At the dealership the other day and noticed the new 48s there had some seriously clean and shiny rocker box covers where mine have kind of dulled and have spots on them. Like water spots that stick.

I also have fine scratches and swirl marks on my tank.

What are your guys preferred methods/products to keep your bike looking new?

 

I always wash with a proper automotive soap. It is soft and non-abrasive. I wipe down everything as fast as I can to prevent "spotting" and use Dupont #7 polish on everything chromed and painted.

 

my tank had no swirls till the dealership washed it.

 

Little H2O, microfiber cloths, and, if possible, avoid mud

 

I use Wizard Works products. To get the scratches and swirl marks out I use the Turbo Cut compound. I then use the Shine Master polish. For quick dust cleaning after riding to a bike night/show I use the Mist-N-Shine for a quick clean. Great products!

 

Once that porous metal has some spots on it that have gone thru a few heat cycles, they are Really difficult to remove.

One product that I have found that will remove them, and without a lot of work, is Excites Pure Metal Polish. www.excites.cc

 

Best is to use a leaf blower right after hosing down the bike to get rid of water beads. Then wipe down with synthetic chamois. Finish off with automotive detailer spray buffed with dry clean soft cloth.

 

Hey Tricycle damn man that I do as well. I was going buy one them little blowers at the dealership but they are priced at $ 129.00 my leafblower works just fine. Has anyone used the Luscas fine spray detailer yet that is really good.

 

I have always used Meguiars 3 Step deep crystal system it restores your paint to like new condition.

Step 1 is the bottle of liquid cleaner
Step 2 is the liquid Polish
Step 3 is the liquid Carnuba Wax.

The micro-fiber cloths work well to remove each application.

For your polished aluminum Mothers brand aluminum mag wheel paste polish in a can works very well I apply it with a tooth brush then rub it till it turns black with an old sock.

Depending on the condition of your aluminum if its gray and completely oxidized you can apply the mag wheel polish then take a piece of # 0000 steel wool and remove the layers of oxidation.

I have used a dremel tool with minuature buffer attatchments to polish heavily oxidized aluminum parts after using the #0000 Ultra fine steel wool process & the parts look like chrome when I'm finished then you can just wax them to keep them looking good.

 

I leaf blow after washing, finish with a micro fiber towel. Windex my chrome surfaces and headlight, Pledge my painted and polished aluminum surfaces and dress the seat, and use S100 on the windshield.

It's all sparkly then and is only seen that way about once in a blue moon.