Never had a bike that had both gloss and matte paint before.

Any advice for maintaining it?

 

 

Softy, is this really matte black paint, I sure can feel a ridge at all joints between the gloss and matte finishes. Matte vinyl wrap maybe?

 

 

I pick mine up on the 17th of Dec, hoping someone would post up some good tips on paint care as I have never owned a black bike much less matt black.

 

I use turtle wax ICE on my cars and my denim road glide. Works well on all surfaces, glossy or flat. I wash my bike with meguiar's I think, I'd have to look, but its pretty much the only car detergent I can find without carnuba wax. If I had a scorched earth / black denim, that's exactly how I would clean it. ICE is a synthetic wax and works well on the denim IMO, protects as well and the water beads.

I think the biggest myth of denim is that you'll buff it to shiny if not careful. While, yes, theoretically denim can be buffed to a shine, it means wet sanding and buffing, not just a hand wax job. Maybe if you waxed it every day for 20 years, IDK.

 

As for soaps, you need something without wax or gloss enhancers, 2 different things. I look for the same stuff for my bike and any of my customers that I have coated their cars.
Lots of them out there, check out auto geek and detailed image for quality products. I stay away from anything made by the "Turtle". I do this as a side gig and I will not use any of their products, so much better out there.

Black vehicles are a full time job to keep looking the way they should. Im sure someone will post that their bike looks "Showroom" or "New". Unless you are skilled in machine polishing and then using proper washing and drying techniques, your black paint is far from this level. Not a knock, its just the "Nature of the Beast", black paint. Throwing something on the paint with a bunch of fillers in it doesn't count, because thats not the true condition of the paint.

More then 75% of all the vehicles I have done have been black. There is zero forgiveness given with black paint. Add on the fact that the clear harley uses on vivid black is the 2nd softest paint I have ever dealt with, its a recipe for a swirled up mess. The good news with it is that you don't have to be aggressive at all in correcting it. The trick is finishing it down properly, which is time consuming and can be tough.

Back to the OP. My suggestion to you is to find a reputable detailer in your area and have the bike coated. A reputable detailer will know what needs to be done to coat the 2 paint systems on the bike. Practice proper washing and drying techniques with quality products. Chances are you won't have to mess with it for a very long long time.

 

Want to bring this back up. I never have to wash my bikes, just quick detail. Is there a quick detail spray that is good for both, one bottle?

 

I swear I'm not connected to them, bu Turtle Wax ICE has a detail spray.

 

Here you go. $20, but look at the dilution ratio. Top notch stuff

https://www.autogeek.net/mckees-rinseless-wash.html