Black R1200R paint care

[Gr8ear]

Just joined the Forum about a week ago in anticipation of purchasing a R1200R, and late yesterday afternoon took delivery of the last new `08 R1200R here in Phoenix. The bike looked perfect on the showroom floor, but this morning, with reflected sunlight coming through the garage door windows, the paint shows many surface scratches.:( No doubt these are the result of several month's worth of the dealer's employees wiping down the bike while it was sitting on the showroom floor.

I typically manage to keep my bikes looking like new for years, so I went right after these blemishes. After gently removing the surface dust, I tried applying Meguires Swirl Remover with perfectly clean and soft terry cloth towels, but only ended up with more swirls. This has always been an effective product on lighter colored bikes, but seems to fall short on this black one.

Has anyone found a product that either completely removes or thoroughly hides all those light surface scratches that black paint seems to show so readily? Is the paint on these late model Beemers softer and more easily marred than earlier models of the same color?

Thanks for any feedback.

Dean

[LoneRanger]

If you go to any Honda dealer you can buy a spray can of "Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish". I will take out all the marks you are talking about. I carry a can with me all the time to clean the windscreen and bike. You can also buy the same stuff at any GM car dealer but I do not know the name that they call it. Try this you will be amazed.

[47512]

I was in the German auto repair business for many years, and we used a 3M product for black and dark colors, and it works very well. I have used it with a slow speed buffer with good results, but can be put on buy hand but it takes some elbo grease. It is called Finesse-it II finishing material by 3M. It will not scratch the paint. It is available only from places that serve the automotive body and paint business, you won't find it in a auto parts store, but they might br able to order it for you. It comes in a 1 qt. bottle, a life time supply for a motorcycle.
3M #051131-05928.

Ken G.

[SCQTT]

I had a black truck once.

Black is a good color for boots.

[AZ-J]

Try Can-Do Caranuba spray from Saeng, here (http://www.saeng.com/3002.htm). Great stuff, I use it on this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2993600520_ff600750bf_b.jpg

[Gr8ear]

I was in the German auto repair business for many years, and we used a 3M product for black and dark colors, and it works very well. I have used it with a slow speed buffer with good results, but can be put on buy hand but it takes some elbo grease. It is called Finesse-it II finishing material by 3M. It will not scratch the paint. It is available only from places that serve the automotive body and paint business, you won't find it in a auto parts store, but they might br able to order it for you. It comes in a 1 qt. bottle, a life time supply for a motorcycle.
3M #051131-05928.

Ken G.

Thanks, Ken. I'll see if I can find it. We have a couple of body shops that specialize in repairing and refinishing German autos, so I'll give them a call on Monday and see if I can find it.

Dean

[Gr8ear]

If you go to any Honda dealer you can buy a spray can of "Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish". I will take out all the marks you are talking about. I carry a can with me all the time to clean the windscreen and bike. You can also buy the same stuff at any GM car dealer but I do not know the name that they call it. Try this you will be amazed.

I'll check it out--sounds like something good to have around. I assume this is the type of product that one might need to reapply after each wash job to maintain the effect, but you tell me? I'm looking for something that is protective as well, in hopes of preventing further surface scuffing.

Dean

[Gr8ear]

Try Can-Do Caranuba spray from Saeng, here (http://www.saeng.com/3002.htm). Great stuff, I use it on this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2993600520_ff600750bf_b.jpg

Nice looking bike! If it weren't for my advancing years and thoroughly screwed up back, that's the bike I would have liked to buy. Very happy with the Roadster, however.

I've tried various Carnuba products in the past, but ended up finding things I liked better. Your bike is going to be alot easier to keep looking nice. Keep the sunny side up.

See you live in Scottsdale. Maybe we could get together for a ride sometime? Always enjoyed looking at the dual exhausts on the rear end of an R1200S.

Dean

[leadfoot]

Find a local parts store, or automotive paint store that sells paint supplies. I would first try some Fill-n-Glaze compound. It can be put on by hand, let it haze, then buff to a finish. This eliminates swirl marks and very fine scratches. If that does not do the trick, use some 3M Perfect-It 3000 compound (P/N 06062). It is best applied with a waffle pad and a drill motor or buffer. It will surely smooth the scratches, then follow that step with the Fill-n-Glaze compound. I also own a Black Electra Glide, and this is how I maintain it when the swirl marks from washing and what have you start to show. If you have a pretty good paint person at the store, they can most likely recommend to you what will be best. It might be a bit pricy, as paint & body supplies come in bulk (quarts), but the advantage will be that you will definitely have enough to last awhile.

Good luck!

[tommiebyrne]

3M make a product for dark colors any auto paint supply store will have it ,. its called perfect it 2

[Gr8ear]

Leadfoot and tommiebyrne, thanks for your input. I have located an Automotive paint supply house in Phoenix that carries the products that you have suggested, as well as the Finesse-it II recommended by Ken G.

For my purposes, it sounds like the Perfect-it 3000 compound may be a little more than I need, so I'm going to try either the Finesse-it II or the Perfect-it II, and go from there.

Thanks to everyone who responded--you've been most informative and helpful.

Dean

[danalbertson]

I've had good results removing some blemishes caused by a magnetic tank bag on my black w/white pin stripes R1200R with Race Glaze.

Here is what I used to good effect, by hand. No power tools used.

Step one, Race Glaze Leveling Compound (http://www.raceglaze.com/level.html).

Step two: Race Glaze Polish and Sealant (http://www.raceglaze.com/polish.html)

Your results may vary so be careful.

[leadfoot]

Leadfoot and tommiebyrne, thanks for your input. I have located an Automotive paint supply house in Phoenix that carries the products that you have suggested, as well as the Finesse-it II recommended by Ken G.

For my purposes, it sounds like the Perfect-it 3000 compound may be a little more than I need, so I'm going to try either the Finesse-it II or the Perfect-it II, and go from there.

Thanks to everyone who responded--you've been most informative and helpful.

Dean

You are quite welcome, happy to help. Now quit cleaning that thing and ride, it ain't a Harley!!! LOL:stick