Strange “stains” on alloy frame

[Dog Star]

Hello all

Does anyone have any idea what has caused this on the frame of Mrs DS’s otherwise immaculate 1999 R1? I think it must be the result of something I’ve cleaned it with, but what I have no idea. It’s on every exposed alloy surface, main frame, subframe, exhaust ends, levers.

More importantly anyone know how I can shift it. Autosol makes no impression. Looks a right old mess.

[Dog Star]

No idea why it’s upside down, either.

[Gavia]

When did you wash it? If you’ve done it in the heat of the day then any chemical or even water could easily have caused that and shifting it will be an absolute ball ache.

[jjones]

Looks like acid damage either via one of those "road traffic film" removers or alloy wheel cleaner - did you use either of these?

[Dog Star]

I really don’t know what I used that’s done it.

The thing is that the paintwork and plastics are fine - you’d have thought it would have ruined paint.

Not sure what to do

[Jazoli]

It looks like that will be a real pain to shift, some bike cleaners can be too aggressive and it does look like it might have etched into the frame, try some lemon juice or baking soda to see if they will shift the marks.

[Dog Star]

I’ve just been out to the garage and tried a few things such as acid wheel cleaner, brake cleaner and metal polish. Nothing touches it.

Very odd. Duraglit next.

[MrGman]

As you say it looks like it’s stained the material.

Is it lacquered? If not the only way you’ll probably shift it is scotchbrite and then polish it back up.

My guess would be a cleaning product has etched the surface.

[Rubin215]

That's the first warning signs of massive stress-fractures all the way through the frame.

The bike's knackered, on the point of falling apart in fact.

If you truly love your wife you'll get rid of it asap and buy her something else.








I'll give you £50 for it...

[Mr OCD]

That’s chemical damage due to either incorrect product for the finish or because it’s been left on in this heat for too long.

A lot of cleaning products claim to be acid free... what people don’t realise is they tend to be high alkali instead which can be worse ...

[anonymous-user]

etching in the surface of the aluminium

[308mate]

Dog Star said:

Hello all

. It’s on every exposed alloy surface, main frame, subframe, exhaust ends, levers.

The battery on my 2000 R1 boiled once, spattering acid everywhere and destroying the finish on the brush alu swing-arm. Looked exactly like that. Given every surface on yours is affected, I would say its something you cleaned it with so that's the first place I would look. Especially if you use Muc-off products...

[Dog Star]

308mate said:

Especially if you use Muc-off products...

Errrrrrr.................

[Charlie Croker mk2]

Some bike cleaners are so acidic that if they are not thoroughly rinsed off and intermediately wiped down and re protected they will etch into alloy or black plastic plus they must be used on stone cold surfaces . Try t-cut or Autoglym super resin polish to try to restore ?

[Plinth]

From your picture it looks like "water staining" which is a common problem with aluminium and aluminium alloys.

Depending on the type of alloy the frame is made from, and whether any surface proctection was applied at the factory, Google will show up ways of removing it.

It should (theoretically) not be a permanent problem as it will only be "on the surface" but it might need light abrasion to remove it.

Again, Google will point you in the right direction regarding the chemistry of it!

[moanthebairns]

I've this on my ninja, I suspect when I used gunk it was too abrasive despite claiming not to be.

I suspect a layer of lacquer has been taken off.

I never got it away but I did cure it by polishing it with ACF-50. It comes up every once in a while, so I just polish it more. The waxy finish kinda covers it.

Ballache but.

[SAS Tom]

Dog Star said:

Errrrrrr.................

I’ve had this with muc off before, I think it’s when it has been left on too long.

[Dog Star]

I'll be trying yet more products on these marks this evening and will update if I find anything that works.
Ta for the suggestions.

Proper ballache, perhaps worse on an unmolested, original R1.

[TwoStrokeNut]

On a small patch that is out of sight, clean it, then try some 1500 wet dry with water on the lacquer.

Then use cutting a cutting compound like G3 and see if that will shift it. Hopefully that will sort it out.

[dibblecorse]

First mistake was cleaning your own bike .... schoolboy error ......

Get a pro in next time ...

In all seriousness hope you get it sorted as a 99 R1 is a thing of beauty, and I say that as a Ducati fanboy ....