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CVO Technical => Cleaning/Detailing => Topic started by: bbrown on December 31, 2017, 09:06:26 PM
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I really need advice. I am planning to pull my cvo to Florida from Wisconsin on an open trailer. I will have access to power washers etc when I arrive. Is this something I can do without damaging the bike? It could be exposed to about three days of lots of road salt and road salt dust etc.
Your thoughts appreciated It’s a bucket list thing ...Daytona Bike Week
Two notes...1. I will not be pulling it if the roads are bad and 2. I am sorry if I have this in the wrong thread but I really need some input.
Thanks and happy new year
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I PM'd you.
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I use this on the boat and trailer. And as soon as the temp gets above freezing Im going to use it on the wheels of the truck.
https://www.westmarine.com/salt-away (https://www.westmarine.com/salt-away)
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Be very careful using a pressure washer on a Harley. There are many areas where high pressure water can get into things it shouldn't. I'd be more inclined to use regular water pressure and a large volume of water to float the crud away. The product linked by Porthole would be a good choice as well.
Btw, have you looked at methods to cover the bike to keep the crud out in the first place? Just thinking out loud here, but considering how they shrink wrap all kinds of vehicles these days for storage, it might be worthwhile to look into something like that. :nixweiss:
JMHO - Jerry
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I'd get an enclosed trailer if any way possible
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I use this on the boat and trailer. And as soon as the temp gets above freezing Im going to use it on the wheels of the truck.
https://www.westmarine.com/salt-away (https://www.westmarine.com/salt-away)
Have used this product with good results. Use something besides plain water, salt tends to stick especially in the harder to clean places.
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Thanks for the input. I was afraid the salt would cause some corrosion/ rust issues or worse.
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I ride all winter when there is no ice on the roads, sometimes in slush. I hose it of next 40+ degree day we get. Never ever use a pressure washer, it can do bad things to your bearings and electrical system. I've never had rust issues on a bike. Leaving them sit for months at a time probably does more damage, lol!
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If it was me I would not do it.
Just two weeks before Christmas we had a bit of snow, In the UK a bit is only a few inches but it brings the country to a halt. Anyway they gritted (salted) the roads including the motorways. The snow mostly melted but still residual grit on the roads.
I purchased an old Lodola (MotoGuzzi) and went to it fetch from 150 miles away. The trailer was open with a closed floor and the road was wet, mainly from rain. Both the trailer and the bike were severely effected by salt, when I parked them in the garage upon my return and they had had time to dry out there was a good covering of salt.
For something like an Harley (my Harley anyway) it would have had a detrimental impact upon chrome/aluminium.
Use a covered in trailer is my recommendation.
JohnT
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I rode for years in Minnesota. A lot of times with salt on the roads. Just washed the bike with a hose and never had a problem.
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X2 John T. I keep my 2006 Ultra for bad weather and wouldn't even consider towing it on salted roads. That being said a solution of half water and half vinegar sprayed on as a pre wash works good then rinse with plenty of water
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For a winter move years ago....I built a plywood box around the motorcycle. A couple hours to build.....and 20 minutes with a cordless drill to take apart.
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It’s a bucket list thing ...Daytona Bike Week
Not an expect on road salt however I am an enthusiast on having fun!
:2vrolijk_21:
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Go by your local boat dealer and have it shrink wrapped. Pretty cheap when you consider it will take you 2 - 3 hours minimum to wash after you get there.
But stop running with you hair on fire. A good wash with normal car-wash soap & a lot of rinse water will get off any residue just as it would if you rode the bike down a salt covered road. I have done it and cleaned it, not a big deal at all. Clean-up takes no longer for salt residue than it does for a rainy/muddy road in summer for me. I clean both equally.
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For a winter move years ago....I built a plywood box around the motorcycle. A couple hours to build.....and 20 minutes with a cordless drill to take apart.
Good idea
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Trailers to Florida with an open trailer several times. Regular wash is all you need. I ride when salt is washed off road but breaking in bikes bought in January requires any warm day miles. It usually covers only rear of the bike in salt dust, again washes right off.. Don't let snow or salt change your plans. Don't wrap bike as it is sure to rub the paint somewhere. Strap it down with at least six, preferably 8 straps. More likely to have a broken or loose strap do damage than salt for a few days. Good wax job and paint or chrome won't even get touched.
Not my bikes but could have been.
Seriously little bit or a lot of salt with clean right off. Don't over think it
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Trailers to Florida with an open trailer several times. Regular wash is all you need. I ride when salt is washed off road but breaking in bikes bought in January requires any warm day miles. It usually covers only rear of the bike in salt dust, again washes right off.. Don't let snow or salt change your plans. Don't wrap bike as it is sure to rub the paint somewhere. Strap it down with at least six, preferably 8 straps. More likely to have a broken or loose strap do damage than salt for a few days. Good wax job and paint or chrome won't even get touched.
Not my bikes but could have been.
Seriously little bit or a lot of salt with clean right off. Don't over think it
Thanks for the advice and especially the photo. I hope I do not run into that.
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Since you have a little time before your trip, check with your local U-Haul store about renting an enclosed trailer set up for hauling bikes. I know they have them since I've seen them in person, but not every location would have them. With enough lead time I imagine they could get what you need. Just a thought.
I still like the shrink wrap idea, but I've never actually priced it nor do I know how it would stand up to wind blast. If it's done right I'd expect it to hold up fine, since I've seen loads on open semi trailers wrapped with no problem. Check with local boat dealers and marinas or people who ship cars across the country.
Jerry
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why not use a cheap bike cover to keep the salt off the bike.
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why not use a cheap bike cover to keep the salt off the bike.
Trailering with bike covers scratches the paint on the bikes due to the wind.
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NO COVERS. BAD IDEA.....
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Cover is not a good idea.
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Got in way too much salt/slush/snow coming back from an extended stay in the Florida Keys back in 1995 (our last huge blizzard for East TN). Ended up still having to stop in Calhoun, GA to rent a UHaul to get the bike and bushtec home (first and only time...so far...where I've had to trailer a bike on a trip). Still had 14" of snow on the ground when I finally got home. I waited to wash the bike for a bit after cleaning the driveway so I could. With 4 days of sitting and drying, the salt pitted both my front and rear wheels on the Ultra and both aluminum wheels on the bushtec.
I learned from then on NOT to ride, tow, expose any of my bikes to the acidic salt ever again. Lately I've been caught at work and the local idiots county commissions have decided to salt the roads anticipating bad weather (works sometimes, most times not) but if that happens, I wash in the garage if I have to just to get that dang salt off.
I say all that to say this. There is no way I would consider pulling/hauling my bike exposed (cover, wrap, etc) like that. If I wanted to go that badly and salt was an issue, a covered trailer is the only way I would pull....just my opinion... ;D
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Ohio and other states are using a combination of brine and water sticky mix. When this gets on your vehicle's and dries, water can reactivate the mix and is very hard to get off. I hauled my wide glide in an open trailer a short distance to have some work done and it caused all the bolts to corried and most other parts and i had to trade it in to get rid of it because of this. Don't use an open trailer to haul your bike especially in the winter. Roads can be dry in some areas and wet in others. When they lay this brine crap down it's down for quite awhile. Please trust me on this. I also had a frame on my wifes lexus rust out because of this mixture on salt brine. pay to haul in a closed trailer.
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The sticky stuff is molasses and/or beet juice. They use it along with the brine to pretreat the road before freeze. It helps it stick to the road. Unfortunately it also sticks to anything traveling down the road unprotected .
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thanks everyone. I really appreciate the advice. This bike is usually parked in my garage on it’s own carpet so I am very particular. What I am hearing here on this thread is I’d probably best served to leave it at home since I don’t have an enclosed trailer nor a SUV that could pull it.
I actually thought that if I got it there and gave it a good washing it would be OK and many of you believe that is still the case..some... not so much...
Bottom line is I would sure like to have it there for my Daytona bike week bucket list adventure
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Rent or borrow a covered trailer?
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thanks everyone. I really appreciate the advice. This bike is usually parked in my garage on it’s own carpet so I am very particular. What I am hearing here on this thread is I’d probably best served to leave it at home since I don’t have an enclosed trailer nor a SUV that could pull it.
I actually thought that if I got it there and gave it a good washing it would be OK and many of you believe that is still the case..some... not so much...
Bottom line is I would sure like to have it there for my Daytona bike week bucket list adventure
Crazy not to take it! If this is a bucket list deal for you go for it, bike will be fine! You sound like the type of guy that will make sure you get all the salt. It won't hurt your bike being on for a day or two..
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Ride it there. Some dealerships offer shipping too. But seriously the salt washes off. Sure it can tarnish bare metal. So wax the thing and go.
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Gotta agree with most here..Rent a trailer, ship it or shrink wrap it. I didn't go on our Polar Bear ride Monday due to salt on the road.
I have too much time and $$ invested in my scoot to let something that is in my control happen to it...
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just ship it !! :2vrolijk_21:
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wow. I got lots of great input here and tend to lean toward ...no open trailer..but has anyone experienced this and what did it do or not do to the bike?
A enclosed rental from uhaul has no ramp and is about $400. The transport method is about $900. Neither accommodates my condor wheel chuck.
I would sure like to take it but maybe a rental is a better thought.
Has anyone actually trailered a bike in salt? What happened?
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when you get to down south stop at a car wash. clean-up the bike and go on to daytona and fun fun fun! seriously if you get it off pretty quick it will be o.k. others may say different,but i have ridden mine and came in and gave a through flushing and wash job. mine is an 08 model ultra and no signs of damage.
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I have. Nothing happens. Wax it ahead of time. Wash it when you get there. It will be fine.