View Full Version : Leaving a bike in the rain
nik_nunez
12-08-08, 07:17 PM
What are the risks of leaving a bike in the rain whilst i am at work? anything prone to rusting? damage to any electrics if it gets soaked for 7-8 hours straight?
What are the risks of leaving a bike in the rain whilst i am at work? anything prone to rusting? damage to any electrics if it gets soaked for 7-8 hours straight?
If its a Suzuki, yep, the lot will look like the Titanic in seconds few!!
I know it's a strange concept, but I have heard that if you leave metal in a damp or wet conditions, it will rust.
The Suzuki motorcycles are exceptionally good at this.
metalmonkey
12-08-08, 07:49 PM
What are the risks of leaving a bike in the rain whilst i am at work? anything prone to rusting? damage to any electrics if it gets soaked for 7-8 hours straight?
No it will be fine just clean it and look after your bike, mine when I'm at work just sits in the yard its fine, it just gets wet.
mr.anderson
12-08-08, 07:53 PM
My SV did a lot of swimming last summer. I just gave the bolt heads, forks etc a wipe of a rag with a LITTLE WD40 on it and they kept fine.
If its a Suzuki, yep, the lot will look like the Titanic in seconds few!!
some people are so predictable:nomore:
some people are so predictable:nomore:
I hate to disapoint!! ;)
The worst that gets effected are the electrics. If you can be bothered, unplug all the electrical connections and smear electrical grease (vasaline) over all the terminals.
You can also treat the bike with those winter protective sprays.
AndyBrad
13-08-08, 07:42 AM
SO if there going to rot away in no time how do people (like myself) look after one without a garage / cover?
Tomtoms
13-08-08, 07:47 AM
it'll be fine if you clean it often enough.
or just buy a rain cover....
im pretty lucky. garage at home, and a multi-storey car park at work that keeps it out the rain!
Dave20046
13-08-08, 08:06 AM
you shouldn't really leave it outside if you can avoid it, but clean all the rustables and protect them with dry chain lube or something (don't use wd40 it contains low level acids that'll damage it) and buy a cover.
Ceri JC
13-08-08, 08:31 AM
The worst that gets effected are the electrics. If you can be bothered, unplug all the electrical connections and smear electrical grease (vasaline) over all the terminals.
+1 on this. I can't be bothered to go through the whole loom, but as I come to connectors as I do bits of work that exposes them I disconnect them, spray them with WD40 and clean the connectors with a cotton bud, then put grease around the edge so that when it's put back together it's more waterproof.
In terms of the damp causing electrical snags, when I've had this it has been when the bike has had a cover put on it when it's not 100% dry. If it has gotten wet and not had at least an hour's riding in the dry to dry it off/or stood in the dry for 6 hours, I won't cover it.
mister c
13-08-08, 08:35 AM
Mine stays outside all of the time & as everybody has said as long as you can keep it clean it should be ok.
In th winter I washed mine virtually every day to keep the salt off. Suzuki build quality is quite poor.
mine has been sat out side since i have owned it, i park it at work in the open and at home it sparked on my front garden, dont have a garage to store it.
i have not noticed anything major rusting yet. lol
I wonder which dissolves faster - a Suzuki or a sherbert dibdab? ;)
AndyBrad
13-08-08, 08:43 AM
what about
http://www.scottoiler.com/pc/FS_365_Protector_Spray_1_Litre_-%7C-_5_Litre_Refill_(UK_MAINLAND_CARRIAGE_FREE_OFFER). html
or
http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Bike_Protection/Treatment.html
12 months for 50 quid seems good value to me
wheelnut
13-08-08, 09:52 AM
It isnt the rain that attacks the Suzuki, it is the salt. It might be the acid rain though.
What are the risks of leaving a bike in the rain whilst i am at work?
belive it or not............ it will get wet
get a bike cover, if you are worried
Dangerous Dave
13-08-08, 11:41 AM
Give it a good clean an then apply some ACF-50 (http://www.acf-50.co.uk/), this will help prevent and protect against corrosion.
There are products similar to ACF-50 on the market and well known in the motorcycle world, but nothing is as good.
Give it a good clean an then apply some ACF-50 (http://www.acf-50.co.uk/), this will help prevent and protect against corrosion.
There are products similar to ACF-50 on the market and well known in the motorcycle world, but nothing is as good.
Thats the stuff I couldn't remember the name off...
nik_nunez
13-08-08, 12:38 PM
with the acf-50, do you just spray it on everything but the plastic fairings?
Dangerous Dave
13-08-08, 01:04 PM
with the acf-50, do you just spray it on everything but the plastic fairings?
Yeap, but use common sense and keep it away from the brakes!!!
Al_Sweetman
14-08-08, 07:31 AM
with the acf-50, do you just spray it on everything but the plastic fairings?
Why not spray it on the plastics?! No harm in it from what I can see, and spraying mine last year certainly seemed to keep it less 'gunky' and much easier to clean.
I was speaking to my mechanic mate the other week, and whilst bitching about the English weather we came on to ACF-50. He said the reason it's so good and so much better than, say, WD-40 (aside from the acid!) is that the ACF-50 actually neutralises the salt in the road spray "on impact", whereas (most of??!) the other cleaners don't.
I'm tending to keep a coat on all year round - and in actual fact it's best if you don't keep cleaning it till it's spotless as you'll remove the 'buildup' of ACF-50 -> Simply spray it whilst it's still wet after a ride.
AndyBrad
14-08-08, 07:57 AM
now i may be wrng here but i would have thourgtht hat the way in which its applied would be a masive factor in how well it performs. I mean if you were to spray wd40 on something then you get a massive amount that would dry with a non uniform film. by atomising the ac50 you are ensuring an even coat and better covereage. What do you think?
anyone fancy hosting a ac50 session?
MiniMac
14-08-08, 08:05 AM
I can't find the link but there is someone who wraps the bike up and then applies the ACF in a high pressure mist.
If we can get a few people together so when he travells its better for him, its cheap.
nik_nunez
14-08-08, 09:21 AM
somone posted the link on the page before
http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Bike_Protection/Treatment.html
i only live 20 mins from them, and booked a date for sunday - will let you know how it goes
Al_Sweetman
14-08-08, 10:15 AM
anyone fancy hosting a ac50 session?
That just sounds wrong....
AndyBrad
14-08-08, 10:18 AM
That just sounds wrong....
but you like it ;)
somone posted the link on the page before
http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Bike_Protection/Treatment.html
i only live 20 mins from them, and booked a date for sunday - will let you know how it goes
Mmmmh I think I can get 4 bikes together....
nik_nunez
14-08-08, 11:25 AM
well he is coming up to near middlesbrough sunday morning at 10:30, i am sure he will happily do a couple if ppl are about
Dangerous Dave
14-08-08, 11:43 AM
Why spary ACF-50 on the plastics??? They ain't gonna corrode and rust???
Spray it on and get an old paint brush to dab it into all the small cracks, especially around the engine cases and underneath. As for areas near the brake discs I do one of two things, either cover over the brake discs or apply the ACF-50 with a rag/brush depending on the area (e.g. I use a small rag and paint brush on the calipers).
MiniMatt
14-08-08, 04:44 PM
Meh. Mine's 18 months in my "care" now, since then it's been used near daily come rain or shine, when home it gets the front third under a car port, the rest is exposed to the elements; no cover. It hasn't been cleaned. Ever. Not once.
The top of the fork legs are showing a bit of rust that'll polish out with 15 minutes work if I felt like it. Some of the alloy bolts have furred up a bit but are otherwise fine. That's it.
To be honest, the only things to worry about on an SV in the rain are "have I fitted a fender extender" (or if not, "how many yards can I get into my journey before I'm down to one cylinder") and "am I on the OEM dunlops, and if so how worn are they" (OEM dunlops are fine in the dry, not great, not good even, just fine - in the wet they are "acceptable", when near the end of their life, in the wet, they're horrible, as in if you accelerate faster than a 2CV the rear tyre will overtake the front in seconds).
Stegsie
14-08-08, 05:15 PM
ACF50 is the way to go. Put it all over (except the brakes of course!) Safe on your electrics and everything. I swear by the stuff. My bike is kept outside all year long and this does the job.
Before I had the SV, I had a 125-11 JinLun - you just have to look at those and they will rust. I kept it outside all through the winter and cleaned it and polished it with ACF50 every couple of weeks - it was still like brand new when I sold it a few months back.
Dave The Rave
14-08-08, 05:15 PM
I use FS 365. Neutralises the salt and is easy to apply. As I wash the bike after every ride (summer or winter) I have no problem reaplying the stuff. Bike looks as good as it gets after nearly 20k miles. But ... it's Honda you see ;-)
Dangerous Dave
14-08-08, 05:25 PM
I use FS 365.
Good stuff but you have to keep reapplying when it gets wet, ACF-50 lasts for ages.
well he is coming up to near middlesbrough sunday morning at 10:30, i am sure he will happily do a couple if ppl are about
I'd be interested in that.
Do you know how much and were?
nik_nunez
14-08-08, 06:51 PM
my house, 50 a bike - i will need to call him to see if he can do more, pm me if you are interested and i will give you the info
my house, 50 a bike - i will need to call him to see if he can do more, pm me if you are interested and i will give you the info
Haha, just PM'ed you there.
At 50 quid I'll certainly get it done.
I'd appreciate it loads mate if you can find out whether he'll do more.
Where abouts you at?
nik_nunez
14-08-08, 08:14 PM
talked to the guy and he can do 4 bikes on sunday, will be at my house, if anyone is interested pm me for more details
Dangerous Dave
15-08-08, 07:19 AM
Whilst you are there bend over and see what other surprises there are to offer, you can do it yourself for far far cheaper with an aerosol can.
...you can do it yourself for far far cheaper with an aerosol can.
Can you find spray cans of ACF-50? It seems that you'd have to use a spray-guy pushing 100psi to get the stuff atomised as this site states...
http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Bike_Protection/Treatment.html
Dangerous Dave
15-08-08, 12:10 PM
Can you find spray cans of ACF-50?
ACF-50 is supplied in aerosol cans, can someone explain the real purpose and benefit with it atomised???
I haven't found anybody who will justify it yet....
http://www.sportouring.com/productimages/acf-50can.jpg
Does this ACF 50 stuff leave your engine nasty and sticky once applied?
Dangerous Dave
15-08-08, 04:14 PM
Does this ACF 50 stuff leave your engine nasty and sticky once applied?
If you go OTT yeah, it leaves a very fine oil like substance but it does not attract dirt like WD40 does.
I think the atomising to just to get to get everywhere on the bike, plus looking at the site its not just about the ACF-50, its a full clean up of the bike before hand. So it depends on whether you can be bothered to do it yourself, they have all the kit and if your watching and paying the money your be sure to see they do a good job.
jimmy-james
15-08-08, 09:42 PM
Just leave it in the rain! its only water, riding in the rain is different especially when there is salt on the road, I will use the aerosol stuff when its autumn.
Dangerous Dave
16-08-08, 10:27 AM
Just leave it in the rain!
It isn't just the salt on the road that starts corrosion.
jimmy-james
16-08-08, 11:48 AM
It isn't just the salt on the road that starts corrosion.
What is it then? I realise mud and grit cause it and but surely water is just water......... I keep my bike clean and when its dirty i wash it (with water incidently) thoroughly as soon as i can after.
Ian Kennard
16-08-08, 02:24 PM
I only have a very cheap rain cover for protection and ride the bike all year round. I have never sprayed it for extra protection and yet have very little corrosion on any part of the bike. What am I doing wrong, because I have had the bike for four years..............? :-?
What is it then? I realise mud and grit cause it and but surely water is just water......... I keep my bike clean and when its dirty i wash it (with water incidently) thoroughly as soon as i can after.
It's oxygen essentially that causes corrosion, which is obviously present in water. Hence why you get oxides. Although, salt does accelerate the process.
I can't find the link but there is someone who wraps the bike up and then applies the ACF in a high pressure mist.
If we can get a few people together so when he travells its better for him, its cheap.
It's Bridge Road Motorcycles in Crosby, Liverpool, costs about £25.
F16Falcon
18-08-08, 04:00 AM
I don't get how people seemed to think Bikes are desined to be ridden inside or something. It's a vehicle. And just liike any other vehicle it's designed to operate outside and that means incliment wether too. What happens if it rains while you are riding? Do you pull out an umbrella?
That being said. I've kept my bike outside for 2-3 years now. It's never been in a garage. Everything is fine. The discs get a little fake rust that comes off with a gentle wipe with a damp or not damp cloth. No sqeeks. The chain has this same effect but mainly is really bad rain...eventually. All else is fine.
I DO recommend applying water repelant to connections. It's common sense to do this although I've only stated doing this about a year ago.
Mine stays outside all of the time & as everybody has said as long as you can keep it clean it should be ok.
In th winter I washed mine virtually every day to keep the salt off. Suzuki build quality is quite poor.
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