Salt on Roads
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 911
Likes: 10
From: Wisconsin
Just a week or so ago I was in the local dealer and salesman showed me an Ultra that was totaled because he rode after first nice day.
He hit some salt and sand in an intersection and wrecked out. Broke half his ribs and sent one of them thru his lung! All because he said screw it I'm riding!
He hit some salt and sand in an intersection and wrecked out. Broke half his ribs and sent one of them thru his lung! All because he said screw it I'm riding!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 823
Likes: 0
Sorry y'all my bike is for riding, in the heat, rain and cold. I'm not gonna let some glorious weather go by and leave my bike sitting in the garage 'cuz I'm afraid of salt. Deer, dingbats with cell phone, and left turners, I'm afraid of. Salt dust can like my huevos. 
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 11
From: Hoozier
Good thread. I'm in Fort Wayne and struggling with the salt thing. March 25th and we're having a snowstorm...sucks. End of the week looks pretty good (partly sunny, mid to high 40's - riding weather). We have salt everywhere, especially downtown (where I work). I missed out on a couple of good days riding because of salt paranoia. I'm done thinking about it. Gonna ride it, and wash it...but mostly ride it.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 589
From: Running with the gators
WAX! Lot's of WAX! Best thing you can do for a bike is keep wax on it every time you wash it. It does not take long to do and then when you do ride in weather its helps keep it from hurting the finish and makes the next wash easy.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 2
From: MKE, WI
Here in Milwaukee I will not ride until salt is gone. Once a good melt and several hard rains to clean up the roads. I do know a few riders that do ride and always hose off there bikes right away when they get home from there ride. For me, I always wait though, just don't want to risk the damage all that salt can cause.
Ride safe,
T
Ride safe,
T
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
Likes: 25
From: Ellan Vannin
Rinse it off immediately the bike has cooled off. DO NOT use warm water - it activates the salt more effectively than cold, and speeds up corrosion, as well as helping it to stick more firmly. No need to use soap or do a thorough clean, but do rinse it thoroughly.
Prevention: liberal spraying of ACF50 into every nook and cranny (spray some in the lid and use a kid's paintbrush to apply where you don't want to spray, such as near your brakes). ACF50 was developed to stop aircraft rotting on board carriers, and is safe for all surfaces and also around electronics. WD40 won't do - it is not the same thing at all.
I live on an island in the middle of the Irish Sea, and ride year-round. Even if there's no salt laid on the roads, the air is thick with it, and my buddies and I have learned the hard way!
Prevention: liberal spraying of ACF50 into every nook and cranny (spray some in the lid and use a kid's paintbrush to apply where you don't want to spray, such as near your brakes). ACF50 was developed to stop aircraft rotting on board carriers, and is safe for all surfaces and also around electronics. WD40 won't do - it is not the same thing at all.
I live on an island in the middle of the Irish Sea, and ride year-round. Even if there's no salt laid on the roads, the air is thick with it, and my buddies and I have learned the hard way!
Last edited by Manninagh; Mar 25, 2013 at 11:54 AM.
