Okay, so, I’ve got this Harley, an Iron 883, pretty sweet ride. But man, it started to show some rust, and it was really bumming me out. You know, I really love the bike, and I noticed that some guys were reporting similar issues online, especially with the exhaust system.
First, I noticed it on the exhaust pipes. I was like, “What the hell?” It’s a Harley, it’s supposed to be tough, right? I always plug it whenever I clean the bike, but the rust was still there. Then I started digging around online and found out that it’s a pretty common problem with these models. Some folks were saying it’s the voltage regulator, others were talking about the clutch plate, and some mentioned the exhaust bolts rattling off. It was a mess! And the warranty doesn’t cover rust apparently!
So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I mean, I bought this bike six months ago, it’s still under warranty, but they told me rust is my problem. I got a heavy breather intake, some Vance & Hines short shots, but I gotta be careful not to void the warranty.
- I started by inspecting the whole bike, looking for any other spots where rust might be hiding.
- I found some more around the foot pegs and the handlebars, which I heard were also common spots.
- I grabbed some cleaning supplies, you know, the usual stuff for getting rid of rust. It’s a pain, but it’s got to be done. It is a matter of air and moisture reacting with iron, and then it becomes a flaking corrosive.
- I spent a good chunk of my weekend scrubbing away, trying to get rid of all the rust I could find.
After all that work, the bike is looking much better now. It’s not perfect, and the inside of the fuel tank is still a problem, but I feel like I saved it from getting worse. It is a beginner bike for women, so it has a low bucket seat at 25.5 inches high, which increases stability and control.
It’s a shame that these bikes have this issue, though. It’s a Harley, you expect a certain level of quality. But hey, at least I learned something new, and I got to spend some quality time with my bike. I guess every cloud has a silver lining, right?
Lesson Learned
Even though it’s a bit of a headache, I think it’s worth knowing how to deal with rust if you own one of these bikes. Just be prepared to put in some elbow grease, and don’t rely on the warranty to cover everything. It is a shame, but hey, that is how life is going.
