Running the 'strada when the salt goes down

Jokeshopbeard · Oct 7, 2015

So we're coming up to that time of year where the weekend riders put their bikes into storage and the all year riders start preparing for the winter.

When I initially bought the 'strada, I was intending to run it all year round. However, 8k later, and after getting a feel for the build quality, I'm wondering if this is a sensible option. I think corrosion could affect this bike pretty badly.

I've had a full ACF 50 treatment done on it, but I'm not sure if that's gonna provide enough protection to stop devaluation through corrosion.

So, this question is this; run the bike through winter (and keep on top of maintenance) or buy a winter hack (something like a VStrom or Varadaro 1000) and sell it in spring? (I did this with a VFR750 and actually made Â£40 on resale!)

Have any of you guys run your bike through the winter (in a country where they salt the roads)? If so, how did it fare? Did you take any precautions against corrosion?

Cheers!

pacaver · Oct 7, 2015

I run mine when it's warm enough to wash the salt off, but the daily duty falls to my DR650. The salt corrodes some aluminum parts like the brake calipers, but it holds up better than you'd think. No way would I ride a nice bike on salted roads unless I could immediately wash it off.

AussieHyper · Oct 7, 2015

It's summer (really spring) in Australia .....we have just had 4 days above 30 C.

Want to talk about the Rugby?

Jokeshopbeard · Oct 7, 2015

Sorry mate, I don't know a thing about sport!

Do you have salt there? I'm half aussie myself and am thinking about moving to Melbourne in a few years..

AussieHyper · Oct 8, 2015

Only salt here is on your fish and chips or salt and pepper squid

Come to Melbourne....weathers good enough to ride all year round

Serdar Yavuz · Oct 9, 2015

I have run my strada through salted roads this year from March on. Granted, it wasn't salted much, as the winter was nearly done and we didn't get snow. That said, there was still enough salt to make me worry, but the bike held up well with no issues.

nosequeponer · Oct 9, 2015

what about a protective layer?? something like vynl ??

Rixb · Oct 9, 2015

It's not the paint he's worried about, it's the components. Like calliper, wheels, forks and engine to name a few.

You would have a hell of a job wrapping those in vinyl

DucRento · Oct 11, 2015

I've run mine the last 2 winters in Scotland after liberally spraying everything with ACF50 (using a compressor) and it has stood up as well as any other bike I've had (I always had a Honda in the garage for winter riding before

). I cleaned it down today and will give it the winter treatment this week, and I have to say it still looks great considering I use it every day and have around 12K miles on the clock.

R

R6chase · Oct 12, 2015

Winter riding? In Canada that really isn't a thing... And if it's a nice day but there is still salt on the road I usually steal my wife's convertable.

Jokeshopbeard · Oct 13, 2015

DucRento said:
I've run mine the last 2 winters in Scotland after liberally spraying everything with ACF50 (using a compressor) and it has stood up as well as any other bike I've had (I always had a Honda in the garage for winter riding before ). I cleaned it down today and will give it the winter treatment this week, and I have to say it still looks great considering I use it every day and have around 12K miles on the clock.

R

Thanks for the explanation there man. What else, aside of coating it in ACF 50, do you do to give it the 'winter treatment'?

Running the 'strada when the salt goes down

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