A love/hate relationship
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
A love/hate relationship
I never have liked Black mainly because it's hard to take care of. My Road King Classic is the first Black bike I've ever owned in more than 35 years of riding. Black and chrome makes for a beautiful bike if the painted surfaces can be take proper care of. I have always taken exceptional care about washing and polishing but this bike just about has me whipped. I've bought brand new White t-shirts to use during the polishing process. I have used Liquid Glass polish for years and will not change. The problem I'm having is, no matter what I do, I get swirl marks in the paint finish no mater what I do. I know it doable, I evidently don't know how to take care of a Black painted surface. It obvious I'm not either getting the bike clean enough or using the wrong kind of material to apply and polish the Black painted surfaces. Please tell me the trick for taking care of a Black painted surface.
I bought the bike because it was close and a good deal for me and I'm not having it re-painted.
I bought the bike because it was close and a good deal for me and I'm not having it re-painted.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: upstate ny way upstate
Vivid black........ pain in the butt. I tried everything, it's in the clearcoat forever. Unless you bring it to a body shop and have it buffed out until next time. I spent alot of money on swirlmark removers, now I just live with it and just ride.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 407
Likes: 1
From: Bel Air, MD
Ok, buy a pack of terry cloth towels from the auto section. get a bottle of Mcguires swirl-X Swirl remover . Wash the bike with any quality auto or bike wash. Dry well using preferably a blower or a brand new terry towel (lightly), then apply the swirl-X following the directions on the bottle and then apply your favorite quality wax I have the best luck with a good carnuba paste. The swirl-x is the key to the success. Try this and please let me know how it worked for you.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 775
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I have a black SUV that I spnet hours on. From what I've been told the swirll marks are from the polishing. I have found swrill removers that work pretty well, but on some of the surfaces in the right sun light I can still see them. I've used McGuires "Scratch X" and that seems to do the best, short of getting a professional to buff it...
just my $.02
just my $.02
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
You shouldn't use regular cloth towels. The best thing you can do is to use a micro-fiber towel and wipe the tins with the way the fenders and tank flow (from front to back...never side to side or in a circular motion). As someone else said above, Maguires Scratch X works well but you will have to apply a few coats to be happy with the results.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 22
From: Connecticut
Black paint looks great when it's clean, and looks like crap when it's not.
Here's my take on swirl marks
Avoid towels, diapers, and t-shirts. They leave a lot of swirls.
Micro-fiber products are not all created equal. The blue ones sold in auto parts stores can leave swirl marks.
Best I've found so far are the white micro-fiber mitts. Work great and virtually swirl free. Once they are soiled, throw out and replace.
Meguires Scratch X works great to remove light swirl marks.
California Duster works for removing dust - don't apply pressure.
Sammi
Here's my take on swirl marks
Avoid towels, diapers, and t-shirts. They leave a lot of swirls.
Micro-fiber products are not all created equal. The blue ones sold in auto parts stores can leave swirl marks.
Best I've found so far are the white micro-fiber mitts. Work great and virtually swirl free. Once they are soiled, throw out and replace.
Meguires Scratch X works great to remove light swirl marks.
California Duster works for removing dust - don't apply pressure.
Sammi
The Schlong Man
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,772
Likes: 4
From: Nantucket
My now 4 year old bike is black and looks like the day it rolled off the showroom floor. I don't do much to it except occassionally wash and wax it. More often I'll wipe it down with Pledge or Eagle 1 Wax as you Dry 9which works wonderfully BTW). It seems like a lot of people just try and do way too much to the paint. Polish or any other compound like that should never be used except for in spot applications where you've scratched or marred the surface. Microfiber towels all the way and make sure they are clean. If you drop it or touch the ground with it in any way, pitch it and get another one.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: us
STOP WIPING PAINT WITH T-SHIRTS!!! thats where your swirls are coming from. get some good micro fiber rags. I worked at a dealership for 2 years detailing bikes and have found harley scratch and swirl to work the best. apply liberally to the swirled area and rub in circular motion with micro fiber rag, you might really have to rub if the swirls are deep. then wipe off excess film with a different clean micro fiber rag.
Good luck
Good luck
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 377
Likes: 1
I think most people here that tell you that their bike looks like the day that it rolled off the floor fit one of these two categories...
A. Partially blind
B. Never seen their bike next to a swirl free bike (or car)
Most of the paint damage you see comes from the way you wash the bike. Period. If you wash the bike the right way, you will not put the marks in the finish in the first place. You really need to be washing the bikes painted surfaces with a sheepskin mitt. Preferably using the two bucket method. One bucket for suds, one for rinse.
T shirt material and Terry cloth. NO. Microfiber, yes. Pledge belongs on furniture, not on bikes or cars. It's an oil, and it does a really good job filling in the swirls and scratches, until you wash the bike the next time. Kerosene can make paint look pretty good, too, temporarily. OOH fark. now someone will try that.
A. Partially blind
B. Never seen their bike next to a swirl free bike (or car)
Most of the paint damage you see comes from the way you wash the bike. Period. If you wash the bike the right way, you will not put the marks in the finish in the first place. You really need to be washing the bikes painted surfaces with a sheepskin mitt. Preferably using the two bucket method. One bucket for suds, one for rinse.
T shirt material and Terry cloth. NO. Microfiber, yes. Pledge belongs on furniture, not on bikes or cars. It's an oil, and it does a really good job filling in the swirls and scratches, until you wash the bike the next time. Kerosene can make paint look pretty good, too, temporarily. OOH fark. now someone will try that.