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Rusted Bolts

7777 Views 33 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  DaveP


Has anyone figured out a solution to the rusted bolts on the handlebars?
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Yours are the first I've seen/heard of rusting actually.. :/ 4430 k's, how much of it in the weather and where do you store your bike?
This actually is not my bike, but mine has the same issue. I only have 1500 miles on my bike and my bolts look worse than the ones pictured. They rusted after the first rain my bike was in. So there is at least 2 people with this issue.
Hmm I'm definitely going to be keeping a close eye on mine then..
hmmm.. I just took a look at mine and they don't seem to have any sign of a start of rust at all. I have about 1300 miles on mine and keep it garaged every night. I've had to ride in the rain a few times already and it's been washed a few already too. I don't know why they would rust that easy. Pretty strange.
Mines on the way to rust, they have that little white powery thing on them (oxidation). I was thinking of going to hardware store and finding some caps or anything that can cover them...

OR repaint them with something more resistant and once screwed back in, paint the inside again (as teh wrench will take out any paint).
Just change the bolts to stainless steal once and forget it.
eric said:
Just change the bolts to stainless steal once and forget it.
+1

but yea, i have 3400 miles on mine and been in the rain a couple times and washed it alot, and store it in my garage and NO RUST!

weird... could be a coating problem... just do what eric said, never rust again. :p
6,300 miles, in rain too many times to count, a wash every Sunday and no rust. High and Dry Colorado weather. Maybe check with the dealer because that's just ridiculous!
If it were me, I would either paint them with some black rustoleum or take it to the dealer and make them replace them with stainless! Is stainless strong enough for that application?
Mine look just like that. 4800 miles and garage kept.
Tweek said:


Has anyone figured out a solution to the rusted bolts on the handlebars?
Wow, thats crazy. You have lots of humidity there huh? Take 1 out and go to a good hardware store, have them match it up with something stainless and take 4 home. Very sad that Kawi didnt already use stainless...
Looks like dealer assembly damage. I got to see my bike in the crate after it came off the truck. Kawi sends them with the bars off, and a metal tab from the top of the crate frame bolts to the tree to hold the bike upright.

So the dealer has to remove those bolts from the crate tab, and them use them to bolt the bars in place. Looks like the dealer's shop might have been a bit rough with them, and damaged the black oxide coating. Or they got beat up when the factory was putting in the crate. No way of telling really.

Pull the bolts and wire brush them off, then spray with some rustoleum, or go stainless, would be the best way. There might be some plastic hex bolt caps at the hardware store, but wouldn't bet on it.

On my Seca, it has plastic caps over the hex bolts on the bars, so they do exist. If you have a sharp parts guy, he might be able to looks some up for you.
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Kitten said:
Looks like dealer assembly damage. I got to see my bike in the crate after it came off the truck. Kawi sends them with the bars off, and a metal tab from the top of the crate frame bolts to the tree to hold the bike upright.

So the dealer has to remove those bolts from the crate tab, and them use them to bolt the bars in place. Looks like the dealer's shop might have been a bit rough with them, and damaged the black oxide coating. Or they got beat up when the factory was putting in the crate. No way of telling really.

Pull the bolts and wire brush them off, then spray with some rustoleum, or go stainless, would be the best way. There might be some plastic hex bolt caps at the hardware store, but wouldn't bet on it.

On my Seca, it has plastic caps over the hex bolts on the bars, so they do exist. If you have a sharp parts guy, he might be able to looks some up for you.
+1
Mines like that as well, been in the rain once and i have had it 2 weeks...
This is really odd, mayb its something in the rain or air?? i've had mine for nearly 3-4 weeks approx 2500kms and its been in the rain a few times....washed about 4 times and i cant find 1 part that is rusting..... ???
Is that not the exact thing I said only in less words?
I had the washers on the exhaust start to rust. The factory washers were insanely cheap. But I havent had the bar bolts rust like that. Thats nasty looking to...like tooth decay.
If anyone knows where to get the hex caps please post a link I've been looking for them with no luck yet.
Try one of these sites.

http://www.mcmaster.com/
or
https://www.boltdepot.com/

At McMaster-Carr the product number for these bolts is 91292A082. They are M8x22. I like the stainless look, but they have a black-oxide as well.

The Bolt Depot part number is 9527. It is chrome plated and pricey.
thanks for the links.

From what I've read so far the black oxidized aren't really suited for outdoor use. I did replace the stock muffler end cap bolts with black oxidized, and while it looked good for about a month they eventually started to turn to brown oxidized!! I could paint them I guess.

Heres a site I found recently http://www.tastynuts.com/site/frameset.htm

Some good stuff there.
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