Touring special models question
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 214
Likes: 29
From: Oahu, Hawaii
Touring special models question
Can anyone tell me if the factory black parts on the special are easier to keep clean or harder then chrome parts? Any special cleaners or precautions needed?
Last edited by Kazu Hiro; May 4, 2019 at 02:04 PM. Reason: Change of title
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 367
Likes: 264
From: Massachusetts
I have a '18 Road king special. I bought it not only cause it looks awesome, but the black parts instead of chrome are way easier to take care of. Plus mines in industrial gray denim so all it takes to keep clean is a bath with petroleum free soap when it gets dirty. No hours of polishing chrome. Also the petroleum free soap is only for the denim paint. Gloss bikes can use what ever soap you like.
Last edited by Silentgreyfellow; May 4, 2019 at 06:58 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 357
Likes: 14
From: West TN
Love black on bikes. It’s what I ride now. However I’m finding out they are a pain in the *** to keep clean. Every speck of dust shows up. Dirt and scratches just stand out more to me on black than they do on the chrome.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 148
From: Augusta, GA
As stated above, Black chrome looks great, but it shows water spots and seems to chip and scratch easier that regular chrome. However, I am still happy with my choice.
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Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
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From: Knoxville, Tn
Keeping It Clean
I have a couple of black bikes and I put a coat of wax on everything on the bike except the engine and it makes it easier to clean when it get dirty. The engine gets S100 engine Brightener.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 624
Likes: 125
From: Reading, PA
The gloss black parts on the specials are not black chrome, they are painted. We are talking about air cleaner cover, cow bells/font fork, primary cover etc. TLC is necessary to avoid scratching the paint. Meguiar's Scratch X leaves fine scratches in the paint for example. My cowbells have swirls just from washing. I've used a DA polisher, soft gray Griots 3" polishing pad and Chemical Guys V36 and v38 on these areas successfully, but the bike is turning me into a detailing geek. You get the idea.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 214
Likes: 29
From: Oahu, Hawaii
Thanks for the advice guys. I thought it was irking to spend hours after every ride polishing the chrome. I am thinking the back would be worse because of the scratching that wouldnt appear with chrome. Guess that changes my choices a little. Rules out the specials, but opens it up to the standards, the ultras, the limiteds, and the CVOs. All depends on what options I want to go with now.