Bike with rust on forks

[fleebag4@]

Looking at buying a 2nd hand CB250 though the forks are speckaled with rust spots though it's 2 years old. I think they'll come off with a wire brush, but maybe i should stay away as thats bad after 2 years?? It is based close to the sea.

[SMOKEU]

It should be alright as long as it's just minor surface rust.

[Madness]

Don't use a wire brush on the chrome staunchions - it'll fuck 'em.

[Grubber]

It should be alright as long as it's just minor surface rust.

Agreed! Just use a piece of wire wool and give it light rub should be sweet.

[george formby]

Clean the forks with the finest abrasive you can find, even a bit of jif & soap might do it. I have fixed pitting in the past which was damaging the fork seals by using epoxy resin in holes. Just enough to cover the sharp edges & carefully abraded smooth, flush with the chrome. Worked a treat too. Never had a seal problem again.

[neels]

If the rust is above the travel of the forks, it's not an issue. I used autosol to polish the rust spots off the fork legs on my bike from it living outside before I bought it, cleaned it up good and hasn't come back.

[Spearfish]

I looked at some bikes that were left outside close to a beach both were showing rust spots on the forks even though they were 2 and 4 years old. At the second look I rubbed the rust with autosol metal polish to see if was just a stain the rust specks disappeared and it looked ok but there were very very small bumps left behind, unfortunately the bumps were in the area the fork seal would travel so I flagged it.

Try your luck, maybe you can see if its just staining or outside the area the seals travel, it could be a way to lower the price?

[imdying]

BUY SOMETHING ELSE.

Seriously. You'll have problems enough anyway, why buy somebody elses?

[Juzz976]

2000 grit wet n dry sandpaper....might need new seals tho if seals travel onto rust.
Keep oiled with fork oil to stop further oxidation.
You could buy another bike that has had the rust already cleaned up 4 you, or fork out heaps 4 a newer bike.

[breakaway]

What kind of piece of shit rusts up after 2 years? Give it a miss.

[imdying]

What kind of piece of shit rusts up after 2 years? Give it a miss.

That is not fair. It could be the most expensive, most exotic, or the cheapest commuter, and the correct question would still be, "What kind of piece of shit neglects a near new motorcycle so badly that it rusts up after 2 years?"

[breakaway]

Fair point; And all the more reason to stay away from it.

[AllanB]

That is not fair. It could be the most expensive, most exotic, or the cheapest commuter, and the correct question would still be, "What kind of piece of shit neglects a near new motorcycle so badly that it rusts up after 2 years?"

That's the truth - I bet if you leave a $50,000 Ducati outside for 2 years and never clean it it will most likely look worse!

It may be a indication on the general concern shown towards the bike by it's current owner. After all a can of WD40 or similar to keep the crap off and rust at bay during winter is only $10.

However if it is bloody cheap and has a engine service record it may be a good deal - not everyone is a anal bastard about the appearance of their ride like I am and a good clean-up can work wonders.

[davebullet]

Cheap bikes are cheap bikes. The CB250 is built to a price. Yes, it may be a honda but QC costs.

[AllanB]

Cheap bikes are cheap bikes. The CB250 is built to a price. Yes, it may be a honda but QC costs.

Yeah and I've seen 3 year old $30,000 Harleys with surface rust on them. Cars have the luxury of a layer of bodywork to take the punishment of the elements, bikes do not.

Just a little regular care is all that's required.