[rtbuckingham]

Well, its happened. I have just passed the 1000 mile mark on my TW. And--I am very happy to say--the bike has been perfect so far. She is running great, getting good looks, and driving all those city folk nuts with her sheer utilitarian style and function.*



But now its time for me to give back. I have already changed my oil (a couple times) with the good help from this forum, but there is more to do. I have noticed that the chain has rusted. As have parts of the kickstand and some other little nooks on the bike. So, what do I do to (1) eliminate the rust that has already accumulated, (2) prevent rusting in the future, and (3) generally keep the bike looking like new (bathing her**)?



A couple things you should know: I live in a small row-house without a garage, so I keep her in the backyard--covered***. Also, the climate here is terrible for rust prevention. Roads are salted in the winter. Rain and humidity in the summer.



* I use the TW primarily has a commuter bike here in Washington DC. Needless to say, she is a rare breed here. And utilitarian--that's a word seldom used in Washington.



** as it were



*** a cover like this one

 

[PJungnitsch]

The chain for sure shouldn't be rusting with sticky type chain lube. Dunno what to do about the rest, does the cover breathe or does it trap moisture like a tarp?

 

[rtbuckingham]

The cover breathes better than a tarp, but not much better. And, even if it did breath, I am guessing that the ambient humidity would cause problems too.

 

[n2o2diver]

Park it in the living room, shine a spotlight on it and tell everyone it is art.

 

[qwerty]

Untreated rust will only get worse. Sand it off and repaint.



Give the bike a good rinse with clean water on a regular basis. You not only have road salt, you have all kinds of oxidants in the air pollution in any big city, year around.



Chains rust if inadequately lubed. Either oncrease your maintenance schedule or find a better chain lube. Chain wax is inadequate lube for an open chain. In fact, it barely lubes at all. It is strictly a rust preventative.

 

[timberfalls]

I ride her hard and the mud covers the rust hit it with the garden hose, couple shots of grease and wax the chain - repeat!

 

[rm_hm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flJnCWaZ3bY

 

[Xracer]

I also lived in a town house in the D.C. area. do as Qwerty says and sand and repaint the rusted with paint designed to prevent it.Also keep the tank and fork tubes waxed where they pass through the triple trees.After doing all this.(after a good wash job of course) spray the plastic,frame,engine,under the fenders, in other words the whole bike except the tank,brakes,grips and tires with silicone spray. This will help prevent rust and keep the plastic looking bright.Also it will help in clean up as dirt won't stick as well. Last. I've been using Du-Pont multi lube for sometime as a chain coat. It has worked well even here in the salt air of Florida. You can get it a Lowes.

 

[lorddaftbiker]

Have you considered a Cycleshell? It's like a dome tent for your bike with a rubber floor to seal out ground moisture. A friend of mine has one and it's a good product. Sorry I don't have a link to share, but I'm sure you'll get some good info if you google it.



Don't forget to rebel against authority,

Lorddaftbiker

 

[qwerty]

Don't forget to rebel against authority,

Lorddaftbiker

I've put "Question Authority" vinyl on every vehicle I've owned for the past 41 years.



Anywho, you can build your own bubble in which to store your bike from UV-resistant plastic held together with waterproof duct take. 6-mil plastic should be sufficient. I've built a life-size blue whale and a 36-foot diameter globe. They are easily inflated with a centrifugal blower. Of course, instead of a blower you'll want a small container of dessicant to absorb moisture, which will keep the air inside the sealed bubble dry. This would NOT be a good idea if you plan to ride the bike often, as you'll soon saturate the dessicant, but for storage, it's a go.