Preparing the Ten for Winter
 

I ride my bike every day of the year and unfortunately that means through the grit and damp of winter. My last bike, a little XT125, showed signs of rust after winter. I've heard there's stuff you can spray on the bike after washing it to give it a bit of protection, has anyone got any recommendations??

This stuff is supposed to be good. http://www.scottoiler.com/pc/Lubes,_...-_1_Litre.html

It's a spray on protector, basically wash the bike as normal, then spray this stuff all over (except for wheels and brakes). Re-apply after heavy rain and after you wash the bike.

I cannot recommend the Scottoil FS365, I found it simply doesn't work as hoped.
Quoted from Scottoiler.com:
Scottoiler FS 365 Protecter is a blend of mineral oil, anti-corrosion additives and water, forming a stable micro-solution which you simply spray on your vehicle or equipment. Once it evaporates it will leave a fine protective film on even the hardest-to-reach places. As you re-apply the FS 365 the protective coating builds up and prevents mud, grime, and in the case of motorcycles, bicycles and other vehicles, road salt from harming your equipment.
It contains water so will be water soluble, i.e. it will wash off.

I had far better results with ACF50. You can buy this from many vendors and they're all pretty much the same price- Click me
A can lasted me a year, and I used it on several bikes.
They also do a corrosion blocking grease, again I can recommend this for covering up bolt heads, connectors etc.
Or you could get some clear waxoyl and douse the whole thing. I'm thinking about this for this winter.

Unlike its owner :hahaha[1]: :hidesbehindsofa[1]: sorry could not help myself

I'm going to agree with that.

and that.

However.... I have developed a little routine thathas kept my bike looking like new after 16,000 miles.

About this time of year give it a good coating of ACF50 - if you squirt a bit into a can lid you can use a rag or fingers to spread it around the brakes bits (staying clear of the disc and pads).

After ervery ride in the salt or wet, give the bike a liberal coating of 365 (the scottoiler stuff) - I do cover the brakes too, but I'm very carefull to run with the brakes applied for 50 yards or so to burn the 365 off.

Don't wash the bike.......

If you do, just re-apply the ACF50 and carry on as normal.

the bike will look like crap, but a couple of washes with some muchoff/fuchs off type of cleaner and it will be shiney and new in the spring - honestly.

Whatever you do, don't use WD40..... it will remove all the oil based protection that you have!! (including the grease from all your bearings)

As for the washing of yorkshiremen, I couldn't comment, Vim perhaps ?:thefinger:

Winter protection
 

Buy yourselve two can of wax oil from your local brown bros or super tune and give the bike a good lashing all over the frame , wheels , engine , etc & DONT WASH IT ALL OVER WINTER , then april next year brush all over with jizer or gunk and hey presto LIKE NEW ONCE AGAIN . HOPE THAT HELPS AS IT WORKS FOR ME AND ALL MY BIKES ARE MINT AND USED THROUGH OUT WINTER . R:thumbsup[1]::newspaper::team[1]::tenere::pjrmoony_1JJHDG::wav:EGARDS NEIL4022

I also recommend ACF-50:109:

I'm a 'two products' man myself. I have treated both my FZ1 and the Ten to very liberal lashings of the FS365, including a squirt on the brake calipers. (If you put a bit in an old spray can lid and leave it for a week or two, the water evaporates and leaves a gel, which when brushed onto calipers with an old toothbrush gets them up like new.) You need to ride carefully to burn it off the discs as mentioned previously.... and if you ride immediately after applying - watch the tyres too. I am also using the ACF50 to coat more 'sensitive' parts of both bikes (I did use a whole can on the Ten when I first got it!) such as the electrical connectors, some of the bare metal brackets and around the shock etc.... Both bikes clean up very well, neither having significant corrosion (the FZ1 has 11k over 2 winters and the Ten 4k over just the one), but I always reapply after each wash. The FS365 can be used to apply a nice shine to bodywork too. Together they form a good barrier to the worst of the road grime and salts. Unfortunately if you want to look after your bike its a necessary evil that has to be done once a month. I personally feel that bikes now tend to have very good finishes (still not quite a long lasting as cars maybe) which can withstand a fair bit of punishment.
If you're buying a second hand bike it is something to look for, it either means a well cared for bike........ or the seller is trying to hide something! They can be good at hiding corrosion and scuffs etc... too!

The Ten's been all set for winter for over a week now.

ACF50, muffs and a gaucho. Its not pretty:sad3: but it sure works

http://stumpy.smugmug.com/Motorcycle...34_eaJP8-M.jpg

http://stumpy.smugmug.com/Motorcycle...59_CgFxD-M.jpg

jings for a moment there i thought you had run over the dog . how does that gaucho fit to the bike