Protecting bike from road salt.

Loomis077
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Loomis077
Edited Date/Time 1/12/2021 11:38am
Hey all. I’m heading down to Georgia from Michigan in 2-3 weeks to ride. I’m hauling my KX450 in the bed of my truck. Any recommendations at to what I could spray on the metal, forks, rims, hubs, swingarm, engine, frame, etc to help protect them from any road salt? I’m hoping that it isn’t wet or snowy with nasty roads but trying to prepare.

I’ve thought about wd-40, Maxima MPPL, Amsoil Metal Protector, Maxima SC1?

I can wash the bike as soon as I get there and again as soon as I get back home here in Michigan. About a 16 hour drive so just looking for a little added protection.

Thanks
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Ryan625
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Ryan625 1/10/2021 7:04pm
1/10/2021 7:04pm
I’m not sure about spraying anything on, but when I would drive over our passes in winter I’d wash it down ASAP and it always seemed fine. Maybe hit a car wash on the way too?
Loomis077
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Loomis077 1/10/2021 7:13pm
1/10/2021 7:13pm
Ryan625 wrote:
I’m not sure about spraying anything on, but when I would drive over our passes in winter I’d wash it down ASAP and it always seemed...
I’m not sure about spraying anything on, but when I would drive over our passes in winter I’d wash it down ASAP and it always seemed fine. Maybe hit a car wash on the way too?
Honestly, it would likely be perfectly fine. I would think being in my truck bed would protect it a lot on its own from any direct spray of salty water.
rjg
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rjg 1/10/2021 7:43pm
1/10/2021 7:43pm
Spaying it with that stuff is definitely going to help. I'd spray the rads as well and be liberal with it. I think you will be good. One of the best things you can do is wash it at each end of the trip.
mx216
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mx216 1/10/2021 7:54pm
1/10/2021 7:54pm Edited Date/Time 1/10/2021 7:55pm
You could use ACF50 and then wash it off when you get there. I use that stuff under my truck and when I wash it down after winter it looks fresh again! But really, good coating of Sc1 would be fine

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swedishfishmx 1/10/2021 8:15pm
1/10/2021 8:15pm Edited Date/Time 1/10/2021 8:16pm
I dealt with a little bit of road salt on my bike from riding in the snow and trailering my bike. It’s not terrible but when/if I trailered it in the snow again I may look at getting a tarp or something to block that crap.
Meister
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Meister 1/10/2021 8:22pm
1/10/2021 8:22pm
Saran wrap.

I picked my bike up 3 hours away in PA. I ended up just wrapping my bars because that's all that was going to get hammered above the cab of the truck.. when I got home I had a little bit to wipe off with a damp clothe and I was good to go..
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Timo
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Timo 1/10/2021 8:24pm
1/10/2021 8:24pm
I trailered from Tyler TX to Western Kansas during an Ice Storm once. The cases were stained the rest of the time I owned the bike. Ended up having to replace the rims and spokes because of corrosion.


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JMCR250
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JMCR250 1/11/2021 5:37pm
1/11/2021 5:37pm
Believe it or not, vaseline works really great at protecting metal from corrosion caused by road spray, salt, etc. It's a little time consuming to apply, and when you arrive you'll need to wipe down the covered surfaces with WD 40 or hit it at the self service car wash, but it will protect your bike. I've hauled a well-used vintage bike all around the eastern US in crappy weather using this method. It works.
-MAVERICK-
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-MAVERICK- 1/11/2021 5:59pm
1/11/2021 5:59pm
From Michigan, you should have a buddy or two with snowmobiles. Grab a snowmobile cover.
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atc250r
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atc250r 1/11/2021 6:05pm
1/11/2021 6:05pm
Wrap it with pallet wrap (similar to Saran Wrap)
Wrap it with a tarp
Rent an enclosed trailer
2
bigk218
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bigk218 1/11/2021 6:19pm
1/11/2021 6:19pm
good soapy bath after you arrive will do just fine to neutralize any trace amounts of salt

Cleaners like spray nine, simple green, purple power etc are highly corrosive anyway so if you’re using those already don’t worry about it.
1
Boomslang
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Boomslang 1/11/2021 9:08pm
1/11/2021 9:08pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
From Michigan, you should have a buddy or two with snowmobiles. Grab a snowmobile cover.
This*
bigk218
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bigk218 1/11/2021 11:49pm
1/11/2021 11:49pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
From Michigan, you should have a buddy or two with snowmobiles. Grab a snowmobile cover.
Boomslang wrote:
This*

1
roy238
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roy238 1/12/2021 5:07am
1/12/2021 5:07am
Jason, sc1 and be generous with it. Wd40 would work as well but if it gets on your rotors it's harder to remove.

My 05 YZ got salt on the frame because I didn't use anything and it never looked good again. That was just from vassar to tecumseh.

Spray it good, rinse it off as you stated above and you'll be just fine.

Or, haul your trailer 😉🤔

Maybe I'll see ya there. 🤙
BobPA
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BobPA 1/12/2021 5:46am
1/12/2021 5:46am
Salt does a number on spokes FYI
250 cross
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250 cross 1/12/2021 6:11am
1/12/2021 6:11am
I bought a new bike in Canada when the exchange rate made them ridiculously cheaper. Hauled it back to W. Michigan in the back of my pick-up with salt spray on the roads. Aluminum parts were already permanently stained by the time I got home. Wrap is a definite.
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tahoefd
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tahoefd 1/12/2021 6:28am
1/12/2021 6:28am
I used to regularly haul over a Sierra Nevada pass with my bike on a bumper hitch. I made a cover that fit over the whole bike and rear wheel and is secured by fastech buckles under it. The front tire has a separate cover. It works great. Now I live in Nevada and rarely need/use it. I know this wont help for this drive in a couple weeks but is a great long term solution. I would agree with others and wrap it.
user760a
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user760a 1/12/2021 7:05am
1/12/2021 7:05am
ditch the useless open truck and get a van. it is only 1000 times better for moto
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kNewc
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kNewc 1/12/2021 8:25am
1/12/2021 8:25am
Ugh, I took my bike to the dealer (45 minute drive) last week. The roads had been salted about 2 days before, but they were bone dry when I took my bike in. I was worried about the dust that was flying up, I hope I don't get any corrosion.
kb228
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kb228 1/12/2021 8:40am
1/12/2021 8:40am
Put a tarp or bike cover over it. If you spray anything on it, the salt will stick easier. Also salt doesnt really get inside the bed. The way the air flows over the truck bed causes a bubble over the bead. Everything flows over it. It all sticks to the tailgate. Driving in the 6” of snow about a month ago, i had no snow on the bed but somehow 1” of snow gathered on the tailgate.
flynryan
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flynryan 1/12/2021 11:38am
1/12/2021 11:38am
I do a lot of beach driving and use Saltaway when spraying off the truck. It also works great on the boat after a day in the ocean. Give it a shot if you can't get the cover.
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