BLD25

Hello, I took my tape off and found some corrosion on my aluminum bars. I cleaned them and sanded them a bit and then sprayed some clear on them. I know a little corrosion can be okay, but just getting opinions. Will corrosion stop now that it is clear coated?

General Geoff

Aluminum corrodes instantly upon contact with air. It forms a thin layer of aluminum oxide which protects the metal underneath from further corrosion. Clearcoat will have little effect on this process.

terrymorse 

It looks like you wore away the anodized layer with your hands, then salt from your sweat corroded the bare metal.

If your clear coat is intact and prevents salt from contacting the bare metal, it should not corrode further.

But since the anodize layer was already rubbed off, the much softer clear coat probably will suffer the same fate, and the corrosion will continue.

MikeyMK

Aluminium handlebars should be considered a wear part. They suffer fatigue and can fracture at the stem clamp.

If a handlebar has so much history that it's worn and subsequently corroding like that, then it's a wise idea to replace it as a matter of due course.