Ceramic coating and bug removal
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 980
Likes: 176
From: PA
Ceramic coating and bug removal
Just had my bike polished and ceramic coated. What's the best way to get bugs off without degrading the ceramic coating? On previous bikes without ceramic coating I've always used peroxide/water mix and meguiars bug and tar.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,858
Likes: 5,421
From: My own little slice of heaven
I use a warm wet towel and let it sit for a bit on any area that is really buggy. Other wise just water and a light detergent. I use S2000.
no matter what you do the ceramic will degrade over time.
no matter what you do the ceramic will degrade over time.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 934
Likes: 677
From: Ohio
https://mckees37.com/products/road-k...41252708319395
This stuff works great and can be used as a bike wash when diluted with water.
This stuff works great and can be used as a bike wash when diluted with water.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 10,767
From: SE Michigan
I get em right away....bug guts are often fairly acidic, and the longer they sit, the more they grab onto the surface...bug guts will etch and damage a clear coat
i avoid bug removers....they are harsh chemicals meant to dissolve organic compounds....I wouldn't use it unless i also planned on washing the bike afterwards
avoid scrubbing bugs off the surface.....contaminants should lift with one pass of a microfiber....let washes dwell a bit...but don't rub an MF back and forth until you scrape the the bugs off
most of your damage to your coating and your clear coat will occur because of washing the bike, even if you do it properly, there is no way to avoid the damage you are doing...so don't be obsessed with keeping it perfect....it stopped being perfect about 20 minutes after it was done
i avoid bug removers....they are harsh chemicals meant to dissolve organic compounds....I wouldn't use it unless i also planned on washing the bike afterwards
avoid scrubbing bugs off the surface.....contaminants should lift with one pass of a microfiber....let washes dwell a bit...but don't rub an MF back and forth until you scrape the the bugs off
most of your damage to your coating and your clear coat will occur because of washing the bike, even if you do it properly, there is no way to avoid the damage you are doing...so don't be obsessed with keeping it perfect....it stopped being perfect about 20 minutes after it was done
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 5,478
From: Woodlands, MB, Canada
I do the wet towel thing too.. Soak it so it's dripping wet and lay it over the windshield/fairing. It should cling to the surface. Leave it for about 1/2 hour and the bugs will soften to the point they're easy to remove.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,442
Likes: 1,429
From: pensacola fl
Pre soak with foam or a waterless wash and give it a few minutes. Depending on the coating it should come right off extremely easy.
How much soak time depends on how long the bugs have been on the paint. When it's bug season here I make sure to get them off all of our vehicles that day. Takes maybe 10 min total.
How much soak time depends on how long the bugs have been on the paint. When it's bug season here I make sure to get them off all of our vehicles that day. Takes maybe 10 min total.
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Supporter
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 598
From: Northeast Louisiana
As one just stated, absolutely use waterless car wash products as they work very well and are not harmful on ceramic coatings. Would be best to spray it down and let it soak for about 30 seconds to soften the debri.
I also always use compressed air (rubber tip advised) to blow off as much as I can prior to uisng waterless wash, and preference is the RainEx brand.
The more you use the RainEx waterless the better it gets, to where hardly anything sticks to surfaces.
I also always use compressed air (rubber tip advised) to blow off as much as I can prior to uisng waterless wash, and preference is the RainEx brand.
The more you use the RainEx waterless the better it gets, to where hardly anything sticks to surfaces.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 99
From: Hopewell Twp, PA
I'm interested in what you would recommend. Thanks.