Problems cleaning matte paintjob

Ptechnix · Post by **Ptechnix** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:11 am

Just wondering if anyone has suggestions on cleaning a matte black finish on a bike....

I'm trying to get some watermarks off from riding in the rain last week (first time washing new 2004 Matte Black Honda VTR Firestorm) and there are some resistant little buggers that won't come off. I've even scuffed the bloody matte finish trying to remove some stubborn watermarks and their still there!

Used your garden variety car wash detergent (turtle) to clean the bike. Most of the bike is fine now bar spots of resistant marks on the front and side fairings. No watermarks on tank.

Grrrr....

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:55 am

I have just used car shampoo (without the wax) and Plexus plastic spray (when it's dry) on my matte black VTR for the last 18 months and it still looks great.

Ptechnix · Post by **Ptechnix** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:52 am

Hmmm... plexus. I have plexus, use it on my paintball visor. I'll try giving that a go. So you don't have any problems with stubborn watermarks Squirrel?

I only find that its on the fairings, have no issues with stubborn watermarks on the tank.

Cheers mate.

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:20 pm

Thinking back to when I got the bike, I do remember it took a while to get the paint looking perfectly clean. It was a bit like water marks, as you describe. I put it down to residue from whatever they protect them with at the factory. After a few good cleanings with Plexus, it came good and is now easy to keep it that way. Plexus is supposed to get into all the microscopic pores in the plastic/paint and seems to do what the makers claim. I use it for all the plastic/paint on my bikes and helmet visor.

Orange Robbie · Post by **Orange Robbie** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:53 pm

I used to have a matte black CBR600, all I ever used was Tesco value furniture polish, when I chopped it in the dealer had it in his showroom as mint, and it virtually was. No marks on the matte paintwork at all, and yep did ride it in the rain, can't avoid the bloody stuff here!

Ptechnix · Post by **Ptechnix** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:50 am

Yep, its been a while but I finally got around to using Plexus on it and it did the trick. Almost all but the most stubborn spots were removed. Yay!

VTR1000KAZ: Plexus is a plastics protectant and cleaner. Its relatively expensive as far as cleaners go... I think I paid about $13 for a can. I got mine from a paintball shop. But I'm sure you can get it from automotive stores.