Anyone seen this before?

Kruger36j
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Kruger36j
Edited Date/Time 10/9/2020 3:36pm
I have a 2021 KTM 250sxf with one ride on it. After the first day I rode the bike I came home and washed it. Well the day after, I come into my garage to see this. The forks are absolutely filthy and I know that I did a thorough job cleaning the bike, so I just grabbed some soap and water to try and clean it off. After sitting there trying to clean it nothing ever happened. No matter how hard I try to clean the forks they are still filthy. Has anyone ever seen this? Could the anodizing be messed up? Anyone know how to fix or clean this? I also have a 2019 KTM 250sx with 200 hours on it and haven’t had this problem on that bike.


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Last Braaap
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Last Braaap 10/9/2020 12:46pm
10/9/2020 12:46pm
If i'm not mistaken there were some threads like this refering to lime soil being the culprit.
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captmoto
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captmoto 10/9/2020 12:48pm
10/9/2020 12:48pm
What did you clean it with? looks like something harsh that dried and etched the anodizing.
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zehn
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zehn 10/9/2020 12:49pm
10/9/2020 12:49pm Edited Date/Time 10/9/2020 12:50pm
corrosion
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 10/9/2020 12:54pm
10/9/2020 12:54pm
Yeah looks like it could be etching. Did you use any different cleaner than you have used on your 250sx? Rode anywhere different that the 250sx hasn't been?

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Kruger36j
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Kruger36j 10/9/2020 12:56pm
10/9/2020 12:56pm
captmoto wrote:
What did you clean it with? looks like something harsh that dried and etched the anodizing.
Everytime I clean either of my bikes it’s with simple green or just plain old dawn dish soap
Kruger36j
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Kruger36j 10/9/2020 12:57pm
10/9/2020 12:57pm
JohnMatrix wrote:
Yeah looks like it could be etching. Did you use any different cleaner than you have used on your 250sx? Rode anywhere different that the 250sx...
Yeah looks like it could be etching. Did you use any different cleaner than you have used on your 250sx? Rode anywhere different that the 250sx hasn't been?
I’ve used the same cleaner as my other bike, and yea for the first time I rode this bike it was just at my local track which is where I always ride my other bike too.
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Jardo
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Jardo 10/9/2020 1:34pm
10/9/2020 1:34pm
Could it have been like that when you bought the bike?
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LKHill
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LKHill 10/9/2020 1:50pm
10/9/2020 1:50pm
If not the cleaner, the soil.
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 10/9/2020 2:06pm
10/9/2020 2:06pm
Can you test the anodizing hardness in an obscure spot with a pick and see if there's a difference between the 2?

If it's the same cleaner, same water, same track something else changed.
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tobz
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tobz 10/9/2020 2:20pm
10/9/2020 2:20pm
Did you at least dry the bike or spray it with a protectant before putting it away?
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GrapeApe 10/9/2020 3:13pm
10/9/2020 3:13pm Edited Date/Time 10/9/2020 3:13pm
yz133rider wrote:
Simple green does that
Yes it does, but not after 1 ride.

Was it a mud race, and did the promoter drop a ton of white powder looking stuff on the puddled start?
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Kruger36j
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Kruger36j 10/9/2020 3:19pm
10/9/2020 3:19pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Can you test the anodizing hardness in an obscure spot with a pick and see if there's a difference between the 2? If it's the same...
Can you test the anodizing hardness in an obscure spot with a pick and see if there's a difference between the 2?

If it's the same cleaner, same water, same track something else changed.
Yea thanks I’ll look it up to see if I can figure out a way to test the metal. I’m not sure if between maybe 2019 and 2021 they changed the fork material so maybe on the 2021’s the anodizing is weaker?
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Kruger36j
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Kruger36j 10/9/2020 3:20pm
10/9/2020 3:20pm
yz133rider wrote:
Simple green does that
But I’ve used simple green on my other bike for countless amount of washes and have never had this problem. Ride and wash this bike once and now the forks are stained
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Kruger36j
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Kruger36j 10/9/2020 3:21pm
10/9/2020 3:21pm
tobz wrote:
Did you at least dry the bike or spray it with a protectant before putting it away?
Yes the bike was gone through and dried after I washed it
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Kruger36j
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Kruger36j 10/9/2020 3:23pm
10/9/2020 3:23pm
yz133rider wrote:
Simple green does that
GrapeApe wrote:
Yes it does, but not after 1 ride. Was it a mud race, and did the promoter drop a ton of white powder looking stuff on...
Yes it does, but not after 1 ride.

Was it a mud race, and did the promoter drop a ton of white powder looking stuff on the puddled start?
Actually it was pretty dry out at the track. As far as the soil goes I didn’t see anything being laid down but who knows if they mixed anything in the soil during the week
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kdizzle_rider 10/9/2020 3:26pm
10/9/2020 3:26pm
Simple green is too harsh for bikes. If I had to guess the OP wanted to clean his new bike really well, put it on too heavy, and it etched.

If you disagree test it on some black anodized part and you will see exactly this.

You can use Never Dull or some other very light metal polish to try and clean it up.
JeepnMike
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JeepnMike 10/9/2020 3:36pm
10/9/2020 3:36pm
Simple Green does wonders, but also is more damaging to certain surfaces than the label would lead you to think. Go wash your truck, and use Simple Green to clean the frame. Your semi-gloss frame will now be flat black in the spots you have used Simple Green.

On a positive note, Simple Green is great for tires, not that many of us clean tires at that level, but it will not harm rubber, it helps maintain or increase the softness of the compound.

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