Ktm bolts suck

Spray the bolts with this. It works well.

The specbolt nickel finish bolt kits have been super popular for customers of mine with KTM's.  Most will do the plastic and engine bolt kits to start with. But they make a kit that replaces all of the hardware You can see all at once too.  You save a little if You buy it all in the one kit. Or You can do them a little at a time and buy the kits that are smaller that are $25-$50 each .  

I've seen a few customers find the kits on Amazon for close to and even sometimes less than what I can get them for as a dealer ( after shipping) if they are a Prime member.  They asked if I could match the price and I didn't believe them, so they sent me the link and it was direct from Specbolt and legit.  It was a sale they had. I don't know how often they run the sales.

  They offer other finishes too, but the nickel is super clean and stays clean looking. And really the price is not bad considering what OEM bolts and spacers would cost.

Do you happen to be using a cleaner that contains acid when you wash your bikes?

Its what your spraying on your bike.  Not the bolt finish.

The ugly OE KTM bolts are a great justification for Ti!

That’s how I justify it to myself at least. 

Spec Bolt Nickel Wurks bolt kit for the win. I also hate the stock hardware on all my Austrian bikes. Every one I've owned over the last 10 years gets all the visible bolts changed for Nickel Wurks on my initial teardown/build up. 

I have had many many ktm bikes, with no bolt issues whatsoever, except one time i changed up my soap i wash with and in one wash it ate the finish off of the bolts.  I thin think the ktm bolts have a Zinc flake coating on them. a typical wheel cleaner off the shelf will quickly eat the finish off.

Hose down your bike.  Put some dish soap in a spray bottle and add water.  Spray bike with dish soap.  Rinse bike.  Done.

Or go to car wash.

Do not use simple green or anything like that, it will eat coatings and streak.  

The dish soap will cut the dirt and random grease on the bike without messing up the finish.  Just like any other products remember to occasionally grease bearings and obviously lube the chain.

This has been my routine for years and everytime I sell a motorcycle it looks like it has 20 hours on it.

I use Shout stain remover. Works really well, not expensive, and have no issues with bolts on my KTM. 

I had the same problem.  Fasteners made in China. 
They look nice when new with the hollowed out large end.  
Always liked the Honda fasteners.   
 

I've also been using Shout for years. It's concentrated detergent. Won't break down grease, and works well. Spray the bike down with Shout, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and pressure wash away using a broad fan setting. Bike looks great afterwards. 

Never had an issue with my KTM or Husky. One wash using a harsher degreaser and the bolts looked like crap.

Race Tech got a bunch of my money after that for aluminum and titanium bolts.

I’ve washed both my KTMs with Shout since they were brand new and the bolts looked like trash after 3 rides. I bet it has more to do with water chemistry than the soap used. 

Another shout user here never had any bolt finish issues on any of the KTM group bikes and we’ve had a ton. This is the stuff that drives me bonkers. Because someone doesn’t pay attention to what they’re cleaning their bikes with the bikes bolts are inferior. 

This has been my go to cleaners for 20 years.....

I used that cleaner in the purple container, Once. That will ruin KTM bolts and black spokes. Other than that  my ktm bolts look great. 

Best part about ktm bolts is that hamfisted mechanics get two chances to ruin them!!!!

It makes you appreciate Honda and Yamaha hardware.

Had several ktms never had any issues.  Do you store your bike out in the rain or put it away dirty?   If so- don’t.  Probably solved.  

Same. I always use Shout and the bikes put in a nice, climate controlled garage. I have well water, which is run through a water treatment system, and I still have issues. I also run a dehumidifier in the garage. 

Would you stupid motherfuckers spray your overpriced Duramax Chevy 2500s with Draino and then come on the internet and complain when the paint is damaged? 

Then why do you do it with your overpriced factory edition KTMs? 

Pro Tip: the reason you see guys using Mr. Clean in the pro pits is because they throw everything away. You sell yours on marketplace. 

Mr Clean is caustic?

I always thought it was pretty safe...?

Simple Green on the other hand...

I like Simple Green.  I've had no problems with it.  Just mix it with 20% simple green, 80% water..

Most people dont think to cut it.

I want to apologize for the vitriol of my post, I really like Motorcycles so I get fired up when people spray them with acid haha

If you just search pH neutral degreaser on Amazon you can get a gallon of concentrate, mix it with car wash in a foam cannon, soak the whole bike with the seat off, soft brush on the wheels, rinse. You'll hardly ever need SC1 if you do it like that.  

No offence taken here. I just never had issues with Mr Clean.  Never even read about people using it on here. 

I use it on my boots because I love the smell. Something about the "factory " smell of Mr clean on the pits in the 80s and 90s!

I mentioned this one time on here and got told I dont take care of my bikes.  

All 3 Austrian 85s I maintain for my kids are hi hours (170, 180, & 197) and the bolts are scrappy looking the entire time.  No loss in function, just fugly