Cleaning the Batwing
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 522
From: Dutchess County, NY
Cleaning the Batwing
Picked up my 2009 Vivid Black FLHX on Friday and put about 250 miles on her. The batwing has quite a few bug splats now. I bought the bike to ride not clean but I am a little concerned that all the little dead critters on the Batfairing are going to ruin the paint if I don't keep it clean on a regular basis. How often does everyone clean the fairing and what do you use?
Thanks
Thanks
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 653
Likes: 1
From: Outer Banks of Insanity, IL
Picked up my 2009 Vivid Black FLHX on Friday and put about 250 miles on her. The batwing has quite a few bug splats now. I bought the bike to ride not clean but I am a little concerned that all the little dead critters on the Batfairing are going to ruin the paint if I don't keep it clean on a regular basis. How often does everyone clean the fairing and what do you use?
Thanks
Thanks
..... Ok? Probably go with a batwing bra then. Or get a good coat of wax on it after a wash, yea that's part of cleaning
..After riding, they should wipe right off. Good luck
If you wash the bike often they should come off. If there real bad, soak a towel in HOT water and lay over the fairing to soften the bugs, then wash. May require alittle elbo grease but they come off. Put a good coat of wax after then you should be good with just regular washings. Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 899
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From:
If you wash the bike often they should come off. If there real bad, soak a towel in HOT water and lay over the fairing to soften the bugs, then wash. May require alittle elbo grease but they come off. Put a good coat of wax after then you should be good with just regular washings. Good luck.
Have to disagree with Larry - DO NOT use hot water. A painter told me a while ago to never use hot water on painted surfaces. Same reason you don't wash your bike in the sun or when it is hot, the paint will scratch easier when it is heated and soft.
I agree with the towel method but soak the towel in cold soapy water and lay on for awhile - they will soften up just fine. A good quality wax also helps the guts come off a bit smoother.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,803
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From: El Paso, Texas
Have to disagree with Larry - DO NOT use hot water. A painter told me a while ago to never use hot water on painted surfaces. Same reason you don't wash your bike in the sun or when it is hot, the paint will scratch easier when it is heated and soft.
I agree with the towel method but soak the towel in cold soapy water and lay on for awhile - they will soften up just fine. A good quality wax also helps the guts come off a bit smoother.
I agree with the towel method but soak the towel in cold soapy water and lay on for awhile - they will soften up just fine. A good quality wax also helps the guts come off a bit smoother.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 522
From: Dutchess County, NY
This sound like a good solution for in between washes. Will this work on Vivid black without scrathing the paint. I am starting to think I should have gone with Pewter Denim.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Pacific Northwest
Get yourself a can of Original Spray Cleaner And Polish. It will soften the bugs on both the fairing and windshield and adds a layer of protection as it is designed to do (as opposed to Pledge for furniture). Also a hot towel really works well for softening a heavy layer of bugs. Don't worry about softening the paint (sheesh, we'd ALL be scratching the hell out of our paint jobs every time we cleaned off the bugs during a long trip). Paper towels will scratch everything but I'm sure you already know that.
