Detailing Discuss keeping your bike looking brand new here.

Ceramic coating vs PPF

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 24, 2023 | 10:43 AM
  #1  
luckiestiff's Avatar
luckiestiff
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 727
From: South Austin Texas
Question Ceramic coating vs PPF

Just picked up my new bike and I'd like to protect the paint while it's still in good shape. Looking for advice on which product is the best bang for the buck?

Thanks!
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2023 | 11:37 AM
  #2  
TriGeezer's Avatar
TriGeezer
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,033
From: Carlsbad, CA
Default

I put Cruz Armor on the forward facing areas. Actually made the pain pop…and protected against anything that wasn’t big enough to actually the surface.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2023 | 06:30 PM
  #3  
luckiestiff's Avatar
luckiestiff
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 727
From: South Austin Texas
Default

Originally Posted by TriGeezer
I put Cruz Armor on the forward facing areas. Actually made the pain pop…and protected against anything that wasn’t big enough to actually the surface.
thank you, I'll check it out
 
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2023 | 04:09 PM
  #4  
CaffeineBuzz's Avatar
CaffeineBuzz
Seasoned HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 10,772
From: SE Michigan
Default

It’s not an either or…you can have it wrapped and coated
 
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2023 | 04:45 PM
  #5  
luckiestiff's Avatar
luckiestiff
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 727
From: South Austin Texas
Default

Originally Posted by CaffeineBuzz
It’s not an either or…you can have it wrapped and coated
so film over the ceramic or the other way around? this is intriguing
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2023 | 07:56 AM
  #6  
eaglefan1's Avatar
eaglefan1
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,442
Likes: 1,429
From: pensacola fl
Default

PPF is your best protector of the paint. Find a local guy and have him apply it. If he does not know, show him how to remove the tank console and anything else like that. You want the entire piece covered
PPF then coated. I use Halo

https://gtechniq.com/shop/auto/ceramic-coatings/halo/
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2023 | 08:16 AM
  #7  
luckiestiff's Avatar
luckiestiff
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 727
From: South Austin Texas
Default

Originally Posted by eaglefan1
PPF is your best protector of the paint. Find a local guy and have him apply it. If he does not know, show him how to remove the tank console and anything else like that. You want the entire piece covered
PPF then coated. I use Halo

https://gtechniq.com/shop/auto/ceramic-coatings/halo/
thank you @eaglefan1 looking online to find someone local to do the work and it seems most of the shops here are using Xpel. Is that a comparable product?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2023 | 09:30 AM
  #8  
eaglefan1's Avatar
eaglefan1
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,442
Likes: 1,429
From: pensacola fl
Default

Pretty sure there are different levels of it. Xpel is a top product for sure
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 28, 2023 | 09:50 AM
  #9  
CaffeineBuzz's Avatar
CaffeineBuzz
Seasoned HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 10,772
From: SE Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by eaglefan1
Pretty sure there are different levels of it. Xpel is a top product for sure
have you considered learning how to do it? Maybe you already do? I've been looking at videos on youtube and it doesn't look too hard
 
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2023 | 10:10 AM
  #10  
MattLS6's Avatar
MattLS6
Road Captain
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 592
Likes: 482
From: SE PA
Default

Agree with PPF offering more protection vs ceramic coating. One of my cars has full PPF with a ceramic coating on top, that’s the order of operations (after paint correction being performed). If you go that route, ensure you use wash soap that is PH neutral and PPF friendly. Typical/popular wash soaps will produce a hazy finish and can yellow the film over time. Also good to use a ceramic coating booster spray every few months to maintain the coating / your investment.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:37 AM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE