I searched how to care for paint and automotive finishes, and eventually found detailer's tips and 'claying'. I had never heard of this. I tried it on the 883. Came pretty good.

Since October when I got the bike, I was tryna get by using the easy button, a dilution of Pledge concentrate and water, but the paint was never really streak-free or crystal clear. (It is 8 yr old paint...) Pledge always seemed to do a great job on my sportbike plastic, but it doesn't seem to sub-in for real cleaning products as well on the H-D's metal and paint. Perhaps it's too old and if I used it out of a spray can, new, it would be better. That old gallon of Pledge concentrate has to be over 30yrs old.

Cleaning was easy, because let's face it, there's not too much paint on this bike. Between the clay and the Turtle wax, probably less than 1/2 hour, including remove/replace the sissy bar and seat.

I tore one clay bar in half, formed a disc out of that and did the bike. Spray the 'mist' that comes w/the clay, and go round in circles, one small area at a time. One half of the tank, the other, then the top. With rags to keep the drips off the motor, which was recently cleaned also.

Not much visible dirt came off on the white clay at all. A little bit, that can be seen. I may be able to use that same piece over again, if I knead it around, but even if not, there's enough to do the process 6 times.
The kit comes with

• 3 clay bars each wrapped in indiv. plastic
• the mist lubricant spray
• a microfiber towel

If the paint is already clean, you don't need anything else... it's all in the box.
Weather was perfect the morning I did it, warm and overcast.
Then after, the Turtle wax ceramic sealer, with a new clean towel.

 

Personally, I'm a master smudger when it comes to clay.
I switched over to a synthetic or rubber faux clay pad (Griot's perhaps). Almost as good, no smudges. For me that's a win.

I tried that Turtlewax Hybrid after watching the study Youtuber Project Farm did on a bunch of ceramic coatings. I too like it.

 

I have some sage i’m not using, if Ur interested. 🤣

 

That looks great.

 

thanks. 🙂
'it looks great as long as there's direct sun on it'

i wonder why i didn't go w/the macguiar's finishing ceramic wax product?
it was probably clouded by too many amazon results in my initial search.

 

Nice results. That must be one of Harley's custom paint sets.

 

thanks.

yea, Mystic Purple Flake.
was a $500 option in ‘17, or so i’ve been told
I’ve seen it in a few pics on different bikes. Mine came pretty dark, so it needs a lotta light to be noticed. Other ‘hard candy customs’ i’ve seen look a little more obvious. and they do a red version too

 

Nice! By the way, most of us detail geeks hang out in the Detailing section of the forum.

 

Ah ok, that's good to know. Usually before i post something i search some of the keywords to see if i can piggyback onto an existing thread.
Not sure if I did that this time. Thought I did but...

Mods might havta organize my azz this time

 

If you want this thread moved over to the Detailing sub-forum, let me/us know @GIRLYDAVIDSON883XL . Though obviously it does no harm being right here in this sub-forum.

Otherwise, just note that Detailing sub-forum exists and perhaps go there for other more detailing specific questions and observations.