I'm contemplating buying a Harley but I'm told that one thing I must not forget is keeping the bloody chrome clean, that it's an investment of several days a week if I don't want it to rust. Is this true? Do Harley owners find it to be time-consuming, yet enjoyable?
2007-08-08 16:41:30 · 13 answers · asked by familyties87 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
If you just buy the bike and not every chrome accessory you see it shouldn't be hard at all.
2007-08-09 00:57:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cleaning the chrome can be a hassel, but a car wash will take a lot of the work out of it. chrome will rust if it is left out in very damp conditions for an extended time, but normal riding, even in the rain isnt a problem. I have rode in rain over 6 hrs at a time on several rides and there is no rust on any chrome on my bike. I dont spend a lot of time polishing my chrome either, and at this moment, my bike hasn't been washed for over a month. Dont worry about it. If you like the harley, buy it. with normal care your chrome will last for years.
( I don't live near an ocean, and They dont use salt on ice for roads in my area. these conditions will greatly increase the amount of rust on any steel surface, whether its chromed or not)
2007-08-09 17:23:03 · answer #2 · answered by bikermog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's only as much work as you want to do.
If you want shiny chrome, you polish. If you don't, you don't. Or buy a bike without a lot of chrome.
I ride a dirty bike. With a lot of factory chrome.
There is no rust on my factory chrome, or the HD aftermarket chrome even after riding in the salt all winter.
I do have some rust, on the guards on my Hondaline bags. That's because they saw 24 years of weather before they went on. The reason they still have some is because I haven't finished the rest of my bracketry yet. I only want to make one trip to the plater's.
Yes, I have enjoyed a relaxing afternoon polishing. Waxing the car is fun too. When I want to.
2007-08-09 17:00:52 · answer #3 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ok, hear you have the harley secret, i have owned a harley for over 25 years. once a year i polish the chrome, then the rest of the year i use windex on it to keep it clean, how often you say? when ever i feel it needs it. it only takes about 10 minutes for me to wipe down the entire bike with windex....everybody always thinks i polish it all the time and i just laugh...
2007-08-10 19:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by fyea1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Harley-Davidson is an investment...The resale value is unreal...I would say that anything you buy requires attention,motorcycle ,street rod or plane. In my opinion is that if you keep it garage kept or coverd when not riding it will make you life easyier and you will beable to spend more time riding it than than cleaning it . So take the plunge and make the investment, you wont be sorry
2007-08-09 03:48:30 · answer #5 · answered by grgvrnn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not polish my chrome several days a week. I would rather be riding. I do keep it clean. It is garaged parked and I have not had any issues with rust. I have had mine since the end of 2000.
2007-08-09 08:20:48 · answer #6 · answered by thisisme 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, like everything else you get out what you put in. Personally I enjoy polishing the Harley just like I enjoy cleaning up my MX bikes after a ride. Maybe I'm just twisted.
2007-08-10 11:12:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Harleys have good chrome on them so they don't rust easily.I usually wash mine and blow it dry with a leaf blower.I only give it a good shine in the winter when there is nothing else to do.I don't know where you guys come up with such dumb questions...Surely you have enough common sence to figure it out for yourself.....on the other hand,maybe not.
2007-08-09 19:59:39 · answer #8 · answered by bill b 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I own a Kawasaki ZX10R and even though there isn't a lot of chrome on it I still spend a fair amount of time cleaning and maintaining it.
I would call it somewhat obsessive compulsive to a degree that most motorcyclists do this!
I think it's the joy you get from riding and the satisfaction of being able to ride, no matter what you have!
So yeah, I think it's worth it.
Troy.
2007-08-09 00:21:03 · answer #9 · answered by Rider ZX10R 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is not much work and any work it happens to be is worth it. Even if you buy another brand of bike, you're gonna still clean it I suppose. Wouldn't you'd rather clean something that'll be worth something a few years down the road?
2007-08-09 15:59:22 · answer #10 · answered by rick y 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋