Protecting a brand new 'bike...?

[Bazbro_imp]

A brand new 'bike, just out of the showroom...
Do you do anything to it, cosmetically/polishing/treatment, before putting it on the road, to protect it in the years to come? If so, what do you do?
Similarly, how does your cleaning routine prevent corrosion in all those difficult-to-reach places?

[Rocky_imp]

I don't do anything special beyond a bit of polish and keeping them clean. After a ride I get all the bugs and any road debris (tar, etc.) off right away.
My bikes are a hobby and not transportation. Unless I get caught out on the road I don't ride in the rain or any bad weather - certainly not on salty roads or conditions like that.
In the spring, I'm in no hurry to get back on the road until the roads are well washed of salt, sand and debris left over from winter.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I try to keep problem areas well-oiled or greased. Enameled surfaces get a protective coating when I am not lazy. That is pretty it for me.

[max]

Congratulations bazbro, depending on your needs;
Take the front fender off and spray clear coat of sorts inside the chrome area where the dirt accumulates and especially around the mounting bracket, i found some light rust, good to treat it early when new.
same for the rear fender on the inside only without removing it, especially where the wiring is protected by the metal cover.

also clear coat the throttle body and brake hose connectors, under the engine against mud etc, one spraycan should be enough and maybe repeat every two years depending on salt etc.

i think mine comes off with petrol and the i re-spray if required.
also put some grease on the rear shock mountings, they were dry and some wide black pvc tape on the square part of the rear fork where the mud and stones come off the wheel and sticks to the black paint.
Maybe the black wire frame that holds the headlight and cockpit, horn brackets and under the lower triple t, i put some oil on the lower tt , loosened the lower bolts, let it wick between the forks and the tt, did the bolts back up and wiped the exess off, stops the rust in between.

And yeah; wax!
Does the bike have spokes?

[peterbaron]

I don't do anything special beyond a bit of polish and keeping them clean. After a ride I get all the bugs and any road debris (tar, etc.) off right away.
My bikes are a hobby and not transportation. Unless I get caught out on the road I don't ride in the rain or any bad weather - certainly not on salty roads or conditions like that.
In the spring, I'm in no hurry to get back on the road until the roads are well washed of salt, sand and debris left over from winter.

^^ + 1^^

[GoldOxide_imp]

My CB currently gets commuter and recreational duties. That could change.

[LongRanger_imp]

Bazbro, congrats on your new baby. I give all the painted bits a quick wipe with "Honda Spray Polish" (or equivalent) and leave it at that. Like many here, I don't intentionally ride in foul weather and I try to keep my bikes clean between rides. On yours, a quick charge of your battery might be a good idea if the bike was sitting on the showroom floor for any stretch of time.

[Bazbro_imp]

Thanks for the replies, guys.
Some great ideas there, thanks Max. By "clear coat" do you mean a clear aerosol lacquer? Or something else? (Sorry, we don't use this expression here in the UK!)

I'll be stripping the 'bike down before I put it on the road (it was crashed with just 165 miles on the clock!) so doing all you suggest will be no hardship.

[Bazbro_imp]

Just been net surfing and I've spotted a product "ACF-50". Looks very good. Anyone used it?

Yes, Max, it does have spokes (I'm not a fan of cast wheels...)

Yes, LR, battery charging is a problem at the mo. The 'bike's in storage until May, when I return to their UK and go and get it, so "battery charge" will be a first move. I'll actually take it off the 'bike while I'm rebuilding it.

[max]

Stripping it down? not exactly what i thought from "out of the showroom" but yeah.
Yes, a clear aerosol spray, a long time ago i have used " clear tectyl " which was fine, this time i used acrylic, which is similar and it does remove with some petrol and then re-apply.

When i got my bike it was in very good condition but i think it had spent a few days in the rain in transit from Japan ( it wasn't new but it looked like it ) so it had some light rusty spots here and there which polished out fine but these are the area's that needed extra attention, also the 4 E12 bolts in the front calipers were discoloring and i painted them silver, looks good now.

Probably worth taking out the headlight frame and a few coats of gloss black would be a good idea.
Where i ride has sometimes a bit of "sea spray" and when that settles on these surfaces it does have an effect.
There is an easy check for sea spray, just wipe my finger over the chrome front of the mirror and lick it to check for a salty taste, if so i wash the bike to remove it straight away, this is not the type of bike that survives well outside in the weather.

And i was a little disappointed to find a little rust on the rear forks so some pvc tape makes an invisible protection there.

Nowadays i use grease on all bolts i put back on the bike, it is a little messy to apply but protects the bike for a very long time, i also apply some grease on the shaft seals lip where they contact the bushes to greatly prolong their life and prevent water entry into the area where the bearings are, the air inside the bearing spaces moves in and out with temperature and it stops moisture building up inside these places if the seals are in good shape.

If the exhaust is made of non stainless steel and you have them off the bike it may pay to fill them with old oil and slosh it around, i have done this with my 4 in 1 40 years ago and it worked for me, and that acf 50 sounds promising, especially where the spokes meet alloy.

That should help you find some "trouble" spots, interesting question and best of luck with the project, sounds like a lot of fun.