Bandit Chassis Rust

Anyone have a view on whether the Bandit chassis is particularly rust prone, say compared with other Japanese bikes.

What ways are there to minimise risk of rusting ie, garage, not wet washing, move inland! others?

Would appreciate views on this.

Thanks GG

I would assume like most automotive steels there gal treated first so i would be surprised if apart from a little surface rust it shouldnt be a problem. Rust is usally a thing of the past how many cars after the mid 90 s do you see suffer form rust unless you do a beach run

Sorry but i have fund numerious rust spots on my bandit frame .A light wd40 spray after washing helps or a chain wax spray on those bad areas .

(like welds )

Last time i had some of the plastics off i fish oiled all the inside of the frame tubes and all welds that arent visible . fish oils not the prettiest when it dries but it will stop rust from happening

Thanks everyone. I also would think major rust should be a thing of the past.

Its just that I hear occasional comments like: Dry wash it only, avoid the rain, it will rot out before the engine wears out.

All of which are a bit hard to understand when talking about a modern bike, and I wouldn't think Suzuki could produce anything but a quality product.

Thanks GG

I'd never thought about rust till now, (thanks GG) lol. If any bikes were to suffer from rust, I think it would have to be the Chinese ones that are made from steel that has about the same consistency as cheese

mate,mines 10 years old,

i`ve owned it for 9,

done 164000kms, bought it with 6650kms on it.. ride it on dirt roads,in the rain..ride just about every day...i`ve got no rust!!

just get on it and ride it brother

Yes, I know, I don't want to be seeing 'dark shadows' and inventing problems that don't exist. Its just that when I was researching my next bike (now my Bandit!) I came across some rusty comments.

But look at mtbeerwahs reply (many thanks). Now that is good evidence I reckon of no rusty probs.

Thanks fellas.

GG

To quote some old hippie type singer. " Rust never sleeps ". I recommend, to strip down your Bandit . Sand blast the frame, and have it powder coated, every twenty years or 200 000ks. Whichever comes first.

Hammy wrote:To quote some old hippie type singer. " Rust never sleeps ". I recommend, to strip down your Bandit . Sand blast the frame, and have it powder coated, very twenty years or 200 000ks. Whichever comes first.

So that will be every 4 years for me
LOL

Wow. 1000ks a week. Thats some numb bum.

Thanks Hammy, A good tip!! - 20 yrs and 200,000k - I'll make a note in my service book

...or actually I'll leave it to the next owner as I will probably be on my Air Hawk seat in the sky looking down on all you Bandit owners on your 2032 models.

GG

mine goes out in all weather conditions & no problems so far

Hammy wrote:Wow. 1000ks a week. Thats some numb bum.

It was for the first 2 weeks, but I think the seat is starting to form to me

paul wrote:mine goes out in all weather conditions & no problems so far

Your wife ???

Hammy wrote:

paul wrote:mine goes out in all weather conditions & no problems so far

Your wife ???

I sometimes unchain her from the kitchen / bedroom & let her outside , but try not to make a habit of it

Talking about rust...

Why would this be happening?

https://i.servimg.com/u/f12/16/96/27/70/wp_00010.jpg

chips wrote:Talking about rust...

Why would this be happening?

[url=https://i.servimg.com/u/f12/16/96/27/70/wp_00010.jpg

https://i.servimg.com/u/f12/16/96/27/70/wp_00010.jpg[/quote[/url]]

From leaving your fork tubes wet , either after rain or a wash. The SS is very thin. Just get a scotchbrite cloth. NOT a steel fibre type one ! Spray some CRC or similar type lubricant onto the cloth and wipe the tubes with it, rubbing AROUND the tube, NOT up and down. It will come off easily. Then next time you wash your bike or it gets wet in the rain. Wipe some CRC on the tubes with a rag. If you let the pitting get too bad you will need to get the tubes rechromed as the fork seals will leak.

Tsim wrote:

Hammy wrote:To quote some old hippie type singer. " Rust never sleeps ". I recommend, to strip down your Bandit . Sand blast the frame, and have it powder coated, very twenty years or 200 000ks. Whichever comes first.

So that will be every 4 years for me
LOL

Fuck the powder coating, hot dipped Galvanising. Then just do it once.

Hammy wrote:

chips wrote:Talking about rust...

Why would this be happening?

[url=https://i.servimg.com/u/f12/16/96/27/70/wp_00010.jpg

https://i.servimg.com/u/f12/16/96/27/70/wp_00010.jpg[/quote[/url]]

From leaving your fork tubes wet , either after rain or a wash. The SS is very thin. Just get a scotchbrite cloth. NOT a steel fibre type one ! Spray some CRC or similar type lubricant onto the cloth and wipe the tubes with it, rubbing AROUND the tube, NOT up and down. It will come off easily. Then next time you wash your bike or it gets wet in the rain. Wipe some CRC on the tubes with a rag. If you let the pitting get too bad you will need to get the tubes rechromed as the fork seals will leak.

Thanks, I'll do this tomorrow.
What does "SS" stand for? Stainless steel?

[quote="chips"][quote="Hammy"]

chips wrote:Talking about rust...

Why would this be happening?

https://i.servimg.com/u/f12/16/96/27/70/wp_00010.jpg[/quote]



Thanks, I'll do this tomorrow.
What does "SS" stand for? Stainless steel?

Yes. But my mistake. I meant the chrome is thin.

Read a few comments about rust not being a modern problem, which I generally agree with.

Rather than rust being a problem, its more that humans are the problem. If you are really lazy and give your bike a good wipe down with wd40 every 3 months, you wont get a rusty bike. Thats right, every 3 months - so for those that are getting rusty bikes, if youve never paid any attention to your bike ever, thats probably why its rusty. (BTW Im not talkin about surface rust, that can happen almost overnight on some parts)

On my last bike though I did a lot of rain riding and couldnt cover the bike during a fairly long period in a storm. I found the problem areas to be:

- the ignition - it can get very tight and unfriendly after sitting in rain

- the chain - its just surface rust usually, but if it does stick up a bit that can lead to the initial damage that can ruin a chain and sprockets

- seat lock - same as ignition

- any hinges or joints on the bike (mirror joints, kickstand, throttle and clutch)

- any low grade nuts/bolts (check your aftermarket gear)

All of these are easily treatable as described by others (WD40, chain lube)

Not part of the bike, but I also recommend taking care of your gloves... these are usually your first piece of equipment to go because of water. Dry with the Handy papertowels stuffed in them (as Handy dont fall apart) and put somewhere warm and dry, but not in direct sunlight

I read some where that a good trick to dry your gloves or stretch them is to fill them with rice. The rice absorbs the water (which dries the gloves) and the rice expands to stretch the leather. I have never tried this so who whants to be the first to report back?

aussie wrote:I read some where that a good trick to dry your gloves or stretch them is to fill them with rice. The rice absorbs the water (which dries the gloves) and the rice expands to stretch the leather. I have never tried this so who whants to be the first to report back?

I was going to try this one day but decided not to as I didn't want to get starchy and smelly rice gloves.



Here is a more extreme method... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uto2h8xUnU

...Or some hotels provide glove-drying facilities for the weary Biker, such as this one at Cann River.