ruckus left outside in the rain and snow?

[hellvetica]

hi. i'm a noob to this site and got a ruckus a few months ago.

i'm living in chicago without a garage. so it's been sitting out in the rain and snow. and i don't even have a cover.

i've noticed a little rust on the front fork between some grooves. i just hope it's dirt. the guy at the cycle shop said to use some coke and it'll dissolve it.

am i totally stupid for leaving it out in the weather? i thought it could handle it.

should i get a tarp or something? or put it in storage until spring?

thanks for any advice!

martin.

[Kami no Chiizu]

I had mine up in Boone, NC, and I kept a small tarp over mine with nothing but two bungies holding it on. Boone is notoriously windy, being in the Appalachian Mountains, and often, if I didn't have them on good enough, they would get blown half off. The only bad thing about a tarp is it captures moisture under it, but I usually rode the Ruckus every weekday, rain or shine, so that wasn't much of a problem.

If you're still riding it, then I would recommend a cover or at least a tarp and some bungies. If you're not going to ride it until spring, and you can afford it, put her in storage. And put some sta-bil in the tank. My opinion, at least.

[jrcanoe]

I got a cover from walmart for 20$ for use when I am not at home. Being left out sise does a whole lot less damage than driveing it on salt covered roads. Mine has never been left out side at home; but I ride everyday and the winter grime is hard to keep at bay. It took a compleat tear down and put back togeather to get rid of the sand from one beach trip and I just don't have the time to do that every day, but every weekend it gets washed atleast and all parts thoroughly cleaned as I take them off to do mods and tinkering. I may buy another to treat as a Princess but ITIC above all elese is a tool to get me from point A to B and even if he rotts out from rust after a few years will still be cheaper than a cage.