How do I Winter-proof my bike?

[Blisteredfingerz]

Hi all
Winters coming, so what are some good methods of preparing my bike in order to help prevent rust and corrosion?
I will start this off;
*Keeping chain clean and lubed
*Installing a fender extender and rear hugger?
*Correct type, amount and dilution of antifreeze.

[Jacko]

Hose the salt and crap off before putting away,
Cover in wd40 or such like,
See on here for a session to acf50 it for you,
leave in garage and take car / train / bus.

Or my method, carry on as usual, wash it when I can, sort it all in spring.

[ghostbiker]

Acf 50 treatment

[NotAnotherHill]

FS365 is pretty good if a bit pricey.

[phillywilly]

Acf 50 treatment

when i bought my bike ,the engine had been treated with acf 50 ,but after riding it for 5 mins the smell put me off using the acf 50
does anyone else find this ?

[Blisteredfingerz]

Thanks for the tips guys. Keep em coming. 
I have a X reg FZS600. Only had it for about 4 months. My first big bike. It has the standard exhaust manifold which Ive heard will rot pretty rapidly so next time the weathers good I plan to take it off and give it afew coats of fire grate paint. I use the bike to commute about 30 miles per day and short of heavy snow nothing will stop me using it for this. I save around £7 per day not having to buy a parking ticket and of course get better mpg than my car also.
The bolt heads through the brake discs are starting to rust. Can i grease these to prevent further corrosion?

[Arfa]

Acf 50 treatment

when i bought my bike ,the engine had been treated with acf 50 ,but after riding it for 5 mins the smell put me off using the acf 50
does anyone else find this ?

Have heard other stories of this and big clouds of smoke etc. However, I had nothing of the sort when I recently sprayed down mine. Dunno if its down to how soon afterwards you get on the thing or not. I did mine on a Saturday, then didn't take it out until the Monday. YMMV.


Another tip I was told, was give the bike a regular clean, to wash off crud and salt, but importantly, use cold water. Apparently hot water can increase the rust process. And don't use a pressure washer, it just forces water into places where it won't dry.

[Dave48]

On a wet day like today after washing the bike theres no possibility all the moisture will dry off but I have a leaf blower which is fantastic for getting rid of residual moisture from all the nooks & crannies-like a cold hairdrier!   A light coating of ACF50 protects everything & keeps the tin-worm at bay but keep well away from tyres & brakes!

[DanielT]

Latest Ride magazine has an article about winter-proofing. Not sure if it's the bike or the rider though. Will post later when I've read it

[Arfa]

Latest Ride magazine has an article about winter-proofing. Not sure if it's the bike or the rider though. Will post later when I've read it

Covers both. Actually quite a useful read. Also got some handy tips on riding in wet too (e.g. leaning your body rather than the bike when cornering).

[philshaq]

quick question reagarding acf50.. (sorry for hi-jacking!)


Can it be put onto the exhaust? Or should you sand and repaint to help get the original downpipes to survive the winter?

[Strifae]

It can be put on the downpipes but they get so hot it all burns off pretty darn quickly - when i had my FZS600 i covered the downpipes in ACF50 when i wasn't using the bike for a week or so but otherwise i just replaced them with stainless

[DanielT]

a pdf of the article mysteriously turned up and then someone pretending to be me is posting this link to it

[Grandma]

WD40 is also good and probably cheaper, same applies avoid brakes and tyres! lol
[/size][/color]My R1 has now covered 55,000 miles in all weathers and still looks good, also helps maintenace as avoids nuts/bolts seizing or rusting solid! Also use Scottoiler which is a boon with no centre stand[/font]

[budgiemurray]

put mines to bed the other day..
thing got a good wash, polish and wax..
I then sprayed the chain and disks in wd40, the rerst got a full spray of Muc-off's ptfe spray..
 
Now I know a lot of you will reel in horror at me spraying the brakes but the bikes not gonna be moving tioll the spring and itll get a full clean down with brake cleaner etc before its back on the road..
 
its covers on it too now.. all tucked up
 
Budgie
 

[Slaninar]

Thanks for the tips guys. Keep em coming. 
I have a X reg FZS600. Only had it for about 4 months. My first big bike. It has the standard exhaust manifold which Ive heard will rot pretty rapidly so next time the weathers good I plan to take it off and give it afew coats of fire grate paint. I use the bike to commute about 30 miles per day and short of heavy snow nothing will stop me using it for this. I save around £7 per day not having to buy a parking ticket and of course get better mpg than my car also.
The bolt heads through the brake discs are starting to rust. Can i grease these to prevent further corrosion?

It would be cheapest in the long run to just get a beater winter bike. Some cheap 2 stroke scooter, or something bigger if you must - but lighter, smaller than 600 cc.