My XT has some pretty nasty looking corrosion on the frame above the back wheel. No doubt courtesy of the salt on the roads which keeps the ice away so can't complain! I think the rust is pretty superficial but obviously I'd like to sort it out before it gets worse. Any tips on best way to remove rust - wet & dry sandpaper or is there a product anyone's used? Also, when the bare metal is exposed, what paint should I use on it?

the easiest way to remove it is cloridric or solphoric acid, otherwise a drill with a round metal brush. Sandpaper will take a lot of time.

From picture does not seem so superficial, and the rear frame on XT is not so solid also when it's perfect... if you use the bike loaded with baggage or with a passenger, check all carefully. As paint use rust protector and paint over it

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What year is your bike?

I have a pair of '84 XT's and the frames are pretty much as they were when they were made. Saying that they are both imports but they've been in the UK 10 years.

There is a part of the frame that retains water - if you undo the foot peg on the left hand side of your bike water will pour out of the bottom bolt hole (it did on mine anyway).

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Tom
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My bike is 2002 and has done 14k miles so not too old. Not sure why that bit of the frame has rusted, the rest is fine.

Clean it up good with water and carshampoo (soap) and afterwards remove the big chunks and flakes of rust.

Then get som special paint to paint over rust, it turns the rust into metal again (sort of) and protects whats underneath.

"Hammerite" makes that product, in a spraycan. Super easy.

Check the underside of your fueltank as weel, the coating aint as good as the upperside, so there may very well be som just there to. Wax the bike afterwards

I work for a paint company part time, and this is what I would recommend... sand down the rust, then brush apply a phosphoric acid based prep product like POR 15 "Metal Ready" or equivalent... neutralises the rust and leaves a plastic film ready for paint, takes a few hours to work... then brush POR 15 rust preventative paint, comes in 100 mls cans in colours light grey, black, silver, clear. It is primer, but out of UV light can be top coat as well. It is moisture curing polyurethane, stir the contents first, then spoon or ladle out what you need for the job into a smaller container... don't get any paint in the lip between the lid and the can as it cements metal parts together... minimise exposure of the paint can contents to the air... if you leave off the lid, like while you are painting, next time you open the can, the contents will be solid, so don't paint directly from the can.On the job, the paint levels out perfectly, looks like a powdercoat finish, and is hammer tough. the second coat is opotional, for extreme conditions or areas of high wear, recoat next day if you wish. If you get any paint on your skin wash it off with thinners within 30 minutes or wear it for a few days until your skin cells renew! Painty hands not a good look at the weddng! Steve.