Rust starting on 2013 V-Strom

[Fat Rat]

Bloody hell, this is not a good start. This is my 2013 V-Strom with 1500 miles on the clock, it lives indoors, is treated with ACF-50. It has been caught in the rain a couple of times but come on Suszuki it's a Motorbike  

[stibbs]

Whoops.
I bought mine in May last year. I rode it without a care for 6 months just washing it about once a month.
In hindsight that was a mistake. When I trained up to do my Allyearbiker operating in November the damage was done.

It's now, obviously, had the full works and looks great apart from pitted front forks etc.

It goes to prove that the very first thing we should all do when buying a new bike is get it treated to some anti corrosion treatment however you feel that should be done

[Sven]

I think the problem is that its been parked near to a Triumph..........    

[medic5]

Did thy swap parts at your service up here in the smoke........north of the Thames but south of Heathrow.....?...

[Piglumps]

That's poor! It seems that we have to accept it on motorcycles but not cars. While we do so nothing will change..

[Fat Rat]

That's poor! It seems that we have to accept it on motorcycles but not cars. While we do so nothing will change..

Never fear, I will be jumping up and down like a child who has had his toys taken away tomorrow.

[alan29]

Same problem here. The brake discs seem to be bleeding from the small circular perforations, and those fairing fasteners are rusting.
Did Suzuki forget to tell us that it is an indoor bike?

[Jacko]

I thoroughly ACF'd my Glee up more or less straight away, I've owned Suzukis before..

[DesertStrom]

Buy your bike out here . . . . .it doesn't rain much and they don't throw the crap on the roads that they do in the UK, you do have to put up with the best sandblasting in the world though!!  

[greywolf]

The steering stem is out of sight and needs to be of high carbon steel for strength. The bolt should be stainless steel though stainless is a bad name. High strength SS will surface discolor. If it penetrates, somebody used the wrong bolt. Otherwise, a surface touch up with a Scotch Brite pad will bring it back. Don't use steel wool. A little car wax will delay such discoloration.

[user650]

You need to also check the front tank mountings, noticed mine when looking at wiring routes

[mr_mal]

I have the same issue with the outer part of the steering stem.  Rookie mistake as I didn't see/check it for the first couple of weeks of having the bike.  Now I make sure I keep it coated in ACF50 to stop any progression...

[Locky]

The steering tube on most bikes I've had has rusted , but as Greywolf says its out of sight ... The rust on the bolt is poor though ! My old K5 Wee never had rusted bolts ! I wonder if the Glees are a poorer quality bike ?

[B4ndit]

Fat Rat. That is bad. The attached photo is from my 8 year old bike which although it has a low mileage has seen salt. The number of bolts I have had to drill out is testimony to this.