I bought my Mandello in April and it’s my first Guzzi. I’d appreciate thoughts from longer-standing Guzzi owners on things you do to keep your bike in good shape cosmetically and functionally through the cold wet winter months as keeping my bike in tip top condition is important to me ……and so is continuing riding whenever it’s not icy or foggy.
My previous bikes were predominantly powder coated and had stainless steel fittings but I still did a DIY job of applying ACF50 to exposed bodywork and electrical connections. The Mandello has no powder coating and some zinc parts and looks a bit more vulnerable, so am considering getting a professional job of ACF50 treatment or even a ceramic coating which lasts a few years (though this cost hundreds of pounds and I don’t know anyone who’s had it done). Has anyone had professional treatments like ACF50 or ceramic coating done and if so would you recommend it or not?
I use E5 fuel instead of E10 to cut down on the moisture loving ethanol content in winter as I do fewer miles (I don’t think anyone sells ethanol free petrol any more?).
Any other tips or thoughts on the best way to protect my Guzzi from the ravages of winter (other than not riding) please?
For several years I used a Honda CG125 as my daily commute from Grimsby to Immingham. A horrible slimy journey surrounded by HGV’s each morning, so each autumn I’d paint all the vulnerable bits with copper grease, (I had free access to loads of it) over time it’d gain the appearance of the muck you find in a roadside gutter. Truly manky. However, each spring when the weather broke I’d clean it all off to reveal a half decent bike below.
While I doubt you’d wish to do that, taking bolts out and applying suitable grease and re-fitting is always helpful. The liberal use of acf50 as you mentioned should help, though I find it has to be done pretty regularly to be effective. To ease that I’d suggest a garden sprayer, or ideally an air sprayer, and a lot of care around tyres, brakes, footrests and grips etc. I use plastic bags tied here and there
As I understand it, the ‘professionals’ doing this are no different to us ordinary Joes, except they airspray so it’s atomised. A pal did it to his Triumph Bobber, he simply took time to mask all the ‘susceptible’ areas.
The only other thing I’d add is ‘use it’. You’ve already said this anyhow, but thoroughly warming the bike through periodically really helps. While I was riding my CG, my brother had parked his ZZR1100 in my garage as he was at Uni. I’d get it out on dry days, fire it up, and while sat on the centre-stand, go through the gears. Giving it a a run until everything was hot prevented things from deteriorating, well, mostly. And don’t forget to keep the tank filled, a full tank rusts far less than an empty one.
Ultimately, there’s nothing better than giving your bike a run out. These days, ‘winter’ in my area no longer seems accompanied by much in the way of frost, never mind snow, so if it’s dry give it, and yourself, a run out. See you out there
Many many years ago I and two mates would buy a gallon of Finnigan’s Wax Oil between us. We would paint our Bonnies, Tribsa’s etc in November then Gunk them in March . It worked pretty well, and the smell of Gunk on a warm engine was fab !!
As King and Dave say mate. Once you’ve coated it, the bottle test is to leave it after a ride and only wipe the wheels etc down. Even if it looks dirty.
Bazzer, the idea of leaving the bike to get mucky would be a bit of a challenge for me as I’m a bit of a fanatic about keeping the bike in pristine condition, probably to the point of a touch of OCD at times.
Throughout winter on previous bikes I’ve cleaned them and re-applied the ACF50 after every ride, unless it was on clean dry roads. Probably defeats the object of it I guess
I may be temperamentally better suited to a ceramic treatment which theoretically gets applied once and lasts years, no matter how many times you clean it. It could save me a lot of faff, but cost a lot of dosh up front. I’d be really interested to know if anyone has tried a ceramic treatment? Could be a very expensive white elephant or an absolute godsend, I’ve no idea which.
XCP Clear Coat scored more highly that ACF50 in the bike press too, but never tried that either.
i understand but the ACF 50 and grease are designed to keep the dirt on their surface and not the bikes so it can be used again and again before a periodic clean. If you are going to want the bike spotless after each ride then a cheap WD40 spray before the ride then deep clean after will be all you will need. Non of the treatments I’m aware of will repel dirt. Just trap it on a protective layer.
Hi Bazzer, agreed WD40 may be a cheap option, though ceramic sounds like it fits the bill too as it doesn’t wash off when you clean it.
I’m no expert on the ceramic treatment option but it appears…. a) it’s flippin expensive b) it protects up to ten years on a new bike or 7 years on a used bike c) if I understand it correctly, one treatment means no corrosion for that period of time no matter how many times you clean it (never or after every ride) but that’s not definitive, just my impression.
Ditto, slather all the shiny bits with ACF50. Mudguards are plastic else would get the Waxoyl underneath if were metal. WD40 on electrics. Stands outside with bike covers on. Leather seat was a right pain to keep decent, even with frequent coatings of Duck Wax, kept going mouldy. Obviously meant for Californians only! Replaced with a gel seat with vinyl covering. Or you could I suppose take it off and keep it indoors (the leather seat), but then leaves the under seat electrics ‘exposed’ (albeit has a bike cover on, but still looks ‘iffy’). Re: V7 850 Special E5.
PS: I would also make sure the brake calipers are checked, cleaned and greased up, and make sure bolts and pad retainer pins can be removed later.
I don’t want to worry you but I have it on good authority that a lot of areas in the UK are using molasses in winter grit to maximise road adhesion…not so good for our lovely bikes😪
Thanks all. In terms of the brakes, is it as much of an issue if I use the bike most weeks through winter? If so any ideas where can I get the stainless steel brake parts for a V100?
BTW I’m still obsessively researching whether ceramic coating is worth it and came across this interesting video from TeaPot One showing the process and discussing some of the benefits and limitations of getting it done, though things like how long the coating lasts are still a bit vague….”it depends”, which I guess makes sense.
I’ve never seen that used and i drove gritting lorries until recently (2020)
i can’t see how that can be used as both storage and the feed belt in the hopper would be affected by having stuff make it stick more.
it’s also not what is required, the rock salt is spread so it gets driven over and ground in, it is meant to dissolve to change the eutectic of water, not provide grip which is provided by tyres contacting the road surface itself.
occasionally in severe snow 5mm stone chips can be mixed in but that ruins the belts too so only done when salt is no longer effective
Thanks for throwing more light on this. I can only hope that you’re right. The last thing anybody needs is damage to engine casings etc. Best avoid being on the road in winter😱
I use ACF with a toothbrush for the tricky bits, small rag for big bits. saves having to bother with masking- takes about 15 minutes. Petrol tank should be full or empty. Prefer empty as it goes off unless you put in preserver. Normally just ride the bike then empty out residual amount into other motor or to use in lawn mower etc, then leave the cap open for the final bit to evaporate. When bone dry close up.
Hmm Guzzi were always ‘proper bikes’ you could ride to work, ride through winter, ride on holiday etc not like Ducati or Morini. Pity if Guzzi now have the Triumph/Suzuki corrosion bug
Gotta say, as someone who’s ridden 365 days a years, commuting for over 30 year (been mollycoddled the last few year years) I’ve always sought and bought bikes as ‘tools’.
As such I’ve had a few good uns over that time, some VFR’s, a Fazer 600, a Vstrom650 (which I still have), a few CG125’s, but actually, now owning a V7, it could happily have performed the role and survived as good as most.
My commute now involves a taxi and an airplane, but I’m confident the Guzzi would, with the usual support, have survived as well if not better than most.
However, despite the Suzuki’s failings in the finish department, and my love of my V7 Classic’s aesthetics , the little Vstrom remains the best all round motorbike I’ve ever owned, period.
i understand but the ACF 50 and grease are designed to keep the dirt on their surface and not the bikes so it can be used again and again before a periodic clean. If you are going to want the bike spotless after each ride then a cheap WD40 spray before the ride then deep clean after will be all you will need. Non of the treatments I’m aware of will repel dirt. Just trap it on a protective layer.
