I to am no expert but have removed more than a few scratches on my bikes and cars. Depending on how deep the scratch is I would use 1500 grit and keep it wet. Then you can go to 2000 grit. Then some polishing compound and finally a bit of any good car polish. Be sure to remember you're not trying to rub a hole thru it. nice and easy til the scratch is gone and no more. If you are still nervous try to find something around the house to practice on.
Gary

I have 12,000 and 15,000 grit..They are 3M and "cloth-like" they leave scratches.
FYI, you need polishing creams...and it takes time..
Micro-mesh kits , I've used them in the aviation business to "renew" plastic landing light lenses and you have to go in tiny grit steps, Ie 320, 400, 600,1000,1500...etc.
It's slow but works.
Clear coats are semi soft...reason iof to hard they will crack, to soft they show every thing....
The happy medium....it what you're stuck with

Try using a clay bar, then re-wax. Just my 2-cents.......

Only someone with a black Harley know the pain. Just touch it and it has scratches and swerls.
Go to to autogeek.com and see the vids on using the porter cable dual action buffer with ccc pads. check out youtube for porter cable dual action buffers. the key is the dual action buffer, the right foam pads, using a couple different polishes from medium course to fine polish and technique. Never dry with any cloth, buy the Air Force Blaster to dry it. Never use a washed MF. Only use them once and only for the painted surfaces. Use something else for the rest of the bike.
Use Turtle Wax Black Box after you get the scratches and deep swerls out.

Don't touch it unless you have to.

Repeat this process periodically.

I would do it myself on my bike, but I worked in a body shop for 10 years ...for you that don't do this, and have not done it a lot, I would take it to a good body shop , and have someone do it, or a detail shop. I would probably cost less than all the materials to do it, if you don't have them.

The Harley Davidson Sratch remover works... I had a couple very noticable scratches near my fuel cap on my black tank and the HD guy at the bike wash\detail area @ sturgis helped me make them disappear...