Rusting coolant T-piece on 2018 vstom 650

[edbailey]

Anyone else with a new vstrom 650 found the metal T-piece that's part of the coolant pipework on the right hand side of the bike has started to rust fairly severely?

Mines rusted fairly badly and considering having Suzuki replace it under warranty.

I ride it every day and I give it a thorough clean every couple of months or every month in the winter with good amounts of XCP rust preventer which is the same kind of regime I've always followed with my commuter bikes but I've never seen rust this bad.

[Mr Nick]

I seem to recall it doing the same on my L2 in the first year. I cured it by swapping the whole cooling system for one from Austria...

[Gassoon]

Nothing on my '17  and I expect even the austrian-built versions have occasional rusty bits    sounds like a warranty issue?

[Rusty Nuts]

Did the Austrian cooling system come with ancillaries like engine, frame, seat, tank, forks, wheels and bright orange paint?

[UK_Vstrom650]

If the bike is under warranty then definitely have it replaced. I smear mine with ACF50 Corrosion Block grease which has helped though it still shows signs of having been used through 7 winters.

[edbailey]

Went back to the shop today, the bloke took photos and so on and was pretty bloody helpful.  Said he'd handle it all and get back to me next week.

My fall back plan is to buy a replacement part from a breakers yard then either Hammerite it or cough up and get it powder coated. 

It's turning in to a little project now. The plan is to make the ultimate commuter/touring bike by hammerite-ing any part that could rust (with in reason) but then also I plan on closing all the holes in the plastic foe belly pan/sump guard that came with the XT version with rubber pads in the hope of better protecting the front of the bike.  I've made a mudguard extender for the front wheel which cost £3 and took 30min to fit and I've done the same on the back wheel after seeing a mates Yamaha WR which had a little shock mud guard type thing. Again took minutes to cut out of 4mm rubber pad and 30min to fit with gorilla glue and rivets and cost bugger all.

I'll post some pics when it's all done for everyone to scrutinise 

[Gassoon]

Now you are scaring me, ed

[Mr Nick]

Yes Rusty, there were a few accessories attached to it that required the replacement of almost all the original Suzuki parts: I think the top box remained...

Still waiting for those rusty bits to appear Gassoon, but she's only 9 years old.