the chrome until I got this bike.