How the heck do you keep this stuff clean? It's beyond me why any engineer wouldn't clear coat this engine... Aluminum stains so bad, and rusts wicked fast compared to other metals.

Any tips? I have no clue how I'm going to clean the rocker box covers.... I guess harley doesn't want this bike to have a single drop of water on it.... EVER.

EDIT: Googled. Apparently it's not called rust. Even though the corrosion is a result of an oxidation process... and is aluminum oxide. I guess in this case something that looks and sounds like a duck isn't a duck. TIL. The result is the same however, so you get my point.

 

Aluminum does not rust. It may tarnish, or stain but it will not rust.

I have washed my bikes a total of 3 times in the last 10 years of so. Unless you ride in the rain or get a lot of mud or other road debris on your bike there really is no need to wash it, ever. If you do ride in the rain or pick up road debris disregard what I said. Exept that aluminum does not rust. That's a given.

 

There's some stuff my father in law picked up for his Vrod that the guys on the 1130 forums recommended for the bare aluminum parts on his Vrod. I don't know what it's called but it's two bottles and about fifty bucks. That stuff works.

I just use mothers aluminum polish every now an again

 

 

Autosol works. But you have to stay on top of it and make sure you polish it often and regurally.

I had to replace the clutch and alternator covers on my Triumph because it was beyond fixing it with elbow grease....

 

Never Dull!

 

bugs are the big problem around here. my bike is fuzzy after a few rides.

 

We get bugs too. But I'm somewhat **** about my bike and detail it after every ride. But then I don't commute on it and that makes a big difference in the availability to ride it only when I want to, and when I can clean it afterward. My bike is a sun and fun vehicle, and pampered accordingly.

 

Napa has some stuff called Aluminum Brightener, works great. Just spray on, wait 10 mins ad hose off. If its really bad like Fatboy rear wheels tend to get, scrub it a little before you hose it off. Took 5 times to get my rear wheel looking good, it was almost black.