Does the profinish kit cover up swirl marks in vivid black paint or can you see them through it?

 

I have them installed on the tops of my bags and didn't have any swirl marks before I installed them so I can't answer your original question, however I can attest that they do get a look to them which resembles very slight towel or swirl marks on them and in order to remove them, it takes a brief swipe of some rubbing alcohol if it becomes bothersome. It is very minimal and I usually ignore it myself. Thought you might want to know if you are considering it. I've read somewhere that the material has changed some so it may or may not be a factor. I am completely happy with how they protect and are almost invisible.

 

Thanks cegusa, I am considering a whole set for the UC, just want to be sure I am making the right choice.

 

Jerry

May I interject here a bit and give some personal insight on how I maintain my Vivid Black paint job?

I used to ponder over whether to apply the clear filmed offerings to protect my paint, especially when the guy known as profinish WAS a forum member. After he went off the deep end I'm glad I passed on his product, but not for this alone, however, but it was the icing on the cake.

Rock chips:
The same rock chips that will damage unprotected parts will still penetrate protected parts and you still have a chip. I'm a perfectionist and visible lines on my extremely smooth surfaces are not attractive at all to me.

Swirls:
Re-learning how to WASH my bike is how I keep the swirl marks away. I use 2 soapy water buckets and 3 clean water rinse buckets along with 3-4 soft 100% cotton wash cloths when I wash my bike. I soap one, clean a small portion of my bike and then drop it in one of the clean water rinse buckets. Rinse the bike with water hose. I then take a second clean soaped rag and wash another small portion, drop this rag in clean rinse water, rinse bike with hose, all along moving the rags through the clean rinse water buckets to remove the dirt, debris that they pick up when washing. I change the water frequently in all the buckets during the wash process as well.

I dry the bike with a leaf blower and I NEVER use a chamois or towel. After blowing all water off the bike I then begin polishing and waxing. Once a year I take my electrical polisher with a BLUE foam egg-crate pad and 3M UltraFina fine swirl remover and go over my bags and fairing. Very easy to use and perform and the results are phenomenal.

Learning how to wash the bike has proven priceless in dimenishing the amount of swirl marks to almost zero. I've had a TON of bugs on the front of my bike returning from trips insomuch that I thought my paint would be ruined. I wish I had a picture of my bike after returning from Route 66 last year during love bug season. I really thought my paint was ruined. I broke out the buckets and washed my bike just as I mentioned, polished and waxed the bike and notta single bug, swirl, scratch or anything worth mentioning. Smooth as a baby's butt once again.

I use Zaino products Z2, Z6, and Z8 for sheen.

I hope some of this helps but if you are as **** as I, the film protectors would be a waste of money for me.

JUST MY $.02

I'm at work right now and this place blocks Photobucket but I will post RECENT pics of my bike and it's finish if you would like to see the results of the aformentioned methods on a 2 year old bike.

 

Darren, once again thanks and yes I am **** about the paint and washing, think I am going to try teh zaino products. I bought the Vivid Black knowing this will make me lose sleep but I think it will be worth it, Black and Chrome look good, plus I have some bergundy ghost flames in mind for the future.

 

Again, just to reiterate, correct WASHING and drying will dimenish swirls and scratches 10 fold. The Zaino alone is not enough, surface preservation and preparation are key to keeping the Vivid Black bike showroom shiney for YEARS.

Where's the pics of this beauty anyways?

 

I cant figure out how to put the pics up. Hoping they would have made that idiot proof when they upgraded the Forum, but I guess they did'nt.

 

Couldn't agree more with Darren. I'm probably as **** as anyone here, and the key for me is washing this pig carefully and rinsing without any rubbing. Sheepskin washing mitts (two) are always used by me and they are always washed afterward to make sure there is nothing on them for the next wash. I use the AF Master Blaster 8HP dual motor unit to dry. If you buy one get it from the pet groomers section on the internet, NOT A BIKE SHOP, it'll save you a couple of hundred bucks. I like it because it blows warm air with great pressure so it's drying as well as removing water. NanoWax Spray in between, and S100 Carnuba at least 3 times a years. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled into park, and had someone say, "New Bike?" To which I reply, Kinda, just turned 68,000 miles, and it's nine years old. It's all about taking care of your junk.

 

Anyone know how to get a hold of Profinish?

I have a friend with a trike that needs some of his sheets for the leading edge of the rear fenders. I tried PM'ing him, but get some sorta error about him "not accepting" PM's...???...

 

Try a local window tint shop, it's 3M paint protection film, they might sell a sheet or 2 ....