I like to keep my bike as nice as the next person BUT view it more as a tool. I have and am planning on riding from Central IL to Bikeweek late Feb or 1st of March. I am going to encounter some salt and grime most of the time. They way I look at it is I trade every 2-4 years and my cars run in this stuff day in-day out. I bought my scooter to ride and that is what I do. She's not a garage or trailer queen I just get way too much enjoyment riding in all seasons. I keep rembering my grandfather buying a new 1952 Plymonth with beautiful seats. 1st thing he did after driving off the dealers lot was go down to Sears and have the most ugly seat covers install. 6 years later grandfather sold the car never seeing or enjoying those seats. The first thing the guy did who bought the car did was take the seat covers off and enjoy .