KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stig / Major Tom on June 19, 2014, 11:00:10 AM
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I think all you folks in sunshine States already know this.... but looking at the scooters down here in Florida...the sun is sure hard on body work and the salt air seems very hard on the metal parts. Looked over a couple of Honda metros yesterday...lots of miles on each, which was good to see....but they sure suffered from sitting out with no cover. My scoot is either under my rump or in the garage...so the finish looks nearly new. Would trade that for year round scootering, any time! Give me an old faded burgundy Vino 125 and a Red Sox poncho and gettouttatheway!!
. Ride safe folks,
Sti
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No question sir the sun kills.
Gotta keep them clean, waxed and undercover! Salt air is easier than UV to deal with.
Be Big,
AMAC
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When the scoot starts looking a little faded and wore from the elements, that's just called character! As long as the mechanical parts are taken care of, it's all good to me.
You can always tell the rides that are everyday, primary transport from the fair-weather play toys. I'm not too worried about the color fading over time, because the plastic parts are fairly cheap if they need replacing someday.
Plus, when the color starts fading, that's just an excuse to pull off the body panels and do a custom paint job. Or, if you're like me, a redneck rattlecan mongrel! ;D
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AMAC: I completely disagree. Sun can be avoided with a simple cover. Salt air as no boundaries. Meaning.....You can keep a cover on a scooter, but if you live near the ocean, there's no way to completely keep salt air it away from your scooter. I live right on the water in Gloucester, MA. (not a block or two away) right on the ocean. I wash my GT300i once a week & that's still not enough, plus I use Corrosion X on my shocks, forks etc. It helps, but it's never enough.
I just have regulated myself to knowing this is one of the drawbacks of owning a scooter near the ocean. I'm going to get rust & there's just so much I can do about it. My scoot runs fine just the same. The upside? Cruising around Cape Ann & hugging the coastline for a wonderful scenic ride.
If you guys/girls live near the ocean like me....Then buy this product here:
http://www.amazon.com/Corrosion-X-Anti-Corrosion-Aerosol-Lubricant-16-Ounce/dp/B003HFTI0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403194651&sr=8-1&keywords=corrosion+x (http://www.amazon.com/Corrosion-X-Anti-Corrosion-Aerosol-Lubricant-16-Ounce/dp/B003HFTI0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403194651&sr=8-1&keywords=corrosion+x)
It works pretty good overall.
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AMAC: I completely disagree. Sun can be avoided with a simple cover. Salt air as no boundaries. Meaning.....You can keep a cover on a scooter, but if you live near the ocean, there's no way to completely keep salt air it away from your scooter. I live right on the water in Gloucester, MA. (not a block or two away) right on the ocean. I wash my GT300i once a week & that's still not enough, plus I use Corrosion X on my shocks, forks etc. It helps, but it's never enough.
I just have regulated myself to knowing this is one of the drawbacks of owning a scooter near the ocean. I'm going to get rust & there's just so much I can do about it. My scoot runs fine just the same. The upside? Cruising around Cape Ann & hugging the coastline for a wonderful scenic ride.
If you guys/girls live near the ocean like me....Then buy this product here:
http://www.amazon.com/Corrosion-X-Anti-Corrosion-Aerosol-Lubricant-16-Ounce/dp/B003HFTI0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403194651&sr=8-1&keywords=corrosion+x (http://www.amazon.com/Corrosion-X-Anti-Corrosion-Aerosol-Lubricant-16-Ounce/dp/B003HFTI0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403194651&sr=8-1&keywords=corrosion+x)
It works pretty good overall.
I too have lived my life within spitting distance to the ocean and you're right washing once a week won't do it. Nothing will completely stop salt air. That said my rides and boats see 24/7 365 life near the ocean and rust is minimal. I find the scooters pretty easy as there is very little shiny stuff on my DT300 or SYM RV200.
Now the Cali Classsic is another story. With all the naked metal I just accept it won't "glow" but leave a film of WD-40 or the like on all the metal. It has lived at the beach since 2010 and the metal looks close to new.
Yes in time the metal will rust and pitt a bit. It takes a long time for the integrity of most, I said most, of the metal on a scoot to be compromised to the point of failure.
The same can't be said for UV and plastic. In the Florida sun I've seen seats go south in 6 months. Same with dash and body parts. All exposed plastic is at risk and most products just oil the surface. Once the polymer is gone its gone.
Just my own experience but UV has always been harder on my stuff.
Be Big,
AMAC
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Here we worry about salt on the roads if u ride in the winter.and the four seasons.rain for the rust and the sun is not nice to us eather.
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I too have lived my life within spitting distance to the ocean and you're right washing once a week won't do it. Nothing will completely stop salt air. That said my rides and boats see 24/7 365 life near the ocean and rust is minimal. I find the scooters pretty easy as there is very little shiny stuff on my DT300 or SYM RV200.
Now the Cali Classsic is another story. With all the naked metal I just accept it won't "glow" but leave a film of WD-40 or the like on all the metal. It has lived at the beach since 2010 and the metal looks close to new.
Yes in time the metal will rust and pitt a bit. It takes a long time for the integrity of most, I said most, of the metal on a scoot to be compromised to the point of failure.
The same can't be said for UV and plastic. In the Florida sun I've seen seats go south in 6 months. Same with dash and body parts. All exposed plastic is at risk and most products just oil the surface. Once the polymer is gone its gone.
AMAC: The salt-air in Florida is much less then our in New England. Meaning...Our salt is much thicker then yours. The more you go North on the eastern-seaboard, the denser it is. Example: If I jump into the water, you'll float better. Our salt-air up here is nasty! It destroys almost everything. My scooter is subject to this & there is almost nothing I can do about it.
Just my own experience but UV has always been harder on my stuff.
Be Big,
AMAC
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AMAC: I live right on the water in Gloucester, MA. (not a block or two away) right on the ocean. The upside? Cruising around Cape Ann & hugging the coastline for a wonderful scenic ride.
It works pretty good overall.
MassScoot, the place where you live is amazing....
You really must post a few dozen pictures of your scooter on the coast!
No excuses You really must share this scenery with your scooter buddies. (we've all seen the movie!)
Stig
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Somthing pretty cool is you can tell where in the US a vehicle has come from just by looking at it.
Northern stuff has rotted out chassis from salt, and southern stuff has rotted out plastics from the sun. Stuff from out west has no rust at all.
I can vouch for the sun here in Florida. It can, and does kill. No joke. 20 years ago it was very different. Today a black T shirt left on the line for one day is faded to the point you can't wear it
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So what do you folks put on the seat as a UV inhibitor? You know like an Armor-All protectant. Now I probably wouldn't use Armor-All cause it's too slick after applying but you get the jist.
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Somthing pretty cool is you can tell where in the US a vehicle has come from just by looking at it.
Northern stuff has rotted out chassis from salt, and southern stuff has rotted out plastics from the sun. Stuff from out west has no rust at all.
I can vouch for the sun here in Florida. It can, and does kill. No joke. 20 years ago it was very different. Today a black T shirt left on the line for one day is faded to the point you can't wear it
1 thing bothers me, your Tshirt fades one time in the sun and you throw it away? You must be rich.
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No.... It just becomes a work shirt, and I only hang clothes out to dry when it is raining now.
I know, right!
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Mothers Back to Black for all plastic UV faded restorations... 8)
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That was the last thing she screamed at me when she was running down the drive.
Your mom is NUTZ Bro!
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..I mean, she like's 'm big and...ssso... ::)
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Tough to date is the way I would put it.
She makes one hell of a Mad Dog, and Coke tho. Credit where it is due.
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I am very lucky to live here in the high basin desert of Idaho. The sun does beat down on us in the summer, but I keep my scooter in the garage and that really helps. There is very little humidity, so the dry air keep everything in very good condition. Keep the scoot out of the sun in the summer, and wash off the crud in the winter, and it's all good.
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I use 303 Protectant on all my kayak stuff ( including hull and cockpit covers) . I would think it would work well on scooters ( especially seats/ black plastic parts ) very well .
I keep mine in it's own 5X8 shed and cover it outdoors ( if away from home for more than a day ) .
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MassScoot, the place where you live is amazing....
You really must post a few dozen pictures of your scooter on the coast!
No excuses You really must share this scenery with your scooter buddies. (we've all seen the movie!)
Stig
Stig: Sorry for the late reply. I'll attach a few pics of my GT300i with the ocean in the background. The sad thing is I'm not using my scooter much these days. We own a Seaway 24' boat & we're on it almost every weekend. The New England boating season is so short (as is the scooter season) I put on all of 175 miles this spring. I do need to stop & appreciate where my wife & I live. I simply take for granted most days as that's what you see all of the time. I know this isn't a boating forum but here's a few links to our boat.
http://seawayboats.com/24-hardtop-sport/# (http://seawayboats.com/24-hardtop-sport/#)!prettyPhoto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkbdYWSPiTE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkbdYWSPiTE)
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Stig: Sorry for the late reply. I'll attach a few pics of my GT300i with the ocean in the background. The sad thing is I'm not using my scooter much these days. We own a Seaway 24' boat & we're on it almost every weekend. The New England boating season is so short (as is the scooter season) I put on all of 175 miles this spring. I do need to stop & appreciate where my wife & I live. I simply take for granted most days as that's what you see all of the time. I know this isn't a boating forum but here's a few links to our boat.
Very nice!!
Thanks for pix of your boat.
What are the white extensions above the cabin?
Very understandable that the family boat would take precedence over even a nice scoot....though I would offer this: very early scooter riding at sun up will leave plenty of boating time after breakfast! :-) :-)
Thanks again for the pix, I look forward to your Mass coast/scooter pix. Good on you for appreciating your good fortune.
Ride safe ...
Stig
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Guys.
Please do not use WD-40 for your needs. I had a maintenance guy where I work tell me how this is the worst product one can use for any kind of lubrication. Him and his locksmith buddy told me Tri-Flow is better than WD-40. Out here in the west, many of us keep our scooters in the garage, or in the car ports with the covers on them. So far my bike has been fine with no rust at all.
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True wd40 is made with fish oil .which keeps moisture away but in time to much will turn to slime and damage things. A good silver gravite spray is better .
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Guys.
Please do not use WD-40 for your needs. I had a maintenance guy where I work tell me how this is the worst product one can use for any kind of lubrication. Him and his locksmith buddy told me Tri-Flow is better than WD-40. Out here in the west, many of us keep our scooters in the garage, or in the car ports with the covers on them. So far my bike has been fine with no rust at all.
I am a locksmith on the side, and we use Tri-Flow for everything. It is a fantastic product, period. Graphite will collect moisture and gum up, so we never use it. It is old technology, and with great lubricants like Tri-Flow around, there's no need for it - kind of like putting an engine from a Model T into a Formula 1 race car. End of lubricant rant.
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I am a fan of PB Blaster myself. Never tried Tri Flow...
WD-40 evaporates over time so at BEST it is a temporary fix.