2018 owner paint care

[fencer]

The book says don't wax and the flat paint may scratch easily.

Have you had aby issues with the paint scratching easily?
Do you run a tank bag.

Hell, it even says to consult the dealership for cleaning advice.

Tell me the paint is not that timid

[danh600]

The book says don't wax and the flat paint may scratch easily.

Have you had aby issues with the paint scratching easily?
Do you run a tank bag.

Hell, it even says to consult the dealership for cleaning advice.

Tell me the paint is not that timid

My FJR is not matte, but my MT09 is. It's black matte.

Mine doesn't seem to be softer than other paints.

Don't use regular wax or you will get white swirl marks.

I got the bike new so I decided to bite the bullet and get something that was specifically for matte paint. There are a few different products out there. Some pretty expensive.

I went with one of the more expensive products.
https://www.drbeasleys.com/matte-motorcycle-kit.html


Price seems high and it is, but there is enough in the package to do the bike for years. It goes a long way. It seems to put a nice coating on the matte finish and also works on the plastic parts. So far I am happy with it. Shop around if you decide to go that route. You don't really need the whole kit. You would be fine just using the wash and the actual ceramic coating. I have never used the cleanser. Since my bike started off new the wash was all I needed to get it clean. Then the actual coating. The final finish is just to get dust and finger prints off between washes. I am generally not that particular. So really all you need is the wash and the coating.

Maybe Bill Lumberg will jump in here. He used a Chemical Guys product that he was not entirely happy with.

As for a magnetic tank bag. I use one on both my bikes. I am just very careful to wipe the bottom off really well every time before I put it on the bike. So far no problems on either bike.

[LeeDavis]

I've got 5 yr old FJ-09 that I bought new with the matte finish paint. All it ever gets is a wash every once in a while with Simple Green or LA's Awesome. I imagine dish detergent would work as well. I haven't noticed any problem with scratching and the bike looks great.

[bill lumberg]

Chemical guys jet matte seal sucks. It works on the tank, but will seriously jack up the look of the plastic, and it can take months to wash/wear the stuff off the plastics. Makes them look as though they’ve been scraped or sanded. I thought I found a trick to make it perform better, but no, it still gets all hazy and sketchy after a while, usually when exposed to cold water.

So, with 50,000+ on my matte 2018, I’d stick with soap and water, or use what Dan is using. I know what he has works. I may wait until spring, but I am absolutely going to use the Dr. Beasley’s ceramic.

Chemical Guys matte detailer spray works great for touch ups. Just avoid their jet matte seal unless you’re only using it on the tank.

The book says don't wax and the flat paint may scratch easily.

Have you had aby issues with the paint scratching easily?
Do you run a tank bag.

Hell, it even says to consult the dealership for cleaning advice.

Tell me the paint is not that timid

My FJR is not matte, but my MT09 is. It's black matte.

Mine doesn't seem to be softer than other paints.

Don't use regular wax or you will get white swirl marks.

I got the bike new so I decided to bite the bullet and get something that was specifically for matte paint. There are a few different products out there. Some pretty expensive.

I went with one of the more expensive products.
https://www.drbeasleys.com/matte-motorcycle-kit.html


Price seems high and it is, but there is enough in the package to do the bike for years. It goes a long way. It seems to put a nice coating on the matte finish and also works on the plastic parts. So far I am happy with it. Shop around if you decide to go that route. You don't really need the whole kit. You would be fine just using the wash and the actual ceramic coating. I have never used the cleanser. Since my bike started off new the wash was all I needed to get it clean. Then the actual coating. The final finish is just to get dust and finger prints off between washes. I am generally not that particular. So really all you need is the wash and the coating.

Maybe Bill Lumberg will jump in here. He used a Chemical Guys product that he was not entirely happy with.

As for a magnetic tank bag. I use one on both my bikes. I am just very careful to wipe the bottom off really well every time before I put it on the bike. So far no problems on either bike.

[bungie4]

Wash? Bike?

[wheatonFJR]

Wash? Bike?

Lumberg's bike is nicer looking than your 13 looked brand new. I dont have the patience for it, but I wish I did. Nobody EVER dreams about buying a new bike that looks like dirty Crap.

[danh600]

Wash? Bike?

The only good excuse I have is love bugs. Those things stink. I hate when they get on my bike and gear. Plus they will eat right into your paint.

I have no good excuse for washing off dirt.

[Uncle Hud]

Any paint will scratch when you drop her in a parking lot.

Seriously, I have at least 10,000 miles with a magnetic tank bag ... but the mighty Liquid Graphite shows nary a blemish. The cheesy Cycle Gear bag has seriously non-cheesy magnets, though.

Don’t come in here bitching about the paint job THAT YOU CHOSE.

[raYzerman]

I'd go with a car wash soap and water and that's it. I wouldn't use dishwashing soap, too harsh.

[Canadian FJR]

Dawn dish detergent soap and no wax.
Yamaha used to sell a water based (no wax) cleaner.
There is also a Harley product available for flat paint but the HD stuff will slow your bike down

A tank bag will definitely scratch the tank or at least buff it and puts shiny spots on it.

77,000 kms and counting.


Canadian FJR

[Festus]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's really not the paint that's matte, it's the clear. I've only painted matte finish a few times and one thing you don't want to do is go into the paint store and ask for matte paint Ask me how I know Paint isn't matte, you have to add a flattening agent to it. You buy the paint and add the stuff in it and the more you add, the flatter the finish gets. That's all non-clear stuff that I did. If you had a matte finish paint (like I have done) and you sprayed clear on it, it would be glossy again.

I believe the flattening agent is in the clear. Understanding that, if that's the actual case, helps in understanding how to care for it. If it is in the clear, and that clear is sprayed on with robotic painters, then you know it's the least amount of clear they could put on and maintain coverage, meaning it's not much clear there. I suspect that's where a lot of issues come from.

[bungie4]

My Harley riding buddy across the road washes his bike after every ride. He's got 340K miles on it. 2nd engine. The bike is spotless, I thought it was a new bike, its not. Now understand when he washes it, its a full afternoon job so I'd expect it to be spotless. Powerwasher, blow dry with the leaf blower followed by hours of hand polishing.

"I think Harley uses cheap wheel bearings and wiring. I've replaced both wheel bearing at least every other tire change, and the connectors keep corroding to shit"

"Ever think that washing your bike with a pressure washer which will force water past seals or into connectors, followed by blowing water into places that would normally never get wet, like that, maybe causing your problems?"

"I've done it this way since the bike was new and it looks beautiful!"

"Ya, your probably right."

[danh600]

A tank bag will definitely scratch the tank or at least buff it and puts shiny spots on it.

77,000 kms and counting.


Canadian FJR

You have a good point. Everything you read says anything abrasive is bad for the matte. Don't wax or use any kind of rubbing compound. They even say to not be over zealous scrubbing off a spot of bug guts. All those can led to shiny spots on the paint. I will probably learn the hard way not to run a tank bag. However, as a creature of habit I can't see going riding without it.

To the guys saying just use soap and no wax. That would work. However, I keep my bikes for a long time. I do like the paint looking nice. I don't wash it after every ride. I don't wash it while on a long trip, but I don't let it go for months on end dirty. Plus, down here you have to get the love bugs and certain other bugs off or they will eat into your paint. I wash my bike much more frequently during the two love bug seasons we have. I also hate the smell of those things. So my riding gear also gets washed much more regular that time of year.

So on the glossy FJR I apply a little good quality Carnauba wax product. I like Mequir's. Only takes a few minutes exta. Keeps the paint looking nice and makes the bike much easier to wash the next time. Makes bugs and dirt come off easier and the water beads right up.

So when I got the Matte bike I decided to do the same kind of thing. I wash it and every once in awhile put on the recommend ceramic coating. It's a thin liquid you just wipe on the bike while it's wet and dry like normal. The Matte looks better but not glossy. Bugs and dirt don't stick as easy and maybe it will look better for longer. It takes about 5 minutes of extra work, but probably saves a little time on the next wash.

The FJR paint looks great, well.....except where I dropped it. The wax I use didn't protect against asphalt.

[PhilJet09]

I put 3m paint protection film on my tank when I first got the bike to protect it from the tank bag magnets. After 11 years, it’s the only nice paint left on the bike. I’m pretty sure they make a product for matte finishes.

[Toter]

I like the look of the matte finish. But with the amount of bugs I have to remove each time I wipe the bike down here in North Georgia, I don't know if I could handle the matte. I will wipe down the bike after a days ride, or before the next ride to remove all bugs and dirt. Not a detail job, just general cleanup. I use S100 spray polish. Works great on everything. Once I encounter wet roads, then I will wash with soap and water. I have used a polymer coating called Rejex on my bike and my black F350 dually. It lasts really well and really shines nice. Seems to last very well for me. But, all my stuff is inside and doesn't sit in the sun. Nothing to do with matte paint, so I'll STFU.