Rust.

Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

The CB has rusted significantly more than I'd expected over winter.

I've done a reasonable amount to keep it clean (a good rinse/scrub once every week or so) - spending 20+ mins a day cleaning it would push me towards taking the bus instead.

Is ACF-50 really as wonderful as people make out?

Also - is surface rust an inevitable part of owning a bike that you just have to put up with? I don't care about it looking scruffy, what concerns me is having my exhaust downpipes disappear at a replacement cost of 200GBP, because I have no idea how severe the rusting is, having not run a bike through the winter before.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

So does that mean then, that if I can see rust on the outside, I'm likely looking at new downpipes sooner rather than later?

Based on what you're saying it seems that if it's progressed that far I'll be seeing holes soon. Though the pipes looked mint when I got the bike - perhaps the previous owner painted over them. Naughty.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Ja7 · Crazy Courier Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Karma :

Get some Ucf-50 well worth the money, then rinse the wheels and undercarriage every few days to get rid of the salt, I'm guessing you keep the bike outside and uncovered, so a cover will help.
Not knowing what your exhaust is ? You may be able to paint the down pipes,

Rowey · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Karma :

ACF-50 will work on downpipes but tends not to last very long so you could be reapplying once a week. It'll also smoke a lot the first time you fire it up after an application. Save it for the rest of the bike, it's not cheap.

The best thing you can do with downpipes is coat them. Chroming, ceramic coating or the nice cheap alternative, exhaust, very high temperature or BBQ paint.

Just wire brush the rust off and put a nice sturdy coating over them. Just make sure you touch up any stone chips and reapply if needed.
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ZX6R C6F.
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yaigi · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2012 Karma :

Mr Yaigi and I are really noticing how keeping bikes outside, even under a cover, makes them rust REAL quick. He has always had his garaged until the last few months in our new house, and it's going downhill, fast. I've only had mine a month - last week the chain looked black and lovely and perfect. Looked at it today and it was orange with rust Shocked

I've already mentioned getting some ACF-50 to him, I'm hoping it helps slow down the deterioration! I don't want my lovely bike vanishing into dust before Spring comes haha!
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LordShaftesbu... · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

I've pretty much given up trying to stop the rust. The Street Triple goes away for the winter but my ER-6n is dissolving. Meh.