Rated extra
XCP Rust Blocker won last year’s RIDE anti-corrosion test but had one downside — its sticky, yellow tinge. But is its new Clear Coat just as effective?
New corrosion blocker
THE CLAIM
“For market-leading corrosion and rust protection, trust XCP Rust Blocker Clear Coat to provide long-lasting protection against moisture, salt spray and other corrosive elements. Easily sprayed, wiped and brushed, Rust Blocker Clear Coat provides a durable, non-sticky soft surface film that provides excellent corrosion and rust protection.”
THE TEST
Countless riders swear by ACF-50 to keep their bikes rust-free through winter. But in our group test of anticorrosion sprays (RIDE, January 2020) ACF was beaten by XCP’S Rust Blocker. There was just one downside to XCP. While ACF-50 applies with a transparent finish, Rust Blocker has a thicker, tackier, stickier feel, with a slightly unsightly yellow tinge. For all its protective qualities, not all riders want their bike to look like it’s covered in a thin layer of marmalade.
XCP spent 2020 finalising an alternative: Clear Coat. Less sticky and less visually noticeable, XCP says its anti-corrosion performance is superior to rivals (by which it means ACF-50) though not quite as effective as its original Rust Blocker.
Let’s see. We cleaned seven 100mm x 100mm squares of mild-steel sheet with a degreaser to remove any surface contaminants, then let them dry for 24 hours. Three plates got a comprehensive coating of ACF-50, Rust Blocker or Clear Coat in aerosol form, while another three got the same products from a trigger-spray bottle. The seventh plate was left bare as a control. All treated plates were hung to dry for 24 hours.
Once the plates had dried, we wiped a strip across the bottom of each one with a paper towel to see whether it reduced their effectiveness. Finally, our salty
onslaught began. The plates were subjected to a drenching with a 5% rock-salt solution five times a day for a fortnight. Our testing rig was left outside, ensuring the products were assessed in real-world temperatures, rainfall, wind, sunlight and humidity.