Winterization protective products

[Fender1515]

It is nearly that time to wash my bike gear, i might even do it this year! and prep my 2005 bike for the winter, 

Trickle charger will be set up, just wondering what products forum folks have found best to reduce the winter rusting.

 I am thinking of trying scottoiler FS 365, any folks had any experience with it, or....

Thanks in advance.

 

[RideWithStyles]

If im being kind it’s not great, if not it’s a waste of money.

its a quick spray on after daily riding and wash at best every time without fail, not to be trusted beyond a few days.

 

the two best ones are acf50 and xpc!

acf50 was my favourite and go to, is very good but more oily and requires abit more attention/prep to be honest.

 

Xcp is my favourite and go to, probably slightly better and more so if you go with the normal one than the clear coat but it has a yellow hue to it when applied which bothers some people. Clear coat is almost the same level of protection without colour.

[manxie49]

I agree with @RideWithStyles I tend to use ACF50 applied via a spay gun and compressor.  I use DC4 electrical silicon on any vulnerable wiring connections, and rust block grease on clips and fasteners.  After that it's a wash off with cold water hose  after use, and a quick spray over with FS365, which is pretty much all I would use the Scott oil for.  It won't get any deep cleaning done now until spring.  I ride year round, and what I do works for me, never had any issues with rust.  If riding on salted / gritted roads I tend to wash the bike off with something called Salt Away.

[Throttled]

I ride all year round and the most successful winterisation by far, was getting ACF50 professionally applied.

[bud]

I never found FS 365 that good to be honest. It seemed to wash off in harsh conditions. Would probably work well if you were cleaning the bike. Then spraying it for the winter.

ACF50 is good. But need a bit of work to do right.

[manxie49]

38 minutes ago, bud said:

I never found FS 365 that good to be honest. It seemed to wash off in harsh conditions.

Yes, I agree with you, and yes it does come off too easily.  I only use it after getting home, after a cold water hose off, quick spray over before it goes in the garage.  In that scenario it tends to work ok.

[Hairsy]

I use XCP which I spray on to most areas and paint on to things like brake fixings where I don't want to risk getting anything on the friction areas.

 

If I come in from a ride and the bike is dirty, particularly any potential salt, I spray it liberally with a hose and then use a cordless blower. Mine was around £20 from Amazon and uses a Makita battery which I already had. This doesn't take long and I find it strangely satisfying.

 

I suspect that the rinse and dry is the best contributor to reducing to corrosion but I won't stop doing the XCP 2 or 3 times a year as well.

[Fender1515]

22 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

If im being kind it’s not great, if not it’s a waste of money.

its a quick spray on after daily riding and wash at best every time without fail, not to be trusted beyond a few days.

 

the two best ones are acf50 and xpc!

acf50 was my favourite and go to, is very good but more oily and requires abit more attention/prep to be honest.

 

Xcp is my favourite and go to, probably slightly better and more so if you go with the normal one than the clear coat but it has a yellow hue to it when applied which bothers some people. Clear coat is almost the same level of protection without colour.

Many thanks for sharing your experience, I have ordered XCP clear, and some knee pads!   

[Capt Sisko]

It's worth reading this article.  I certainly didn't realise ACF50 & FS365 worked in different ways. It also explains why I was disapointed by some FS365 when I tried it a few years ago.

[Fish]

what fuel stabilizers do people use? I mean it's only 4-5 months parked up

 

[bud]

If it's only 4-5 months. I would just make sure the fuel in the bike is fresh and premium. If you have a carb, I would drain the fuel out.

[RideWithStyles]

14 hours ago, Fish said:

what fuel stabilizers do people use? I mean it's only 4-5 months parked up

 

More than enough for fuel to go off (hydrocarbons to breakdown), absorb water etc, especially if your bike is outside to the elements and E10.

various stuff some are better than other or intended use.

for very short term (a month or two absolute max) a fuel system cleaner can do an ok job like redex or other like it, for longer an actual stabilisation is required like the one from liqui moly is a good one, not always in stock though, id try an autofactor for say cars will give more options and probably cheaper too.

 

good one for the chain is an chain wax lube, it actually stays put and most are very good, wd40’s or wurths  are my favourite, muck off isn’t too bad.

Edited December 12, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[manxie49]

16 hours ago, Fish said:

what fuel stabilizers do people use? I mean it's only 4-5 months parked up

 

I don't use it anymore as unfortunately I no longer have the luxury of tucking it up for winter.  When I did though I used Putoline which seemed to do a pretty good job.  Fill the tank, give it a shake and run the engine for three or four minutes, no problem.  I used to fill with premium grade fuel first. 

[Simon Davey]

18 hours ago, Fish said:

what fuel stabilizers do people use? I mean it's only 4-5 months parked up

 

 

I use this 

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-fuel-additive-250ml/9631x

 

It's brilliant, and I use it in my 2-stroke garden machines, which literally start second pull after winter. 

I've used it in my bike without issues, but I ended up riding every few weeks in winter. 

 

[bud]

This was an interesting watch about fuel stabilizers.

 

[Simon Davey]

Although I did watch this video, I've stopped watching F9, apart from the induced boredom, no matter how he conducts his experiments, I take them with a pinch of salt, he's no scientist (neither am I).

 

I've used the Screwfix fuel additive for a couple of years, whatever happens in those fuel tanks of my machinery is a mystery, but I know one thing, my machinery starts and runs brilliantly when I use the additive. That's all the science I need.

Also, I used Seafoam in my car and bike for cleaning the fuel system, not for storage, and that too made a huge difference, especially to the performance and fuel consumption of my car. My car returned back to it's original 34Mpg, after it had dropped to low 20'sMpg.

Edited December 15, 2024 by Simon Davey

[RideWithStyles]

26 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

Although I did watch this video, I've stopped watching F9, apart from the induced boredom, no mater how he conducts his experiments, I take them with a pinch of salt, he's no scientist (neither am I).

so do you believe a politician or a police officer or a doctor without question? They are one, most have some form of qualification, they do it all the time and paid for it so they must be correct all the time?

Dont have to be a full bore scientist to methodically figure out how to conduct a test for it to be throughly well done to prove something is good or terrible, much like you don’t have to be a full on mechanic to change a wheel, oil etc or to find out if something (tool or products etc) works or not if you do it but to have a little thought and understanding goes along way.

shall I also mention another person that you could or might aswell very undermine? John from Bennett’s social, he goes about it in a similar way, does really state it out and the small details but that is how you show the reason to the results and understand how and why or what could be improved, rather than just say “I did some shite and this is fooking shite and this is be best thing ever”, that can very well be put down as unhelpful, terrible con, naive or an insult to the viewer’s intelligence.

[Simon Davey]

7 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

so do you believe a politician or a police officer or a doctor without question? They are one, most have some form of qualification, they do it all the time and paid for it so they must be correct all the time?

Dont have to be a full bore scientist to methodically figure out how to conduct a test for it to be throughly well done to prove something is good or terrible, much like you don’t have to be a full on mechanic to change a wheel, oil etc or to find out if something (tool or products etc) works or not if you do it but to have a little thought and understanding goes along way.

shall I also mention another person that you could or might aswell very undermine? John from Bennett’s social, he goes about it in a similar way, does really state it out and the small details but that is how you show the reason to the results and understand how and why or what could be improved, rather than just say “I did some shite and this is fooking shite and this is be best thing ever”, that can very well be put down as unhelpful, terrible con, naive or an insult to the viewer’s intelligence.

 

I simply have my own proof that the products I use do work. 

Much like yourself, I'm allowed to express my opinion. 

Edited December 13, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

On 11/12/2024 at 19:44, Fish said:

what fuel stabilizers do people use? I mean it's only 4-5 months parked up

 

None. Never had a problem. 

Two years ago for family reasons I had to leave the Bobber with half a tank of old E 10 from October until March. It fired first touch of the starter without hesitation. 

 

When used to rebuild 1970s cars they could sit for a long time with old fuel in the tank and I never had a problem getting them started. 

[manxie49]

Not a motorcycle I know, but similar to what @Mississippi Bullfrog was saying, and just another example of not using stabiliser is my lawn mower.  Four stroke engine, I service it at the end of the season, top the petrol off and put it away, normally around about October time.  It comes back out of hiding around May, give or take, the next year, so sits there for a good six or maybe seven months and not used.  It's six years old and always starts on the second or third pull of the cord and I never have any issues with running.  Maybe I'm doing some sort of damage that I can't see, but I always go on how easy it is to start, and I can't really say I have a problem. 

[RideWithStyles]

not to say anybody is wrong or their experience is not worth mentioning.

To note just how each or any item like a bike, lawnmower, strimmer etc (though admittedly other than the bike they have very little resistance and simple devices so those could away with less than perfect conditions).

new or used will be different, carbs injection, design, condition of unit inside and out including seals or rings etc, contamination and or state of fuel, use prior and storage (second biggest factor), season conditions endured, where in the country/world, consumables used, services when and how long ago.

A lot of variables for how one may or not struggle more than others, so all mentioned is a useful suggestion or guide of what you could do differently next time if you are unfortunate to encounter the problem. .

[Pie man]

I just ride and wash it, never seen the point in taking the bike off the road, although I do use it for commuting.  

[wastedyears1981]

On 12/12/2024 at 21:38, Simon Davey said:

Although I did watch this video, I've stopped watching F9, apart from the induced boredom, no matter how he conducts his experiments, I take them with a pinch of salt, he's no scientist (neither am I).

 

I've used the Screwfix fuel additive for a couple of years, whatever happens in those fuel tanks of my machinery is a mystery, but I know one thing, my machinery starts and runs brilliantly when I use the additive. That's all the science I need.

Also, I used Seafoam in my car and bike for cleaning the fuel system, not for storage, and that too made a huge difference, especially to the performance and fuel consumption of my car. My car returned back to it's original 34Mpg, after it had dropped to low 20'sMpg.

Just stuck some Seafoam in mine using the 50/50 mix, but I think the little bit of fuel that was already in the tank watered it down a bit further. Bike is running groggy at low revs so suspect FI need a good scrub. Made a massive difference but still at little bit stuttery at low revs....have you ever slapped seafoam in the tank neat without mixing?

[Simon Davey]

22 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Just stuck some Seafoam in mine using the 50/50 mix, but I think the little bit of fuel that was already in the tank watered it down a bit further. Bike is running groggy at low revs so suspect FI need a good scrub. Made a massive difference but still at little bit stuttery at low revs....have you ever slapped seafoam in the tank neat without mixing?

 

Never used it neat, I think it would be a bit savage on the seals etc.