The PO of my S40 did some winter riding and there's some etching from salt on the aluminum parts of the bike, and this winter I've managed to add more. What are some ways to polish off the existing salt damage, and how (other than not riding in the winter) can I help protect the bike from salt in the future? I ride when the roads look dry, but I've hit a few wet patches and presumably picked up some dissolved road salt in the process.

I'm looking for ways to do this with minimal resources, as I have no access to a hose, no garage, no lift. Limited to what I can do with an electric drill attachment or hand tools. I'm not looking for perfection, but doing something seems better than just letting the aluminum parts get badly etched.

Thanks!

The spokes are really a booger to clean up. After several time & labor intensive attempts that resulted in no really noticeable positive results I decided to try something different. I took about 3' of parachute cord & pulled the center strings out, leaving only a woven nylon tube. There is enough texture to the weave to be somewhat abrasive. Some "El Cheapo" chrome polish ( I used Turtle Wax chrome polish) & wrap the cord around a spoke 1 time, pull tight & pull the cord. You can generate enough friction to get a spoke hot enough to know it when ya touch it. Paying attention to which way its wrapped will allow better access into certain places on the wheel,. I took them off & laid them on, well,, I had the bottom 1/2 of  an old shop vac, shorter & wider than a 5 gallon bucket, but if thats all I had, I could make it work. A guy Could get a 5 gallon bucket, poke 2 holes in the bottom, lay a brace on it, anything, a wrench, a good stick, whatever, & tie it tight, dig a hole & plant the bucket, bring the rope up & tie the wheel down tight on the bucket. I wish I woulda thot of that,,
Anyway, thats what Id do if I was gonna do it again, If a guy had someone to just HOLD it down,,
Ohh, yea,, Youll wear that cord OUT, youll need at least 3 to get both wheels done, & youll see the spokes are literally etched on the side facing forward when theyre above the axle.
Remember the rule of 80/20 here. HIt it, dont expect to make new ones out of them, youll waste your time & energy if youre determined to make 'em shine,

Don't know if they're all this way, but the side covers on my '07 have a clear coat on them for protection. Maybe the etching you speak of is actually pitting in the clear coat? If so, a MILDLY abrasive automotive polishing compound and some quality wax applied by hand should clean it up OK. Not perfect, but better than it is now. Maintaining it is key. Wash salt off as soon as possible with soap and water, and re-wax as needed.

The clear coat is probably a powder coat clear that is baked on.  It is on all the aliminum parts - and undorfunately it is not very durable.  Once is gets scratched or cracked the water and salt go underneath it and corrode the aluminum quickly.  This accelerated corrosion occurs as it takes longer for the moisture to dry when it is trapped between the metal and the peeling clear coat.  At first the aluminum turns white, and then black.  The aluminum becomes etched so deep that simple buffing won't get to the bottom of the corrosion, and sanding is necessary to bring back the aluminum color.

I really don't know how you are going to make it better with your limited tools and supplies.  Mother's, Simichrome, and other aluminum polishes will help, as will washing and waxing.  Washing the bike should be followed by a thorough drying and a ride to blow and shake the water out of the recesses.  Washing a bike and just letting it sit - helps the corrosion process along as it supplies the moisture.

Riding a bike in the salt - will make it very hard to stop the corrosion process....or even slow it down. 

I found out about this stuff from a guy who made and refinished boat trailers... (On the gulf coast)  http://www.sharkhide.com/  He loves it.

No, not yet...    But it sure works nice on polished aluminum!

I tried several approaches when I was trying to get the clear coat/oxidization off the aluminum,. I finally settled on the green 3 M scrubby pads & a palm orbital sander & a spray bottle of water. Easiest clean stripper I found.

Dave wrote on 01/21/13 at 05:36:32:

Thanks. The protectant seems like a good short-term solution until it warms up around here and I can clean off the existing corrosion. By then, maybe Super Thumper will have tried Shark Hide.

Thanks again,
David