Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster - UPDATE
 

I did a search but couldn't find this problem addressed anywhere, so please bear with me if it's been discussed ad nauseum somewhere.

I've got some corrosion on the top edges of the forks on my '06 Sportster. I've ridden on salty roads a couple of times, but it doesn't seem like that should have caused this. Any ideas why it's appeared only there (nowhere else on these fork pieces) and would this be a warranty issue?

Thanks

https://i193.photobucket.com/albums/...2/Forkrot2.jpg

https://i193.photobucket.com/albums/...2/Forkrot1.jpg

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

Do you keep it heavily waxed? You know you have to wax every milimeter of the bike. If you have warranty left I would take it to them and see what they say but I wouldn't hold my breath.

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

That looks like what salt does to aluminum - eats it. Try a little chrome polish and you might see some improvement. Check the rest of the bike real well.

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

Wax every millimeter?

Aluminum will corrode if exposed to salt and water.

A very good reason not to ride until the roads are flushed with rain.
Cars rust for this very reason.
The hazards of the Northland.

MikeM

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

That's what happens when you ride on salty roads "a couple of times".

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

Wax the forks? With what -- something like turtle wax? Just normal wax? Do you wax the chrome too?

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

Yep. Wax everything. Then wax somemore. I ride in the slop. Not intentfully, but sometimes you can't avoid it. Unless of course, you don't drag your bike out 'till May. No problems here. I don't think you can have too many coat of wax on.

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

OK, but the question is why are they only corroded there? Is it because water can get between the two pieces and that way into the edge of the metal? If that's not the case, why aren't they corroded anywhere else? And finally, would this be considered a warranty item? Surely the bikes can't be fair whether only? I'd expect a structural member as critical as the forks to be a bit more robust than that.

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

YES, wax it all with a good wax, forks and chromeincluded.

RE: Fork corrosion on '06 Sportster
 

When you have two different metals in contact with each other and then ad water (especially salt water) you set up a condition called electrolysis. The softer (sacrificial) metal will deteriorate quite rapidly.