Unpainted solid plastic/vinyl motorcycle body

[Mary S]

Hi, my motorcycle body is unpainted. The purple color of the plastic/vinyl goes straight through to the other side.

I am sure the dullness/light scratches would look a lot better if I used a wax on it, but I was wondering if there is anything that can be done to actually correct the surface like you can with painted surfaces. Anyone else ever dealt with this situation? I may eventually just end up getting it painted.

[Michael Stoops]

That material generally does not lend itself to polishing in the way that paint does, so a good cleaner wax is usually about the best you can hope for. ColorX would be a good choice here, but that's probably about it.

[gbackus]

That material generally does not lend itself to polishing in the way that paint does, so a good cleaner wax is usually about the best you can hope for. ColorX would be a good choice here, but that's probably about it.

Novus #2 is what is recomended by the manufacturer(Buell), and it works really well for the heavy stuff(like what you would see on the area of the airbox that gets rubbed by your belt), but for the minor stuff M80 works really well.

[Mary S]

Thanks both of you. I looked up the Buell recommendations, and the Novus 1 is for "translucent" body panels, which it looks like I have what they call molded-in-color. This is from the site:

The body panels feature molded-in-color technology. The color pigment is mixed in with the material when the part is made, not applied over the surface. Molded-in-color panels require different maintenance than painted surfaces to maintain their original shine. Using methods that work on painted surfaces may ruin the finish of molded-in-color parts.

Recommended Products

Products recommended for the proper care and maintenance of molded-in-color body panels are listed below:

HARLEY WASH (Part No. 99715-90) or HARLEY SUN WASH (Part No. 94659-98).
HARLEY GLOSS (Part No. 94627-98).
HARLEY GLAZE POLISH AND SEALANT (Part No. 99701-84).
HARLEY SWIRL AND SCRATCH TREATMENT (Part No. 94655-98).

I'll pick those last 2 up next time I'm down there, or the ColorX next time I see it.

Thanks again.

[gbackus]

When the surlyn panels first came out in 2001, Novus is all that was recomended; it continued to be all that was recomended until Harley's branded products came out, which are nothing more than overpriced polish and glaze.

Novus #1 is a mily liquid similar to a thick glass cleaner, Novus #2 is an actual plastic polish.

[Mary S]

I see! Thanks, gbackus! Do you have one of the Buells too?

By the way, you know Meguiars has the 4" Softbuff pads now!

[gbackus]

I see! Thanks, gbackus! Do you have one of the Buells too?

By the way, you know Meguiars has the 4" Softbuff pads now!

I have an X1 Lightning and an 1125R

I'm also too lazy to edit my signature

[roushstage2]

I use Plexus with great results on the black, plastic panels on my Quad.

[Mary S]

Thanks, gbackus! I got the novus 2 and it really works great!