That does look pretty cladded.
I probably should rinse the winter road salt off the AT, likely in April sometime.
I probably should rinse the winter road salt off the AT, likely in April sometime.
Rust report: 17k km, almost 8 months in on a 2022 AT DCT
TL;DR: few spots of rust on frame and a couple rusty bolts. One spot where the paint chipped. Most bolts on the bike have no rust.
Winter is now over, even though here in Holland it's not so much winter as it is just a 'cold & wet season' from november to now.
When temps drop to around freezing point, they start salting the road. So most of the time to and from work (200km round trip) I'm riding in salty highway slush.
I've never cleaned the bike after riding it all winter, and it also doesn't stand under a roof at my house here close to the beach.
I thought I'd start documenting the appearance of rust on the bike.
Starting with the front of the bike: we have some rusty spots on the upper half of the frame, near where the Heeds crash bars mount. The rust seems to focus in this area. Rest of the frame is not affected. Marked in red is where the paint flaked off.
![Electrical wiring Gas Cable Audio equipment Auto part]()
![Automotive tire Grey Font Motor vehicle Automotive design]()
Wheel is unaffected except for the tube valve nut:
![Tire Wheel Bicycle wheel Bicycle Bicycle wheel rim]()
Skidplate: 2 rusty screws. Screws on bottom seem ok.
![Vehicle Automotive tire Aircraft Motor vehicle Automotive lighting]()
Moving to the left side of the bike:
only footpeg area is affected, and one washer on the crash bar mount.
![Wheel Tire Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive tire]()
Moving to the right side of the bike:
Bolt on the exhaust butterfly valve servo, and the crashbar bolt at the footpeg.
Minor spots on bolts and washers.
![Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive fuel system Vehicle brake Automotive exterior]()
![Automotive tire Bicycle tire Bicycle frame Automotive lighting Bicycle part]()
The crashbars where they fell and the paint scraped off:
![Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive exhaust Tread]()
And that's pretty much it for now.
I will clean the bike sometime soon, and will also need to address the chipping on the front frame.
Winter is now over, even though here in Holland it's not so much winter as it is just a 'cold & wet season' from november to now.
When temps drop to around freezing point, they start salting the road. So most of the time to and from work (200km round trip) I'm riding in salty highway slush.
I've never cleaned the bike after riding it all winter, and it also doesn't stand under a roof at my house here close to the beach.
I thought I'd start documenting the appearance of rust on the bike.
Starting with the front of the bike: we have some rusty spots on the upper half of the frame, near where the Heeds crash bars mount. The rust seems to focus in this area. Rest of the frame is not affected. Marked in red is where the paint flaked off.
Wheel is unaffected except for the tube valve nut:
Skidplate: 2 rusty screws. Screws on bottom seem ok.
Moving to the left side of the bike:
only footpeg area is affected, and one washer on the crash bar mount.
Moving to the right side of the bike:
Bolt on the exhaust butterfly valve servo, and the crashbar bolt at the footpeg.
Minor spots on bolts and washers.
The crashbars where they fell and the paint scraped off:
And that's pretty much it for now.
I will clean the bike sometime soon, and will also need to address the chipping on the front frame.
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Haven't bike manufacturers been using waterbased paints now like the car manufacturers use. I was told it was down to environmental issues when it comes to recycling the metals. The good old school paint was oil based but when it's burnt off it produces harmful emissions unlike water based paints. Their pols suggest that the average rider now doesn't keep a bike longer than 3-5 years. I guess for most folk it's just a disposable toy and not their only transport like it was in the 1970s.
And when a family came along a sidecar was bolted on.
![Tire Wheel Vehicle Helmet Photograph]()
And when a family came along a sidecar was bolted on.
Main thing to prevent rust on steel is protection. In colder climate as in Norway its highly suggested to rust protect any vehicle used on the winter roads. Cars normally have a good paint job on its auto pannels. But their underside is often not painted in the same fassion. So rust protection like Tectyl is often used. But as Tectyl and some other long lasting rust protection are black, it wont look good on the main frame of the white Africa Twin.
So I would recommend using stuff like Fluid Film (Lanolin) on MC's during the winter. This is fast and easy to put on, smells like sheep but is safe for both you, bike and the enviroment. Only 2 places to be carefull to put it, tires and brakes. Not for damage, but you just might want to be able to brake during winter. Do watch out for sheeps thou, if you ride in the fields or close to them. They will come up and smell your bike, and wonder why your so big and they so small. Thinking your one of them
But hey its good enough for the Shipping industry and Oil rigs, then its good enough for my bike. Even if the sheeps run up to you
Not cleaning the bike for an entire winter, I would say one would be hard stressed to find any bike with steel main frame to survive without any rust. Specially if its used every day, and stored outside. There is 1 point that draws the AT down, and thats its use of water soluble paint and somewhat thin coating. So if the paint protection is chipped, then you better fix it fast. As the paint will not stick around in water for long, and invites rust quickly. But most MC Producers are using it these days, only older bikes have oil based paint.
So I would recommend using stuff like Fluid Film (Lanolin) on MC's during the winter. This is fast and easy to put on, smells like sheep but is safe for both you, bike and the enviroment. Only 2 places to be carefull to put it, tires and brakes. Not for damage, but you just might want to be able to brake during winter. Do watch out for sheeps thou, if you ride in the fields or close to them. They will come up and smell your bike, and wonder why your so big and they so small. Thinking your one of them
But hey its good enough for the Shipping industry and Oil rigs, then its good enough for my bike. Even if the sheeps run up to youNot cleaning the bike for an entire winter, I would say one would be hard stressed to find any bike with steel main frame to survive without any rust. Specially if its used every day, and stored outside. There is 1 point that draws the AT down, and thats its use of water soluble paint and somewhat thin coating. So if the paint protection is chipped, then you better fix it fast. As the paint will not stick around in water for long, and invites rust quickly. But most MC Producers are using it these days, only older bikes have oil based paint.
Thanks for the input @Xer4n, and welcome to the Forum!Main thing to prevent rust on steel is protection. In colder climate as in Norway its highly suggested to rust protect any vehicle used on the winter roads. For cars this is normally not an issue, their outside pannels are of Aluminium. They dont need to be protected, as aluminium does not rust the same way steel do. But they do need it on their steel underframe and all the hidden steel beams around. As rust protection like Tectyl is black and thick like rubber, this is a problem for bikes. How would the AT look if the main frame that is steel was covered in black rubber when the paint was white
So I would recommend using stuff like Fluid Film during the winter. This is fast and easy to put on, smells like sheep but is safe for both you, bike and the enviroment. Only 2 places to be carefull to put it, tires and brakes. Not for damage, but you just might want to be able to brake during winter. Do watch out for sheeps thou, if you ride in the fields or close to them. They will come up and smell your bike, and wonder why your so big and they so small. Thinking your one of them
A car that is not rust protected, and not washed at any point during a winter will rust. But as mentioned, its outside pannels (Side doors, bonnet/hood...) are made of aluminium. So not as easily spotted as on a Bike where you can easily see the main frame of the bike at all times.
Not cleaning the bike for an entire winter, I would say one would be hard stressed to find any bike with steel main frame to survive without any rust. Specially if its used every day, and stored outside. There is 1 point that draws the AT down, and thats its use of water soluble paint. So if the paint protection is chipped, then you better fix it fast. As the paint will not stick around in water for long, and invites rust quickly. But most MC Producers are using it these days, only older bikes have oil based paint.
Feel free to introduce yourself at the New Member Introductions area of the Forum.
Polished up the spot with the Dremel and gave it a lil Hammerite (smooth white S010, it's a slightly warmer white than the white on the frame):
![Automotive tire Bumper Sunglasses Eyewear Electrical wiring]()
Also touched up the spot at the footpegs. The camera makes the contrast between the paint colors look bigger than it does IRL.
I think the droopy drop at the bottom is a nice artistic touch, to match the shoddy welding by Honda.
![Human body Automotive tire Water Knee Flash photography]()
Also touched up the spot at the footpegs. The camera makes the contrast between the paint colors look bigger than it does IRL.
I think the droopy drop at the bottom is a nice artistic touch, to match the shoddy welding by Honda.
21 - 40 of 79 Posts
