Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Scratches

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 28, 2006 | 10:29 AM
  #41  
Segerfan's Avatar
Segerfan
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: South Central,IL
Default RE: Scratches

I too like to have my paint keep looking new and the black is very hard to keep looking that way. I ride thousands of miles every year in rain or shine and don't always keep it new looking. But once or twice a season I do go through the ritual of getting minor swirls and scratches out of the paint to keep it looking nice. To me it is part of my maintenance routine. No offense taken at all,it is just me.
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2006 | 11:02 AM
  #42  
venture33's Avatar
venture33
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default RE: Scratches

Ride nekid...
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2006 | 12:18 PM
  #43  
Hdbiker1450's Avatar
Hdbiker1450
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon, Missouri
Default RE: Scratches

I suspect he hugs the tank with his knees to prevent the wind from blowing up under his sunglasses. At least that was the problem I had. Solved that easily by adding the chrome wind deflectors to the forks. Works perfect, and my knees are now super relaxed.
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2006 | 12:24 PM
  #44  
lil_gmac2's Avatar
lil_gmac2
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA (live in Manteca, CA)
Default RE: Scratches

This is a big part of HD I haven't seen to many harleys with out scratches. IMHO I think tank bra take away from the bike character.
 
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2006 | 12:19 AM
  #45  
Al's Avatar
Al
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 1
From: Upstate New York
Default RE: Scratches


ORIGINAL: jmxp

ORIGINAL: Al

No offense guys but I think Y'all are taking this too serious. I have about twenty five hundred miles on my FLHXI and have waxed it once. It looks like new. I just don't understand how somebody could wax more than this?

Ride it. . .

Al
What color is yours? Black paint shows every imperfection, it takes a good bit of work to make it look 'new'. Not to mention the dipwads at the dealer who prep the bike for delivery and think terry cloth towels are a good idea on clearcoat. I had a couple of hours work just fixing what they screwed up.

No offense taken, but I like my stuff to look as good as I can make it look.
The fockrez put swirlz in the clear just for kicks, They do the same here too!!! I was all set for the classic black this time around. Then I remembered about my two last Jeeps (they were black). I got the Deep Cobalt and don't have to wash half as much. . .
 
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2006 | 03:37 AM
  #46  
jmxp's Avatar
jmxp
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
Default RE: Scratches

ORIGINAL: Al
The fockrez put swirlz in the clear just for kicks, They do the same here too!!! I was all set for the classic black this time around. Then I remembered about my two last Jeeps (they were black). I got the Deep Cobalt and don't have to wash half as much. . .
I've really gotta break the black habit. Last three cars (including current) and my Harley are all black, and I know better when it comes to paint care. When black paint is cleaned, polished and waxed, it's impossible to beat for depth. Not to mention the amount of stuff that matches

I really do need to break the black paint habit though.

J
 
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2006 | 02:50 PM
  #47  
t_m34's Avatar
t_m34
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Maria di Camisano, Italy
Default RE: Scratches

Same issue here. My '06 RK Classic is black, my '77 Sporty was black, too. I bought an '03 FXST and it was gun metal pearl. When I sold it after buying the RKC (yeah, I know, I know, but my wife has a rule: one bike at a time...sheesh!) the guy who bought it thought I never road the thing. Not a scratch to be seen. Now I enjoy the pretty white walls and the black paint and all but jeeze, one of these days I'm going to figure it out -- black bikes are hell!

[IMG]local://upfiles/13235/0C9FA2C6DFEC4944A23C20231994F114.jpg[/IMG]
 
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2006 | 02:51 PM
  #48  
t_m34's Avatar
t_m34
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Maria di Camisano, Italy
Default RE: Scratches

By the way, if you don't want to worry about scratches get a bike like my Iraqi Army buddies in the photo in the last post...
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 29, 2006 | 03:15 PM
  #49  
JBBOOKS's Avatar
JBBOOKS
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 2
From: Central, NY
Default RE: Scratches

I ride relaxed and I don't intentionally squeeze the tank. However, between my rider back rest and the way I am built, my inner thighs occassionally contact the end of the tank. I have the same issues with my paint. I really don't think it's any big deal, but that's just me.

Like the others have said, you can polish it out then protect it with the 3M plastic, tank bra, or a hard shell finishing product.
 
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2006 | 01:52 PM
  #50  
Bill918's Avatar
Bill918
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Default RE: Scratches

How about trying a set of touring pegs, something to help stretch you out. It will make you ride more relaxed too.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:12 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE