I just went for a long, rainy ride a couple days ago and my leather jacket got damp. I hung it up to dry and today i see a white stain on the back of the sleeves. Looks like salt, tastes like salt. You are getting salt on your bike long after the roads have stopped being salted. Not that you shouldn't keep your bike away from the stuff as much as possible, just saying it's there all the time whether you know it or not.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/25/2009 @ 1:22 AM *

No more than I worry about dirt or rain getting on it. I also don't worry about bugs all over it. It is a vehicle that is going to get dirty. It is part of life and the road.

For all you salt catchers(me included)...NO HOT OR WARM WATER on there trying to get it off.Cold ONLY.Bugs?Yepper-carry a nice short square piece of water soaked cotton rag with me "when" they're out there.(can't stand looking at my baby all gooped up with bugguts).And a clean rag as well. .....unfortunately-my baby's now put to bed for the winter.No worry about salt here for me.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 10/25/2009 @ 2:03 AM *

unfortunately-my baby's now put to bed for the winte

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Killing me. I have not been on my bike for at least 3 weeks...Maybe today before they start salting the roads. The problem is, you must be dressed up like the Michelin Man just to go for a 10 min ride. This is all I can do before turning blue. Current temp here is 5cell.

* Last updated by: Romans on 10/25/2009 @ 5:55 AM *

feel sorry for you guys! down here still hovering @ 90 degrees... and the salt is only used for food (lol) not in the streets...........

Just cut my heart in two.lol

We had a beautiful day here. One of the last for a while, I think. I rode about 300 miles.

I got out four a ride too. Lowered tire pressure to 30lbs and went for it. Cold air = big power. Wow. 70 miles was the best I could do. Lots of fun though. I was thinking this was going to be my last ride so I was little hard on my sweetie. Cold pavement, so the bike had no traction. 1st,2nd gear almost useless. Gave a few people a bit of a smoke show.

Salt ruins chains and sprockets really fast.
If you deem those expendable and enjoy cold weather riding- no harm, no foul.

Salt will attack almost anything. Paint. Chrome. Powdercoat. Grease. Rubber. Vinyl. Very little is safe.

Romans wrote:

Cold pavement, so the bike had no traction. 1st,2nd gear almost useless.

There were so many sportbikes out that day in the twisties. I guess it sort of got me a bit randy. I had to do my last hard ride before winter. I went into a real tight corner too hot and decided i couldn't make it just before entering. I hit the brakes and the back locked and skipped out to the side.

Same thing happened last year at the end of the season on the same road except it was under throttle, accelerating out of the corner. Second warning: I have to have my big end of the season fun a bit earlier.

I did hit 170 (indicated) on a long, desolate highway coming back home. That was a new high for me. I would post this "great achievemnet" but since we have a true LSR post up there, I'll just keep it sort of low key. lol