I have an 04 and barely ever drive it in the rain and keep it clean. It was perfect when I bought it, and now it seems to have slight rust spots on the creases on the frame and other various spots. I already had to get the front cowling soldered and sprayed because it snapped b/c of rust. Is this common on bikes? This is my first one by the way.
Yes its a piece of shaZam!.
Some years hold up better, some specific ones hold up better etc etc ... I saw some very good 89 and 90 bikes, I have also seen a 95 that in 2005 looked like new (its got a ruined motor though) and I saw a 97 that was pretty damn good. I also have seen some other years hold up well. the rest all seem to rust and turn into powder. When they pretty up the thing, usually some other stuff you cannot see readily gets crapped up. That is the rule of mass production. Which is why I am very leery of "new bikes". That ER650 from kawi is one serious high risk bike for rust IMHO. Steel frame with lots of welds and covered by a fairing ... yea ... nothing to hide there ... yea right.
Cool.
Buddha.
You know what I do ? :)
Once in a while I strip my 97 of plastics and tank,smear some grease on a piece of rag and wipe the frame beams on the inside,especially on the welds
It may attract dust but prevents rust and I ride all year round and live by the sea,works great IMO :thumb:
I have a 95 and it still looks new :thumb: I even left it outside this winter (under a cover)
So did this 95 I have. It was jetswings old one.
Maybe it was the year they got it all perfected, before in 96 they changed everything and made it all shitty again.
This guy's 96 I am working on is one total POS, he's on motor #2 already, it spun a bearing on the first one.
Cool.
Buddha.
I'm NOT impressed I had previously read about rust on the 500's. I presently have a 500F and am seeing small rust marks here and there. I clean it , polish it, I believe if it were not for the rust protector I have been applying that it would be far WORSE !
I've got a '96 and it only has a few spots of rust on the frame. One is right under the motor where the frame bolts are. And there is another spot by the battery box, where I think some battery fluid leaked on it at one point before I owned it. I'm going to sand them down and re paint soon.
My '98 had a little rust before I repainted it, but considering I ride in all weathers and keep it outside, I'd say it's held up remarkably well for a decade-old bike.
Besides, it's a good excuse for a new paint colour scheme.
My '06 is just fine, I ride it through the rain here in California. I remember riding in Connecticut though. Even with meticulous care everything would rust there. It's the price you pay for riding in areas that salt roads. Even if you didn't ride through snow all winter, the road salt lingers because it soaks into the dirt and hides only to come up again the next rain and make things rust. Road salt is vicious stuff it's not ordinary sea salt cause that would contaminate the land and kill all roadside plants, it's potassium chloride, safe for plants but crazy on metal. I hardly hear about any bikes in Arizona, Nevada or Southern California rusting and I'm pretty sure they don't send the rust proof bikes over here.
04 is getting a little rust around the seams and a tiny bit a few inches above the fork seals ... Up until this year I had zero rust... mind you, this is the first (and last) winter I didn't grease up the frame/bolts etc prior to storage...
Cheers,
JG
What kind of grease is good for year round in the jounts, etc.?
stainless steel cleaner or chrome cleaner that is what i use, i get those spots on my chrome bits and other metal pieces
Quote from: frankieG on April 17, 2008, 12:36:57 PM
stainless steel cleaner or chrome cleaner that is what i use, i get those spots on my chrome bits and other metal pieces
my trucks chrome bumper (think it's a toyota knockoff) rusts if you breath on it. best thing i've found is plain old SOS dish pads, and then a quick hit with the Mothers Tear Off pad. It's kinda like gauze, but not quite. The sos pads take off rust in about 3 wipes, very little elbow grease involved.
For stuff on the bike besides bolt heads, I wash it at the car wash, then shake up baby oil and water, and wipe down all the bits. The bolt heads look good, only my battery box has some rust. 98 model. At some point I'll likely have a new box welded in, and the frame cleaned up if I can find any nasty spots. :)
Any "easy" spray on type of products like wd-40?
Vaseline ... no freaking kidding ...
Vaseline is water proof ... really really water proof. It also melts and runs well at temps over 100 ... your bike will not look goopy and like a homeless dude ejaculated on it ... except in winter of course ...
Its also very very cheap, readily available and is good to preserve rubber and safe for everything else.
The only caveat is ... its rather combustible ... so make sure its not in great quantity puddling up everywhere. Like put it on, and run the bike and sop up the thing that runs off.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on April 17, 2008, 01:47:36 PM
your bike will not look goopy and like a homeless dude ejaculated on it ... except in winter of course ...
Quote from: The Buddha on April 17, 2008, 01:47:36 PM
Vaseline ... The only caveat is ... its rather combustible ...
You, sir, are a legend. I shudder to contemplate the travails and trials that results in such wisdom.
+1 Vaseline works awsome, use that on my beater... keeps out air and water really well... I've used mobil1 wheel bearing grease too but like Buddha said bout the homeless fella ...
Cheers,
J
Quote from: Villager on April 17, 2008, 01:52:09 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on April 17, 2008, 01:47:36 PM
your bike will not look goopy and like a homeless dude ejaculated on it ... except in winter of course ...
Quote from: The Buddha on April 17, 2008, 01:47:36 PM
Vaseline ... The only caveat is ... its rather combustible ...
You, sir, are a legend. I shudder to contemplate the travails and trials that results in such wisdom.
Well this I saw on discovery channel ... the absolute best way you can be guaranteed to ahve a fire ... under wtaer, under snow and ice in soppy wet caves ... cotton, vaseline and flint stones.
BTW WD 40 is just about as combustible, but doesn't fully push water to the extent vaseline does.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on April 17, 2008, 01:47:36 PM
Vaseline ... no freaking kidding ...
Vaseline is water proof ... really really water proof. It also melts and runs well at temps over 100 ... your bike will not look goopy and like a homeless dude ejaculated on it ... except in winter of course ...
Buddha.
I feel another sig quote coming on. :kiss3:
Quote from: ben2go on April 17, 2008, 03:39:09 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on April 17, 2008, 01:47:36 PM
Vaseline ... no freaking kidding ...
Vaseline is water proof ... really really water proof. It also melts and runs well at temps over 100 ... your bike will not look goopy and like a homeless dude ejaculated on it ... except in winter of course ...
Buddha.
I feel another sig quote coming on. :kiss3:
lol
I aint quoting myself in my sig ...
But I produce static like this all the time.
Cool.
Buddha.
Hey will it hurt the little O-rings on top at carbs, to hold it in place for reassembley? The one the size of a dot (o)??
Vaseline ... nope, it saves rubber, You can stuff some in between your fork seals and dust covers.
Cool.
Buddha.