Looking at used bikes online and some of them have varying amounts of rust on the bottom of the bike or on the exhaust. Is that a sign of a poorly maintained bike or that it was stored outside. All bikes are 2000 or newer.
You can try using kerosene and a brush to remove the rust. Mind you it’s messy, and you need to wear gloves while using it and cover the other parts of the bike that might get kerosene on it if you do it while it’s on the bike. Some people use WD-40, but this can and does damage your chain after prolonged use. You can see what it will do here (scroll down to the update):
I’ve heard mixed claims on wd-40 on O-ring chains. Some people claim no negative affects what so ever. I prefer to do it the way it’s been done with kerosene though…
As far as them commercial dual clean/lube chain mabobbers, I’ve heard they’re not very effective. YMMV, just relaying the things I’ve heard…
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…
so kerosene and wd-40 can be used to remove rust, but is there anything you can use to prevent it on a new bike? Rust is a concern of mine, I would like as little as possible on my new EX250R. I know storage is probably a big factor in rust prevention. Unfortunately I do not have a garage to keep it in as a I live in an apartment, but I do keep it under a porch with a good quality cover on the bike at all times so its really not getting any water directly on it. During the winter it will be stored in the basement covered as well, I cannot keep it in there normally just because its going to be tough getting it in there once a year, never mind daily.
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