Rust on my '08 WTF???

[fz6joker]

At home I kept my bike in the garage. Now that I am away at college I keep my bike under a motorcycle cover. Just recently I was showing the bike off to one of my friends that is interested in getting an FZ. That is when I noticed that the tips of my exhaust are beginning to rust, there is about half an inch of rust on the tip of my exhaust. I've never heard of anybody else complaining about this and I'm wondering why the heck my new bike already has rust on it after only six months.

 

[OZXJR]

Is it rust or just discoloured ?

My Leos have a gone a brown colour around the tips but not rust.pics please.

 

[steveindenmark]

If it is rust maybe there is a warranty issue.

Mine is a 06 and I cannot find any rust at all on the bike.

Steve

 

[champion221elite]

I'll have to pull the cover off of my bike and check. I don't remember seeing any rust when I put mine away. BTW... snow sucks

 

[Oscar54]

Just a thought but make sure the type of cover you have breaths. That is it repels water droplets on the outside but will let water vapor escape from the inside. The last thing you want is to have high humidity under the cover because this will facilitate rust.

 

[bluenova]

I ride in the rain all the time on my '07, the only rust I have is on the nuts in the handlebar ends.

 

[Scorphonic]

warranty issue because the owner chooses to store his bike outdoors in the elements with minimal protection??? get real.

As smart as this may seem...he is very right in saying it is a warrenty issue!!!

A new bike should not rust!

I have an 07. One year after owning this bike I brought it back to the dealership because the STAINLESS STEEL bolts and nuts at the exhaust manifold were rusting. I never maintained this part of the bike and they rust because of salt on the road. The reason why I got new parts and labour all covered under warrenty is because they are STAINLESS and therefore shouldn't technically rust (now stainless steel will rust if left untreated) but I was told that it was under warrenty and Yamaha would cover all costs.

And minimal protection would suggest no cover at all, at least this guy uses a cover!! I dont see the need to any more...my bike is constantly covered in a fine film of anticorrosion stuff that prevents all rusting! Suppose our weather is not as severe as you guys...I ride all year around in rain, sleet, snow, ice and sunshine!

FZ6Joker, get in contact with your Yamaha dealership and tell them that you want it replaced under warrenty if indeed it is rust. My exhaust tips have gone brown but this is not rust, its just from the temperature of exhaust fumes..so be sure about it before you approach them.

 

[OneTrack]

Although I store my bike in a garage and covered with a breathable cover, I applied a gun rust preventative/treatment called "Sheath" on all parts of my FZ6 that might rust during winter storage. (except the brake rotors, of course)
It dries, leaving a protective film on all exposed metals, whether plated or not. (handlebars, upper fork tubes, etc).

 

[Scorphonic]

Although I store my bike in a garage and covered with a breathable cover, I applied a gun rust preventative/treatment called \"Sheath\" on all parts of my FZ6 that might rust during winter storage. (except the brake rotors, of course)
It dries, leaving a protective film on all exposed metals, whether plated or not. (handlebars, upper fork tubes, etc).

Scottoiler FS 365 is the stuff I use...It really is amazing! and makes washing the bike easier.

 

[fz6joker]

warranty issue because the owner chooses to store his bike outdoors in the elements with minimal protection??? get real.

Dude, I kept my bike in my garage everyday and took care of it better than most do. I had to go to college and there aren't any garages available to students. A cover is the best protection I can offer my bike.
That being said, my bike has only been in the "elements" for two months.
It is rust for sure, not just discoloration. I have had a Kawasaki Ninja since December of 2007 and it has never rusted on me at all. I can't get a pic right now, my camera is back at home. I'll try to get a camera and snap a shot soon.

 

[OneTrack]

If I was a Yamaha District Service Manager, I'd say that the rust on your exhaust was caused by the Cat Eliminator Pipe that you installed, aided and abetted by the Air Box Mod and the FE kit. I would also suggest that your headlight mod has provoked an electrolytic corrosion effect.
Be ready for this sort of flim-flam when you take the bike to the dealer for a warranty claim.

 

[fz6joker]

If I was a Yamaha District Service Manager, I'd say that the rust on your exhaust was caused by the Cat Eliminator Pipe that you installed, aided and abetted by the Air Box Mod and the FE kit. I would also suggest that your headlight mod has provoked an electrolytic corrosion effect.
Be ready for this sort of flim-flam when you take the bike to the dealer for a warranty claim.

My thoughts exactly. My dealership that I go to is owned by a family and I'm kinda friends with them there. They haven't seen my bike since I modded it but I'm sure I won't have a warranty with them any longer.

 

[08fz6]

basically it depends on how much effort the dealer wants to put into it, If they are good at it they can get it through, however if you beat them up on price good luck! Thats one big thing so many people are price, price, price, and they don't think about the other end how far the dealer will go to get things to go through... Another thing if you beat the dealer up on price and you bring your bike in for service and another guy is there same time you are and he didn't beat them up his bike is gonna be done way before yours is! We were able to get many things through that you wouldnt think you could....

 

[RyanK]

I ride in the rain all the time on my '07, the only rust I have is on the nuts in the handlebar ends.

Same here, along with a little inside my swingarm bolt on the right side.

 

[Nelly]

At home I kept my bike in the garage. Now that I am away at college I keep my bike under a motorcycle cover. Just recently I was showing the bike off to one of my friends that is interested in getting an FZ. That is when I noticed that the tips of my exhaust are beginning to rust, there is about half an inch of rust on the tip of my exhaust. I've never heard of anybody else complaining about this and I'm wondering why the heck my new bike already has rust on it after only six months.

This is very common for bikes kept under covers. It is worse if the cover goes on whilst the engine is still hot. I have had this problem in the past, even with an expensive breathable cover. I ended up just spraying my bike weekly with WD40.
Pay special attention to areas where steel and aluminum are used together.

Oscar puts it more eloquently than me.

Just a thought but make sure the type of cover you have breaths. That is it repels water droplets on the outside but will let water vapor escape from the inside. The last thing you want is to have high humidity under the cover because this will facilitate rust.

Good luck
Nelly

 

[paul1149]

Make sure the cover doesn't go all the way to the ground. Air needs to get under there and remove moisture.

Also, keep the cover from contacting metal parts. Keep a layer of air between to carry away the moisture.

Then I doubt you'll have any problems. It's better that some moisture gets in due to the cover not reaching the ground than that any moisture that does get in is trapped because the cover reaching the ground doesn't allow air flow.

 

[jniedermeyer]

warranty issue because the owner chooses to store his bike outdoors in the elements with minimal protection??? get real.

well actually, it should be covered. cars are kept outside. a motorcycle is a vehicle. when you bought your bike did the sales person tell you it must stay indoors? in most other countries bikes are stored outdoors and guess what, fz6's are much more popular outside the U.S.

 

[ant_mb]

warranty issue because the owner chooses to store his bike outdoors in the elements with minimal protection??? get real.

Are you kidding me with this comment? This is a vehicle, and as such MUST be able to withstand the elements. I'm guessing your bike is stored in a heated garage, and has never seen rain! I have a 07 that has never seen a garage in a year and half, and doesnt have a spot of rust on it.

 

[Cloggy]

At home I kept my bike in the garage. Now that I am away at college I keep my bike under a motorcycle cover. Just recently I was showing the bike off to one of my friends that is interested in getting an FZ. That is when I noticed that the tips of my exhaust are beginning to rust, there is about half an inch of rust on the tip of my exhaust. I've never heard of anybody else complaining about this and I'm wondering why the heck my new bike already has rust on it after only six months.

I've got a 07 which I bought in June last year and I have the same
I just put it down to being stored under a bike cover, maybe I should have made an effort about 6 months ago when it first appeared, I may have got my dealer to help out but I'm guessing it's now a lost cause. I'm thinking of removing the baffles and applying an anti rust compound so the rust turns black, which (sort of) matches the bike. Living and working on the coast doesn't help matters either.

I do find 6 months a very short time before it started rusting and would at least go back to your dealer and see what they will do about it.

BTW my bike is still stock so this is not caused by any mods I've done.

Good luck.

 

[GConn]

well actually, it should be covered. cars are kept outside. a motorcycle is a vehicle. when you bought your bike did the sales person tell you it must stay indoors? in most other countries bikes are stored outdoors and guess what, fz6's are much more popular outside the U.S.

This is my opinion as well. Rusty parts in a few months time cannot be justified. I don't care if the bike was kept in the rain for 4 months. It is designed to cope with the elements, up to a level.