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Surly and rust?

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NLSpruce3

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on a Moonlander, however I'm wondering is rust an issue with Surlys. I live in Newfoundland (far east Canada) and we are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

I am only planning to ride this in the snow, and maybe on a trail or two during the summer. Not planning on going near the salt water.

Secondly, is the paint easily chippable? I know that is a pretty subjective question.

Tks
 
#3 ·
I've read about people spraying the inside of their steel frames with Weigle's Frame Saver or Amsoil HD (Heavy Duty) Metal Protector.

I like the Amsoil product for my lawn and garden equipment but I don't have a steel frame to try it on.
 
#5 ·
Find a Post by CoastKid...somewhere on his site he has a detailed treatment of his pugs.

Has many years of use on the UK coast with good results. Being the same ocean one side should not be much different in that regard than the other.
 
#7 ·
NLSpruce3 said:
I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on a Moonlander, however I'm wondering is rust an issue with Surlys. I live in Newfoundland (far east Canada) and we are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

I am only planning to ride this in the snow, and maybe on a trail or two during the summer. Not planning on going near the salt water.

Secondly, is the paint easily chippable? I know that is a pretty subjective question.

Tks
Click to expand...
I think people make more of it than really matters. Clean and oil occasionally and it will last fine. Like any mechanical device really.

Shhhh I swear I could hear my Ogre rusting.
 
#8 ·
Who has ever had a new car made out of steel rust in a year.... or 5? The steel bike and rust concern is just paranoia. You would have to be neglecting the crap out of it, and even then for it to really get rusty would be years and years. If you are really worried about it and have an air compressor simply blow out all the wet areas and bolts, yadda yadda and you will be fine. Surly bikes are all steel and majority of them are for road riding and commuting ... on salty roads in winter. They are fine.
 
#10 ·
NLSpruce3 said:
I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on a Moonlander, however I'm wondering is rust an issue with Surlys. I live in Newfoundland (far east Canada) and we are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

I am only planning to ride this in the snow, and maybe on a trail or two during the summer. Not planning on going near the salt water.

Secondly, is the paint easily chippable? I know that is a pretty subjective question.

Tks
Click to expand...
I built up my Pugs. It got used in Baja for 5-8 months essentially living outside a tent a frisbee's throw from a beach. It was used during 2 Canadian winters in Calgary and enjoyed a week long bath or corrosive dust at Burning Man.

I didn't rustproof it. I only cleaned it about once a year.

After 4yrs I decided to repaint it due to some surface rust forming. I could have avoided that by washing it with fresh water after salty rides, but I was too lazy.

It now looks like new and will probably get repainted in another 4-5yrs.

I expect this frame will just keep on rolling.

I didn't find the paint easy to chip. It survived quite well given the abuse the bike sustained.
 
#14 ·
OFFcourse said:
Don't use frame saver, rust is hip it will increase resale value!
Click to expand...
Rust saver aka rust proofing will only help prevent rust inside the bike. So it won't hurt the rusty re-sale value at all. Washing the bike down when it's salty and waxing the outside will stop exterior rust from forming and could be a problem if your prospective buyer is keen on a rusty bike. ;)
 
#18 ·
Former Union Tinknocker/Tinsmith of decades. Steel rusts = period. If your near salt (winter roads) Ocean,etc. + 20 times. You can prime it paint it, what ever.......it RUSTS out.
That is why there is Galvanized, Aluminum, Stainless,etc.etc.
Don't kid yourself..........
The Only thing that keeps black (steel) from rusting is lots of oil.........
 
#19 ·
duggus said:
Who has ever had a new car made out of steel rust in a year.... or 5? The steel bike and rust concern is just paranoia.
Click to expand...
Not to be argumentative but your way off base/wrong. Cars are galvanized and more panels. The steel frames are MUCH heavier than a bikes and Still rust out regularly in salt area's (example Rust/Manufacturing belt USA,Great Lakes,Ocean side). Add welds = 20x more likely to rust where welds are.

Steel rusts out = period/fact. If your near salt (ocean to roads,snow) at least 20x more. This is a fact and definitely Not except to Asian fabricated steel frame bikes ;).......as if.

Oil keeps steel from rusting. Primer's and paint are temporary.

I fabricated in the skilled trades with various for years/decades...........

Steel is used for bike frames because a) its cheap and b) easy on the pocket book for small shops to....... set up shop, easy to work with, start / maintain business with out large investment compared to what is done,needed with modern aluminum frames, extrusion's , etc. All of which costs more, particularly set up of yet even to engineering............

Don't kid yourself........
 
#20 ·
For a ~$500 frame, figuring someone bought one at 18yrs old and the rate it will rust with any care taken at all....I figure buying oneself a new bike by 45 or so is pretty reasonable. I still don't think the frame would rust to a level of failing by then.

I started riding lugged steel frames from the 60's and 70's when they were 15-20yrs old and the only frame failures I had were from wrecking them under my weight and strength. I wasn't messing with frame saver or linseed oil back then, I'd just buy the bike at a yard sale and ride it until I bent it. None of them were rusted out and I barely oiled my chain back then, let alone oiled frames, washed and waxed etc.

I had a motorcycle that shipped with particularly crappy screws and ordered a forum developed obsessive compulsive set of stainless screws to replace them all. Eventually I sold that bike with half the plastic missing on it and the compression shot on the motor. The screws still looked great. What was the value I derived from that little project? Heh.

$500 frame that might rust a bit over 20yrs or $3k custom Ti frame...bit of a different set of wants in the decision process I'd say. Hell in 20yrs I'll be lucky to be able to cycle and likely have gone through a handful more frames just for fun, long before this one rusts out to a point it has to be replaced.
 
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