Hauling bikes in winter

fatpurplepanda
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271
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5/4/2017
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Minneapolis, MN US
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2798th
12/11/2017 8:24am
Seeing as I live in Minnesota and it tends to enjoy to be cold, snowy, and all around the opposite of perfect riding conditions, my riding is limited to indoors for half the year. I cringe seeing my poor bike covered in all the salt and slush from the road. After riding I stop off at the local self service car wash to get everything off the best I can, but I still can't help but think it's going back to the garage with salt and everything else in places it shouldn't be.

Anyone that lives in the tundra have any winter hauling tips?
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neverwas
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8/17/2006
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Tucson, AZ US
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868th
12/11/2017 8:29am
Van or enclosed trailer.
A big tarp is the most economical.
fatpurplepanda
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Minneapolis, MN US
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2798th
12/11/2017 8:54am
Buying a van would be ideal, but unless vital is going to hook me up with a few grand, it’s not in the cards. So until then, it’s still the back of the truck.
mx317
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4531
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TN US
12/11/2017 9:03am
Wash it when you get home.

The Shop

Brad460
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5/15/2012
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Richfield, WI US
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807th
12/11/2017 9:56am
mx317 wrote:
Wash it when you get home.
Laughing Like in the bathtub? Everything is frozen up this way in the winter..meaning you can’t just pull out the pressure washer and spray it..
Acidreamer
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1794
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8/25/2015
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Mansfield, OH US
12/11/2017 9:58am Edited Date/Time 12/11/2017 9:59am
Car wash. Lean it on the stand and get everything.

That being said i do more bearing maintenence in the winter. Just for salt reasons.

If you must, put it in your bed with a tarp. Or haul a trailer on icy roads..
Rhino
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11/20/2017
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US
12/11/2017 10:05am
Um, get a deck. Or an enclosed trailer.
mx317
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TN US
12/11/2017 1:35pm
Brad460 wrote:
Laughing Like in the bathtub? Everything is frozen up this way in the winter..meaning you can’t just pull out the pressure washer and spray it..
He has already washed it at the car wash, so he would just need to spray off the salt. I don't know his living situation, but he could run a hose from his washer connection to just hose it off. Where there's a will there's a way.
chase383
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392
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10/29/2009
Location
Le Nord CA
12/11/2017 3:24pm
We actually used to buy rolls of the clear shrink wrap.. load the bikes, wrap them up quickly and then go... it worked well.
12/11/2017 3:59pm
2 tricks to help keep the salt from eating your bike.

1. cheap bike cover from cycle gear - use bungies to hold the cover onto the bike- at a base level keeps some of the crap off.

2. After bike is all cleaned up - Old dude taught me to take a quart water and add some oil, mix it up a little with a scrub brush, Brush it on the engine and metal parts you want to protect. The thin film of oil will protect the bike from rust and even help keep mud from sticking on that next ride.

Raised in the winter salt hell of Michigan. Now in environmentally friendly Oregon, were they use sodium chloride ( like one molecule off from salt), still eats metal. I cringe when I am driving down the road thru that stuff with my bike in the back.
r.sal923
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564
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1/25/2014
Location
CA
12/11/2017 4:08pm
If you can afford to own a dirt bike and pay to ride indoor tracks all winter. You should be able to afford a used van or cargo trailer....
KTM154
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13
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12/16/2011
Location
Savage, MN US
12/11/2017 4:19pm
Van life is the only life! You can find a cheap van for around a grand.
-MAVERICK-
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Ontario CA
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3682nd
12/11/2017 5:33pm
Snowmobile tarp might work. Might even be big enough for two bikes if they're close enough.
nytsmaC
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8/10/2009
Location
Frig Off CA
12/11/2017 5:51pm Edited Date/Time 12/11/2017 5:51pm
Truck with an 8’ box seems to protect it well.
mikec265
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1669
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10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA US
12/11/2017 9:30pm
Pull your electrical connections apart when its clean and dry and apply some electrical grease.

I sure as hell miss my old van with a couch in the back and matching rocking chair for the front passenger.
bernnet
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94
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11/21/2017
Location
Jacksonville, FL US
12/11/2017 11:51pm
Just like what others said. Get a van if budget is not a problem.
526
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1676
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5/4/2009
Location
Colgate, WI US
12/12/2017 5:08am
You can buy 5X8 enclosed trailers pretty cheap these days and that fits two bikes and would keep them clean. I would never haul my aluminum framed bike on salt covered roads !!!!

Used 5X8 $700-$800

New 5X8 $1100-$1200
fatpurplepanda
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Minneapolis, MN US
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2798th
12/12/2017 7:09am
I like the quick spray down with water / oil idea. Seems like it would do a decent job protecting it until I can get it to a car wash.

As far as the van goes- I wish ! The boss man already complains about how much I spend racing ?
alycium102
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84
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11/14/2017
Location
Carver, MN US
12/12/2017 9:33am
Use a brush, simple green, and put your dick on the seat
danman
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1205
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4/1/2008
Location
Readstown, WI US
12/12/2017 2:16pm
chase383 wrote:
We actually used to buy rolls of the clear shrink wrap.. load the bikes, wrap them up quickly and then go... it worked well.
this right here. Works pretty good.
12/12/2017 7:10pm
chase383 wrote:
We actually used to buy rolls of the clear shrink wrap.. load the bikes, wrap them up quickly and then go... it worked well.
danman wrote:
this right here. Works pretty good.
Dang, that's a good idea. I'm picking up a brand new bike just after christmas and I have a 16 hour drive home with it on the hitch rack, the entire ride will be nothing but slush and salt. Bike is still in the crate and I was going to sew some polytarp to make a cover to fit the crate entirely, but if some clear wrap material would work that would be great!

I hauled a brand new yz250f back and forth to the indoor track a couple times one winter... That's how I ended up sanding out my frame to get rid of the corrosion... And then the February boredom kicked in and I ended up wet sanding to 3000 grit and a bunch of jewelers rouge on a dremel buffing bit... Looked amazing when done.
StevieTimes
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384
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12/27/2010
Location
Saint Bonifacius, MN US
12/12/2017 7:38pm
800 bucks
https://northernwi.craigslist.org/tro/d/5x8-enclosed/6421622233.html


dude for a grand this one looks sweet, I want it
https://ames.craigslist.org/tro/d/beautiful-black-trailer/6419466865.ht…


Also, you will be the guy who has the trailer people want to borrow. Then they sometimes leave you some beer for letting them use it.

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