hi i just got my street bob and its black denim.i read the manual about cleaning and it kinda left me hanging.it says use diluted dishwash detergent.how much do you use per gallon of water.i like to hose wash my bikes so windex just isnt enogh.also would dishwashing liquid removed the waxes from the chrome and aluminium that i applied.i know it removes waxes from paint.any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

find it strange that they recommend dishwash detergent, correct me if im wrong, but doesnt dishwash stuff contain salt? Not good for encouraging rust on other parts of your new machine. I would suggest using a proper car wash product, one not containing any waxes as this may give the denim black paintwork a sheen

 

I thought the Denim Street Bob came Pre-washed or stone-washed or something. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I do love the look.

 

Clean your denim parts with Windex (w/ammonia) and the rest of your bike with the bike wash of your choice. The denim is a piece of cake to keep clean. Spray and wipe. No waxing.

Whiffleboy

 

M-1172 1 of 2
SERVICE BULLETIN
BLACK DENIM PAINT CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide an understanding of
the characteristics of Black Denim paint and the required
care to the dealer network.
Black Denim finish differs from traditional high-gloss finishes
on other Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Like denim fabric,
Black Denim paint will burnish with age and use, adding
character and personality to the finish of the motorcycle. The
integrity of the paint, however is not affected by age.
Please refer customers to the Owner’s Manual for details on
finish care.
If scratched, nicked or scuffed, Black Denim paint can not be
buffed out. If polished, the finish will become less matte and
more glossy over time. This finish can not be repaired.
Motorcycles with Black Denim paint should follow processes
outlined in the Harley-Davidson Cosmetic Guidelines booklet.
Motorcycles Affected
Select 2006 VRSCD and FXDB Dyna model motorcycles.
Required Dealer Action
Inform service personnel of the special care instructions for
Black Denim paint, communicate the characteristics of Black
Denim paint to customers at time of vehicle order placement
and review at time of new vehicle delivery.
Service Procedure
Cleaning Black Denim paint:
●
For heavy deposits on finish:
Use a grease cutting
dishwashing detergent and a clean H-D wash-mitt (P/N
94760-99). Dilute dishwashing detergent per instructions
provided by manufacturer and rinse thoroughly with
clean water.
●
For light deposits on finish:
Use ammonia based
glass cleaner and a soft H-D Soft-Cloth (HD-94656-98).
●
For final detailing:
Use H-D Gloss with H-D Soft Cloth.
NOTE
Refer to Table 1 for recommended cleaning care products.
M-1172 July 23, 2005
IMPORTANT NOTE
In the interest of preserving customer safety and satisfaction, always check for outstanding recalls whenever any motorcycle is brought into your
dealership for either maintenance or service.

 

Windex on the denim paint using harley soft cloths ( Hd-94656-98 ) or an old t-shirt. I washed all my rag t-shirts & got everything off of them before using. Works great. I really like the Harley cloths. Rest of the bike, S-100 Total bike cleaner, cleaning again in the hard to reach spots with the Harley Cloths. Final detailing on all the chrome, Harley Gloss. It says you can use the Harley gloss on the paint as well, but I dont trust it, so I use the windex on the paint & that's it. If you are doing a full wash with the S-100, you could do what I did & cover the tank & fenders with trash bags. The S-100 is very toxic & I didn't want it hitting the paint at all... Hope this helps...

Later,
Chap

 

A buddy has a Denim black bob, and he says it is easy as heck to keep clean. On the other side of the spectrum, I am in the process of putting as thick a coat of wax on my vivid black wide glide as possible to attempt to keep swirl marks at bay. I only touch it with a microfiber cloth too. I use mcguiars wax. Anyone got any good tips for gloss black paint ???

 

The swirls will always come Griz. Had 2 black Kawi Drifters & tried everything to keep them at bay, with no luck. I used Meguiars as well, great wax, but in the sunlight, there were the swirls. Sorry I coudn't help more. I'm really liking the harley gloss stuff. I think it's kinda like a spray on black magic. It smells like it anyway...

Later,
Chap

 

Oh I will win....I must win!!!!! I think I wax it every week! And keep it clean and always use a microfiber cloth. the first sign of a swirl and I will use McGuires swirl remover!!!! Clean black looks the best....dirty black looks aweful! I know eventually they will show up, but I take care of it the best I can. So far itlooks AWESOME! There must be some trick though, because I see a lot of older black bikes that still look good?

 

Dont know, maybe get another clear coat on top. I really dont know. I just know I always had swirls, but I probably didn't take care of my Kawi's nearly as good as your taking care of your Harley. Either way, good luck...

Later,
Chap

PS Rode the 74 yesterday. Beautiful day for a beautiful ride...