This weekend I washed my bike for the first time since I bought it (3 weeks brand new). I followed everything to the "T" according to what HD recommends as far as products to use and how to wash the bike. After rinsing and drying with the softcloth, I noticed a plethora of "fine" scratches on the rear-frame.

Here is my theory... after letting the wash mitt soak for a little while I began washing the bike left to right from the bottom up. On the chrome exhaust there was little miniscule pieces of hardened rubber / brake dust. What I am thinking happened is as I scrubbed over that with the wash mitt, the mitt picked up some of those tiny pieces and stuck to the mitt. When I got to the top of the bike (even after dipping and soaking this mitt constantly) I believe some of those tiny pieces still stuck onto the mitt and in scrubbing the bike they are what caused the scratches.

Anybody have any similar experiences or that can verify this and what I can do in the future to prevent this from happening?

Maybe it was because I didn't use a HD 3 1/2 gallon bucket

 

When I wash any of my vehicles, I use two buckets; one with soap and water and the other with just clean water which has a sediment screen just above the bottom of the bucket. After the initial application of soapy water on my vehicle, I never put my wash mitt back in the soap without rinsing it in the clean water first.

You'd be surprised on the amount of sediment in the rinse bucket after you're done. But that's just me...

 

If you had a good coat of wax on that paint I don't think you would be having this problem.

 

Try some meguiars scratch x on it.

 

More riding less washing. It's not a show bike.

 

This is the correct method. You should be using good quality microfiber to dry and a quality mitt to wash. The sediment screen is also called a grit guard and they should be in each bucket.

 

wait until you have had it for 20 years, there won't be any paint left on the frame under the motor. nobody will see the scratches because nobody will look. when you stop worrying about all those small scratches you'll start having more fun.

 

The proper HD method for washing insures scratches so that you will buy Harley detailing products. Look into this MARVELOUS product, which recommends terry cloth OVER microfiber:


Wet Paint Automotive Polishing Glaze: cleans, polishes and protects vehicle surfaces.

 

I don't know what HD info you are referring to but you never wash anything with paint on it from the bottom up.

you always start from the top and work your way down. Debris from the road is going to be stuck towards the bottom of your bike and if you start from there you'll be wiping all that S**t all over your bikes new paint.

also using the two bucket technique is a good call, it will help you maintain a clean washing mit throughout the process.

 

Why did you start from the bottom then go up? The bottom of the bike gets the dirtiest so do it last. Go top down just like you would your car when you wash it.