In the Northern Hemisphere, the temperature is telling us that Autumn has arrived. Not that we need reminding. Fuel stabilisers, ACF-50, FS365, and Optimate battery tenders are popular topics at the local tea stops.
Yet it feels as if it was only last week that we were all hunting for ventilated jackets while the temperature hovered around thirty degrees.
There is such a deep layer of ACF-50 on Roger’s Africa Twin that it has turned purple. Carle has put the liners back in his riding kit, and Dave is getting ready for excessive cleaning sessions on the Yamaha and the Ducati before covering them in FS365.
ACF-50 Vs FS365
This topic is almost as emotive as which tyres are best. We covered it in depth a year or more back. ACF-50 and XCP are brilliant barrier protectors, while FS365 is a corrosion inhibitor. Two different approaches to protecting our beloved motorcycles.
Whereas either of these products will do a good job, starting with a spotlessly clean motorcycle is a fundamental requirement. Without it, all that happens is that we cover the dirt in our chosen protector.
Back in the day, it was washing up liquid or perhaps a fancy car shampoo. Now Motorcycle cleaners come in all sorts of varieties and flavours – and yes, there is one that has a mint fragrance – but how they achieve their effectiveness differs.
There are some that contain any number of nasty chemicals, and it turns out that even household washing-up liquid can be harsh as it is designed to loosen grease and oil.
They are subjects we have covered in depth before. There is more information in the articles below.
Fuel Stabilisers
Some of us will put our motorcycles into hibernation at the end of the month, having first maximised our contribution to the government’s coffers through our road fund license payments, naturally.
Last year I did this with my Tracer 9GT, opting to ride the KTM through the dark and soggy months. Having covered the Tracer in FS365 and connected the battery to my Optimate, on a complete whim, I added some Liqui Moly Benzin Fuel Stabiliser to the tank of E10 petrol.
I have no idea if this was necessary or not. Four months later, would the Tracer have run smoothly on that tank of petrol without the stabiliser? I’ve no way of knowing.
The average twenty litres of E10 stored in a motorcycle tank doesn’t require much fuel stabiliser, so I have lots left over. On the basis that it worked last year, I’ll do the same thing this time around. Not exactly a scientific test, but I can’t see a downside to a repeat performance.
Cleaning Textiles
It may sound daft to put your textiles in the washing machine when all that is going to happen is they will get covered in winter road crap, but washing the dirt out helps to ensure they remain waterproof.
If you want complete peace of mind, the excellent Oxford Rainseal over jacket can be bought from SportsBikeShop for £25. Mine is three, if not four, years old now and still going strong. Totally waterproof, even in the driving rain.
But getting back to washing motorcycle textiles, the dirt and grime from summer fills the weave in the fabric and provides a path for the rain to follow through to the inside. Washing is required less with laminated textiles, but it is still worth it.
Remember to take the armour and liners out and read the washing instructions. A high-temperature wash might feel like the best way to clean your jacket, but it will likely do more harm than good.
Last year’s favourite, S100 Textile Wash is no longer listed on the Dr Wack website. I’m guessing they have dropped it from their range.
After some research, Nikwax textile wash seems to tick all the right boxes. It doesn’t contain harmful chemicals and is designed for washing waterproof textiles. And, as an added bonus, it costs less than the S100 alternative did.
The Circle of Motorcycling Life
And such is the annual circle of motorcycling in Europe. Although some parts of Europe will remain warm through the winter months, the chances of me getting to them for some extended remote working through winter are slim. Besides, all those jobs I’ve been putting off because the sun was shining and the roads were dry are waiting for me in the garage.
The screen spacers for the Ducati and the replacement battery cables are due to arrive shortly. There is a Honda NT1100 DCT to test back-to-back against our DCT Africa Twin, and a lot of planning for 2023 to get through.
It is all go around here.
