Vivid Black
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
I've owned nothing but black vehicles for years. These are the products that I swear by. Read everything you can on the site, there is quite a bit of info.
http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
First thing I did when I got it home was wash it in dawn twice dry it and put 2 coats on Zanios Pro2 on it. I now detail it with Z6 and Z8. The stuff does what it says. One of the only ones. The hardest part of Pro2 is learning to put it on Thin.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 452
From: 1500 ft above sea level
I just use the 2 stroke leaf blower! Works on the bike and the yard.lol
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
The key to Vivid black is taking care of it from the very sec you bring it home. Knowing how to wash it the right way and wax. Biggest thing while washing is dont wash in a circular motion. That will cause swirl marks that will reflect light and be seen. Instead wash in a straight back and forth motion. If theres bugs and dirt stuck to the front soak first and or even apply sp101 total bike cleaner first and spray it off before washing. Also while washing dont scrub. Wipe with super clean sponge very lightly back and forth. Then i blow dry the bike with a leaf blower..I like to use a really good liquid wax like Meguiars pain protect applied with a fine sponge let dry for about 4 minutes and very lightly wipe off with 100% cotton. then let the bike cure over night for about 24 hours.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 761
Likes: 124
From: College Station TX
A lot of good info here. Got my bike in December still have not wax it. To busy riding when I have time. After reading this and the auto geek and zano, glad I didn't. I don't get the black wax thing though, since there is clear coat over the black.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From:
Very interesting thread indeed! Love all the insight about which product people prefer and why. Also love the info about the type of material a cloth should be, good info !
Also enjoy reading comments like" vivid black is the softest paint"( maybe not an exact quote). Seriously??? One color paint is a different hardness than another? Love to see some scientific proof of that.....
And a final question, does it really matter if you wipe back and forth or in a circular motion?
Also enjoy reading comments like" vivid black is the softest paint"( maybe not an exact quote). Seriously??? One color paint is a different hardness than another? Love to see some scientific proof of that.....
And a final question, does it really matter if you wipe back and forth or in a circular motion?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
Very interesting thread indeed! Love all the insight about which product people prefer and why. Also love the info about the type of material a cloth should be, good info !
Also enjoy reading comments like" vivid black is the softest paint"( maybe not an exact quote). Seriously??? One color paint is a different hardness than another? Love to see some scientific proof of that.....
And a final question, does it really matter if you wipe back and forth or in a circular motion?
Also enjoy reading comments like" vivid black is the softest paint"( maybe not an exact quote). Seriously??? One color paint is a different hardness than another? Love to see some scientific proof of that.....
And a final question, does it really matter if you wipe back and forth or in a circular motion?
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From:
could you possibly eloaborate on this? I can't seem to understand what difference it makes, which direction I swipe my rag.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
When you take a clear coat that is not damaged yet and apply a product like Zanio's correctly it protects the clear coat from these minor scratches.
Latter I will post some shots of my Black and Silver RGU. With a few coats of Zanios Pro2 applied I can wipe it down clean it and never damage the clear coat. I have seen Black bikes that looked like a spider web restored following Zanios steps to do so.
Micro fiber cloths seemed to be all the rage for a while and they work, but the correct 100% cotton work better
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 452
Likes: 42
From: SW Florida
Check out Zaino Brothers products. Not a wax but a polish system. A friend of mine has a 2006 Heritage that he does not take care of. He left it sit in my garage and it drove me crazy to look at it. I clay bared it and polished it with Zaino and he didn't think it was his bike.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 184
From:
I own a vivid black 2015 ultra. I hand wash it once a month or after a long road trip. In between I use lemon pledge and plenty of micro fiber cloths. I'd rather ride a dirty bike then spend hours making one look super clean. I log about 1500 miles a month when roads are ice/snow free and the temp is above about 36 degrees F.