salt everywhere
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Rode to work Monday and Tuesday, a little brine staining but mostly sand as we were running out od salt in Northern IN a few weeks ago. Getting 8" of new snow today, just drove to work in about 4" and the plows havent been out yet. Guess they are deciding how to handle the big snow with no salt and their snow removal budgets overspent 75% this year.
Anyway these things will wash and they are made to ride...... yeah I got a new 1 that wont be out till after the April rains too.
Anyway these things will wash and they are made to ride...... yeah I got a new 1 that wont be out till after the April rains too.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Western NY
I took off work yesterday afternoon to go riding. Was a beautiful day for March in Western NY. I saw several bikes out. It took a little longer to wash the bike up but, it'll give me something to do for the next month. You only live once.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,217
Likes: 3,046
From: St.Louis Mo.
yes this weather is nuts! no big deal i guess it just ****'s me off it got salt all over it. i'll give it a good cleanup and wax job today. give me something to do on another cold crappy day.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,281
Likes: 3,419
From: Idaho Panhandle
You need a good surface surfactant to remove salt. Salt crystals get onto metal in cracks and create surface tension that keeps water from washing them away, yet is hygroscopic and attracts water vapor to make rust.
Some use specialty surface surfactants for salt to break that surface tension such as Salt Away. One can use other products with a surface surfactant. Most dish washing detergents have a surface surfactant. I use a spray bottle, diluted dish detergent and spray it underneath the bike and around the wheels. Then rinse it off. It is not to clean the bike, just to break the surface tension of the salt in the cracks so that the water will wash it away.
Water itself washes salt away on flat surfaces as it can break the surface tension of the salt molecules, but in small areas and cracks or between bolted pieces, you need to use something that will get in there and break the surface tension. Anyway, I use a tiny squirt of dawn in a water filled spray bottle, reach underneath and just spray the heck out of the bottom of the frame, engine, swing arm, brakes, etc then rinse.
Our State uses liquid salt and it will eat your bike alive. My hunting vehicle that goes over the mountain passes is total rust underneath. The last time I took it into a shop he mechanic said, "You drive over the pass a lot".
Some use specialty surface surfactants for salt to break that surface tension such as Salt Away. One can use other products with a surface surfactant. Most dish washing detergents have a surface surfactant. I use a spray bottle, diluted dish detergent and spray it underneath the bike and around the wheels. Then rinse it off. It is not to clean the bike, just to break the surface tension of the salt in the cracks so that the water will wash it away.
Water itself washes salt away on flat surfaces as it can break the surface tension of the salt molecules, but in small areas and cracks or between bolted pieces, you need to use something that will get in there and break the surface tension. Anyway, I use a tiny squirt of dawn in a water filled spray bottle, reach underneath and just spray the heck out of the bottom of the frame, engine, swing arm, brakes, etc then rinse.
Our State uses liquid salt and it will eat your bike alive. My hunting vehicle that goes over the mountain passes is total rust underneath. The last time I took it into a shop he mechanic said, "You drive over the pass a lot".
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 3
From: Portage, IN
Rode to work Monday and Tuesday, a little brine staining but mostly sand as we were running out od salt in Northern IN a few weeks ago. Getting 8" of new snow today, just drove to work in about 4" and the plows havent been out yet. Guess they are deciding how to handle the big snow with no salt and their snow removal budgets overspent 75% this year.
Anyway these things will wash and they are made to ride...... yeah I got a new 1 that wont be out till after the April rains too.
Anyway these things will wash and they are made to ride...... yeah I got a new 1 that wont be out till after the April rains too.
Where are you at in Indiana? I am in Portage and I work in Michigan City..What about the current snow storm? I had a helluva time getting to work this am but it looks like it may be over for now...Gotta love it...24 hours ago I almost got out for a ride but bike is partially apart at the moment..
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Not just the salt, a biker was killed taking the off ramp by me when he hit the sand that was left over from the salt trucks. We don't have a lot of salt residue, but the sand is everywhere and a couple inches deep on the side of the roads. Be careful in the curves, the biker was a very popular local minister.
Beary
Beary
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Still patiently waiting here in MD. I will not get me bike out yet, too much melting salt soaked snow. Supposed to get a heck of a thunderstorm tonight. I hope it washes all the salt and what's left of the snow away, and praying no more snow is in sight!!! This winter has been a tough one.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Where are you at in Indiana? I am in Portage and I work in Michigan City..What about the current snow storm? I had a helluva time getting to work this am but it looks like it may be over for now...Gotta love it...24 hours ago I almost got out for a ride but bike is partially apart at the moment..
I built a new motor for my older bike this winter so anticipatiion was killing me. Tuesday was better than Wednesday but anything dry and over 40 is welcome. On my 2nd tank of gas now and maybe 250 miles on the new stuff.