What a nice looking motorcycle. Shame it has to live outside. Garages are scarce here in San Francisco.
How can I keep it looking nice? Can you wax this molded color bodywork? Should I use plastic polish instead?
Can anyone recommend something that has worked for them?
(BTW, yes I've read the manual, but I have a hard time believing that the Harley polish they suggest is the best thing for plastic bodywork. I asked my dealer, and they said they still hadn't found anything that worked great.)
I have a customer who uses DVD repair liquid (the scratch remover/filler stuff) on his Valencia Orange bodywork, and it looks stellar. Don't know how it would work on the opaque colors though...
Plexus rocks. Face shields, helmets, plastics, glasses, mirrors, anything plastic or glass. And it makes it kinda slippery so bugs etc don't stick the next time. Easier for subsequent cleanings.
DO NOT USE PLASTIC POLISH ON COLORED PLASTICS. Follow the directions in the manual. I used the plastic polish that I used to use on my Valancia Orange on my Black CR flyscreen and it ruined it ... I had to order a new one. It clouded up the black and made it look gray. Again ... read your owners manual .. it says DO NOT use polish on the colored plastic. The polish only worked well on the translucid.
Honda Brite, been using it for years, and never had a honda, just tried it after a friend recommended it. 5.99 a can at the honda dealers, smells nice too!
(Message edited by AverageJoe on November 02, 2009)
After I bit more research, I've found that Consumer Reports has this to say: "Some waxes can leave a visible residue on nonglossy, porous plastic parts such as bumpers, plastic body panels, and door trim. Those parts are often black or gray, and some newer cars may have a lot of them. If that sounds like your car, choose a product that scored well in our compatibility-with-plastic tests. Once wax gets on those surfaces, it may be necessary to use a commercially available plastic cleaner to get rid of it."
Kawasaki "Wipe Down" spray. $6.95 for a huge can, cleans and shines with minimal effort. Also the hARLEY polishing cloths are like $5 for a seasons supply and work great.
if you're going to be parking the bike outside in the city then i highly recommend that you get a cover for your bike. And i really hope, for the bike's sake, that you don't live in the sunset or the tenderloin.
DO NOT USE PLASTIC POLISH ON COLORED PLASTICS. Follow the directions in the manual. I used the plastic polish that I used to use on my Valancia Orange on my Black CR flyscreen and it ruined it ... I had to order a new one. It clouded up the black and made it look gray. Again ... read your owners manual .. it says DO NOT use polish on the colored plastic. The polish only worked well on the translucid.
if you're going to be parking the bike outside in the city then i highly recommend that you get a cover for your bike. And i really hope, for the bike's sake, that you don't live in the sunset or the tenderloin.
I'm out in the Presidio, so I think I'll be safe. Cover is on order. Still wish I had a garage, though. Tempted by that CycleShell...
When I had my former '03 XB9R for a couple years, its Battle Blue body panels started looking faded especially the parts that faced the sun when parked at work. Wanting to get that fresh new look in the molded-in colored plastic again, I took a chance on using some products made for show car restoration and had good results with Adam's Revive polish, Swirl & Haze Remover and following up with Buttery Wax to restore the sun-faded finish.
It took a little bit of rubbing using the Revive polish to remove the faded surface and expose the fresh deep blue color underneath which I then sealed with Butter Wax. From time to time I would use the Swirl & Haze Remover as a fine cleaner/polish to impart an extra gloss for special occasions. Granted the stuff is expensive but it's first class stuff that worked (for me).
For the windshield and helmet face shields I've had good results using Plexus. Also Plexus is available in handy pump-spray cans small enough to fit in your jacket pocket.
Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 12:13 pm:
Strange, I had no problem using plastic polish on some fluid caused discoloration. Didn't someone mention the CR flyscreen being made of a different material than the rest of the bike?