After what the record books will surely note as the coldest winter in decades, Mr. Sol is again making an appearance, prompting much giddiness and expectation around the CRM garage. This is an odd time of year to go tearing up the local roads- and I say local as road conditions are just too potentially dangerous to travel far afield. There’s enough salt and gravel on Western Pennsylvania’s blacktop to scare an Abrams tank driver and woe be to they unfortunate enough to drop a front wheel into one of our countless potholes, some of which are large and deep enough to qualify for their own zip codes. Nevertheless, we’re stepping into our windproof riding gear and revving up some engines that haven’t seen much action since we saw 55 degrees on Christmas Eve, 2014. After a short blast yesterday aboard our Swap Meet Special Suzuki GS 750, we were alarmed to find how much salt-based corrosion we found on some of the motorcycle’s exposed aluminum bits. This stuff is seriously bad for any un-painted or non-chromed metal, so if you, like us, can’t quite wait for spring to spin your wheels, we strongly advise washing down your machine the moment you return home from even the briefest rides. A quick soap and water wash, followed by liberal dousing with a light oil such as WD 40- and be careful to avoid brake rotors, exhaust and other sensitive areas – is a no-brainer. Besides that, experience has taught us to avoid twisty, mountain roads in areas where there’s still snow in higher elevations. These undulating switchbacks can hide ice, both of the traditional and black varieties, even while flat roads on lower elevations are clean and dry. Be safe and have fun.
– Mike Seate