When I use scratch x on a scratch I try to keep the rubbing very refined to the scratch to minimize abrasion in an area that does not need the product. For me it's trading a visible scratch that can look really nasty with what you describe as a swirl that can then be filled with polish and wax making it all disappear. I have had good luck with this product. Many times a scratch in the clearcoat can look like it has also scratched into the paint and applying the scratch x makes it disappear.

 

Few pics today with cell phone. Looks great in sunlight! I need to put some of the harley tire black on where the mag polish got on my tires but very happy. Oh and thats my lab of course.



http://s850.photobucket.com/albums/a...erider/harley/

 

Looks great! But I wonder at "several days at 3-4 hours a day" of effort.

Anyone ever heard of "Captain Richards" BOM? I've heard great things about their cleaning products, as well as the "minutes" (not hours) it takes to clean a bike. Thinking about giving them a try.

 

The wet sanding took the better part of a day for the mag wheel. I also spent quite a bit of time removing and installing the exhaust system and then removing rust from the pipes and other areas of the bike's chrome. The engine was spray on spray off. The paint needed a repair in my opinion to remove some of the swirls and scratches. There is no spray on and spray off that will do that for you. Now that the bike has been brought back to life cosmetically, the spray on and spray off magic formulas should work great. I don't expect to have to ever do this type of a cleaning again and if i do it should be years away.

 

Nice work. I'm doing the same thing with my front fork lower tubes. Then I found a local shop that do the forks for $80. or they will trade your stock lower sliders for a pair of Chromed one for about a buck eighty. See attached Ebay listing:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Touri...#ht_2064wt_881

Check out the wheels:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Touri...#ht_1640wt_754

 

I have tried many, many products and I have found that there is no miracle product that will do the same job as elbow grease. When clear coat gets swirled up, the steps that the OP took is the best cure.