Morning all, I was looking at 2012 Black Denim bikes at a dealer a couple of days ago... I'm all set to go and buy a 2012 SG Black Denim, all the bikes in the dealership had a sheen/shine on them that I'd never noticed before. I'm not a big fan of the look, I really want the Black Denim, is this something they did trying to make them look pretty or is this something new for the 2012 Black Denim???? This was on every Black Denim bike on the floor, not just the touring bikes. Thanks in advance.

Doug

 

Interesting, I wonder if they dusted them with pledge. I have a 2010, there is no shine on it. The newer black denim I have seen are like mine.

 

they probably used some harley gloss on them. while it sounds counterintuitive, hd actually recommends harley gloss on the denim finishes. if you use windex or harley denim paint cleaner, it tends to streak a little, the harley gloss 'evens' it out. it does give it a little bit of a shine, but still retains that showroom look.

i think you'll find that if you go to a bunch of showrooms, all the new denim bikes will have that 'shine'. after they've been out for a while, if you don't use the h gloss, they will go more 'flat'.

 

I'm sure a few washings with dawn and the shine will be gone

 

I have a 12 SG and it did not have a shine when i bought it, but I have heard about the HD polish.

 

My 09 FLHT Denim Black did not have a shine on it when I bought it. The service manual says to wipe it down with windex or HD Denim cleaner, the parts manager at my local dealer told me not to use the HD gloss on it, he said that if you continue to use the gloss polish it will turn the paint to where it looks like vivid black, he said that they use a dulling agent in the clear coat to give it the semi-flat look and gloss polish will smooth out the clear coat and make it shiney, I don't know this for sure, just going by what the parts manager told me. I have noticed that under the nose of the seat where it rubs the tank, it is very shiney and smooth in that spot.

 

i've been using harley gloss on my bike for over 2 years. it does not make it super glossy like the vivid black. the windex and denim paint cleaner leave a streaky film, and the hg evens it out. yes, it gives it a little shine, but not any more than it had on the showroom floor. it is recommended in your owners manual.

 

It never ceases to amaze me some of the things some HD dealers say....

 

And to think I've got 2 cans of the HD Gloss in the garage that I've only been using on my chrome!....Thanks Skratch, glad you cleared that up that it won't hurt the Denim paint, and you are right, it is in the manual, just didn't see it before. Guess the parts manager just wanted to sell me the Denim cleaner because it takes more to get rid of the streaking, and windex is just as bad if not worse!!

 

My buddies denim black now has gloss black parts of the tank sides from his jeans rubbing against it while riding. There is no way to match the factory paint either. Needless to say, he's pretty bent.

mikebaby