Black bikes
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Belleville, il
wolfman...... did you powdercoat the whole bike? or is that a satin paint job?
Its Stearlling Gray Metalic, (FORD) in the sun it looks really similar to the new metal flake thats on the 2012 bikes.
Its Stearlling Gray Metalic, (FORD) in the sun it looks really similar to the new metal flake thats on the 2012 bikes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 14
From: Atlanta
Just had to say "thanks" to hdmg for excellent tips on keeping the black finish nice. I've used many of those tips, but he added some good ones to help keep the black finishes looking like new.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
In my opinion there is nothing nicer than a nicely polished black bike. There is also nothing worse than a black bike that is dirty and has been neglected. It's all up to you.
My 2009 vivid black streetglide looks brand new, and I get compliments all the time on how nice it looks. I also put 15K a year on the bike.
It does require some time and effort to keep it this way, but it is a labour of love so to speak.
The one thing to keep in mind is that it will be impossible to avoid minute swirls and halos, but you can minimize and remove them quite easily.
Here is what I have learned, a few suggestions of which have been mentioned already:
I start each season by spending a full day detailing the bike by going over all the surfaces I can with a random orbital polisher and a 3" pad using a quality polishing compound like Menzerna. With the random orbital polisher you will not introduce any swirls, and it will leave you with beautiful mirror like finish. I work other areas by hand that the polisher will not reach. You are only polishing swirls out of the clearcoat during all of this, and are not even touching the paint layer.
Next, apply a couple of coats of polymer sealant to protect and seal the paint. No furniture polish for me. This gives a beautiful shine that will last for months provided you are not using any harsh cleaners thereafter. I follow that up with a couple of coats carnauba wax to really make things glow and help prevent any swirls from the cleaning sessions that lie ahead. You now have a showroom looking finish that will be flawless unless you have damage from previous neglect that requires specialized attention.
From here on, you need to prevent swirls and halos by following these simple rules.
Have plenty of quality microfiber towels. A quality towel has a deep pile and no tags sewn into the edges to cause minute scratches. The deep pile allows dust to be drawn into the cloth, away from the surface fibres where it will cause scratches and swirls with subsequent wiping actions. Bargain brand bags of cheap towels will not give the performance you need to look after the finish of your paint. They are good for chrome and windows.
It is best to try and keep up with the dust that gets on your bike by wiping it down after each ride if possible. It only takes a few minutes to do it properly and will prevent any buildup.
Never, ever, wipe the bike down dry, even with a duster. This is where the swirls and halos come from. Micro scratches caused by the dust and a dry cloth or duster. You need to mist the surface with a quick detailer spray to lift the dust off the surface any provide a lubricant for your duster or towel when wiping. Wipe the surface gently, and in straight lines to remove the dust that has been lifted by the detailer. Straight lines is the key here. Wiping in circles produces swirls and halos. If you are on the road or don't have any detailer spray then don't wipe down the bike until you get some, period.
Turn the cloth frequently to a clean unused surface, and never reuse the same surface twice. Use as many cloths as necessary to wipe down the bike. This may seem ****, but trust me it works, and you will soon develop a quick and effective process using a couple of towels. Towels are then washed after each use with a micro fiber towel cleaner and hung to dry. If you drop it on the floor, STOP, and get a new one. They are magnets for dust and dirt. One final light misting and polish with a fresh towel and your bike looks like new.
If you get caught in the rain or have an excessive amount of road dust on your bike from a few rides since you cleaned it last, then don't even think of wiping it with the method described above. There will likely be too much abrasive dust and grime on the surface. In this case I resort to a quick wash using a quality car wash soap that will not remove the waxes applied initially. It also provides the lubrication required to remove the dirt without scratching and leaving streaks. Invest in a deep pile microfiber wash mit or towel to wash the bike. Do not use a sponge, as these are dense, and much of the dirt remains on or near the surface to scratch the finish as you wash. Again, wash in straight lines, not in orbital motions. Try to rub in the same straight line direction on each body panel for subsequent washes and wipe downs. Dry with a blower and a quality micro fiber towel and you are done.
Keep bike covered when not in use to minimize the dust that settles on it, even in the garage.
It takes some time and effort but your bike will look fantastic all season long.
If it's a black bike that you like, then go buy one and enjoy it!
Hope this helps.
My 2009 vivid black streetglide looks brand new, and I get compliments all the time on how nice it looks. I also put 15K a year on the bike.
It does require some time and effort to keep it this way, but it is a labour of love so to speak.
The one thing to keep in mind is that it will be impossible to avoid minute swirls and halos, but you can minimize and remove them quite easily.
Here is what I have learned, a few suggestions of which have been mentioned already:
I start each season by spending a full day detailing the bike by going over all the surfaces I can with a random orbital polisher and a 3" pad using a quality polishing compound like Menzerna. With the random orbital polisher you will not introduce any swirls, and it will leave you with beautiful mirror like finish. I work other areas by hand that the polisher will not reach. You are only polishing swirls out of the clearcoat during all of this, and are not even touching the paint layer.
Next, apply a couple of coats of polymer sealant to protect and seal the paint. No furniture polish for me. This gives a beautiful shine that will last for months provided you are not using any harsh cleaners thereafter. I follow that up with a couple of coats carnauba wax to really make things glow and help prevent any swirls from the cleaning sessions that lie ahead. You now have a showroom looking finish that will be flawless unless you have damage from previous neglect that requires specialized attention.
From here on, you need to prevent swirls and halos by following these simple rules.
Have plenty of quality microfiber towels. A quality towel has a deep pile and no tags sewn into the edges to cause minute scratches. The deep pile allows dust to be drawn into the cloth, away from the surface fibres where it will cause scratches and swirls with subsequent wiping actions. Bargain brand bags of cheap towels will not give the performance you need to look after the finish of your paint. They are good for chrome and windows.
It is best to try and keep up with the dust that gets on your bike by wiping it down after each ride if possible. It only takes a few minutes to do it properly and will prevent any buildup.
Never, ever, wipe the bike down dry, even with a duster. This is where the swirls and halos come from. Micro scratches caused by the dust and a dry cloth or duster. You need to mist the surface with a quick detailer spray to lift the dust off the surface any provide a lubricant for your duster or towel when wiping. Wipe the surface gently, and in straight lines to remove the dust that has been lifted by the detailer. Straight lines is the key here. Wiping in circles produces swirls and halos. If you are on the road or don't have any detailer spray then don't wipe down the bike until you get some, period.
Turn the cloth frequently to a clean unused surface, and never reuse the same surface twice. Use as many cloths as necessary to wipe down the bike. This may seem ****, but trust me it works, and you will soon develop a quick and effective process using a couple of towels. Towels are then washed after each use with a micro fiber towel cleaner and hung to dry. If you drop it on the floor, STOP, and get a new one. They are magnets for dust and dirt. One final light misting and polish with a fresh towel and your bike looks like new.
If you get caught in the rain or have an excessive amount of road dust on your bike from a few rides since you cleaned it last, then don't even think of wiping it with the method described above. There will likely be too much abrasive dust and grime on the surface. In this case I resort to a quick wash using a quality car wash soap that will not remove the waxes applied initially. It also provides the lubrication required to remove the dirt without scratching and leaving streaks. Invest in a deep pile microfiber wash mit or towel to wash the bike. Do not use a sponge, as these are dense, and much of the dirt remains on or near the surface to scratch the finish as you wash. Again, wash in straight lines, not in orbital motions. Try to rub in the same straight line direction on each body panel for subsequent washes and wipe downs. Dry with a blower and a quality micro fiber towel and you are done.
Keep bike covered when not in use to minimize the dust that settles on it, even in the garage.
It takes some time and effort but your bike will look fantastic all season long.
If it's a black bike that you like, then go buy one and enjoy it!
Hope this helps.
So what/how do you clean it when on a two week trip?? Or do you just wait till you get home?
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 73
Likes: 1
From: Magic City, Maine
I agree with never wiping a dry bike. You see people do it all the time. When i get home and am covered in bugs i will lay a wet towel over the front of the fairing to soften the bugs. With a good coat of wax underneath that usually lifts the bugs easy so you don't have to rub hard making swirls. I also wax the bike every second wash job. I use turtle wax platinum.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Holland, NY
I find that if I keep the windshield polished and my *** in the saddle, the bike looks pretty good! I ride a black bike because (obviously) I'm the wrong guy for a fancy paint job. I save that for the old shovel, which is mostly retired these days.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 2
From: C-bus
I like wizards products with a microfiber towel, with the quick shine remember to keep turning the towel after a couple of swipes. Oh yeah a painter told one time to take waxes and quick shine products off with a straight stroke running with the direction of the bike and not circles, it seems to be working for me bike still looks good after 5 years since paint.