It looks like all bikes don't have orange peel (cars factory paint does), which means clear coat was sanded and polished probably. I will definitely sand and polish clear coat at least on fuel tank and saddle bag covers. How many clear coats do you do and how much time between coats? Maybe some genius painters use high level clear coats and get great results w/o polishing?
I asked here too:
http://www.autobody101.com/forums/vi...hp?f=5&t=26133

 

I will take it from here, after 4 coats of urethane clear, being finished, wet sand to make it flat then recoat with 1-2 coats, you will not have any orange peel if you wet sanded it correctly, you do not have to change the amount of reducer-hardener but it has to be dust free, I got 3 trophies to prove it....Mike Edit...time between coats vary but make sure you can wipe it with the tack cloth between coats then you know your ready for the next coat...

 

It would depend on what type of clear assuming your using a Urethane clear. Also depends on if your clearing over graphics, stripes or two tone colors. If using a quality high solids clear then 3 coats would be plenty, 4 to 5 if covering graphics. Recoat time would depend on the product and shop conditions but lightly touch and area that is not seen or where your overspray is a thick as the panels, you should be able to leave a finger print but not pull strings as you lift your finger.If clear sticks to your finger then its too soon to recoat. A little extra time is better than too soon as trapped solvents will cause pinholes or a dull finish. Block with 1500 then 2500 and buff and you will have a beautiful finish. Don't wait too long though as it will become harder to buff. I'm an ex Dupont rep. and spent the last 18 years painting just Motorcycles. I hope this helps you.

Also You would need a really good dust free spray area and a experienced painter to not have to sand and buff to get a perfect finish. Also keep in mind most clears other than high performance or custom clears are made to texture or orange peel to match the factory finishes on cars.

 

Thanks, guys!!! It is nice to know opinion of high level professional.
It sounds like you wait longer between clear coats than specs flash time. I understand that time between coats depends on clear type and temperature, but I still would like to know your time between coats, whatever you use. Specs for my clear are 5-12 min flash time. Is that what you suggest? Maybe 12 min is better than 5 min?

 

Yes 12 mins would be better then 5. It always depends on the shop conditions which will determine how fast the clear sets up.

 

You just cannot go by time, don't care if it says 12min ect. If you put clear before it's ready it's gonna drip and waste time, then you have to let it dry wet sand then clear again, been there...what I do is when I'm spraying clear I spray something next to it so I can touch it like scrap metal ect. This way you keeping touching it till it's not tacky so you can run a tack cloth over then it's ready for another coat, it.depends temp humidity ect. A few paint jobs would take 45 min flash time, so next round I would add more hardner, but just stick to the directions of the paint your using, for dust free I hose the ceiling, walls, floor, when the water stops dripping it's ready...Mike

 

Just shake the can of Rustoleum an extra 23 shakes and you'll be fine.