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[bakon]

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

[bbrown]

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.

[grc]

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

[hverbakel]

why not use a cheap bike cover to keep the salt off the bike.

[DesertHOG]

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.

[muddypaws]

NO COVERS. BAD IDEA.....

[iski]

Cover is not a good idea. 

[ultrarider123]

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...

[Glide-man]

 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.

[bigchuck]

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 .

[bbrown]

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 

[DesertHOG]

Rent or borrow a covered trailer?

[SDCVO]

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..

[bakon]

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.

[ultra13]

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...