scratch & swirls on my black M50 after washing - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

cornell · 11-11-2005, 06:40 PM

hey guys...

this is my 1st post after months of wondering around and absorbing all the info. Well, last week I purchased my black m50 and put about 300 miles under my belt. Today since it was a week old i decided to give the bike her 1st wash. I washed her with turtle wax car soap and finished off with a wax. After washing and drying (dried w/ terry-cloth) her down i noticed light scratches and swirly marks on the tank, which is really annoying after the 1st week. Seems like i scratched into the clear coat. I goggled this topic and it seems like its very common on black cars/bikes etc. I noticed there is a ton of products for swirl and scratch removal.

Does anyone know which is the best ??

Thanks!!

Uechi Kid · 11-11-2005, 07:33 PM

Use a good polish. That will take care of the swirl marks. I use Maguire’s

jkulysses · 11-11-2005, 08:55 PM

It is impossibe to not get these with black paint eventually. It helps to always use a clean soft rag, never let it touch the ground and don't wash by rubbing it around in a circular motion. Just rub it like left and right. The only way to actually remove these swirl marks is by buffing them out with a good polish compound and then apply a good wax to protect the paint.

chadrob30 · 11-11-2005, 09:11 PM

I have a red M50 and mine is the same way already....Macquires here I come, lol.

**Clint** · 11-11-2005, 09:17 PM

Black is tough. My father insists on owning black pickups, and he's about as rough on a truck as anyone I've ever known.

QuacktheDuck · 11-11-2005, 10:25 PM

maguire's? macquires? lol guys it's meguiar's

jkulysses is right though, they're gonna appear eventually and have to be buffed out. I have what, 5 coats of meguiar's on there and some still show up...the ones on the rear fender irk me the most. But after awhile I got over trying to keep up with the swirls.

Danr · 11-12-2005, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornell

hey guys...

this is my 1st post after months of wondering around and absorbing all the info. Well, last week I purchased my black m50 and put about 300 miles under my belt. Today since it was a week old i decided to give the bike her 1st wash. I washed her with turtle wax car soap and finished off with a wax. After washing and drying (dried w/ terry-cloth) her down i noticed light scratches and swirly marks on the tank, which is really annoying after the 1st week. Seems like i scratched into the clear coat. I goggled this topic and it seems like its very common on black cars/bikes etc. I noticed there is a ton of products for swirl and scratch removal.

Does anyone know which is the best ??

Thanks!!

Are these swirl marks on the tank where your legs are positioned by the tank ? If they are then it's your colthing that's causing it. Small stick on tank pads may be your answer.

cornell · 11-12-2005, 04:58 PM

thanks guys !!

went out and bought some meguiar's scratch remover and clear coat wax and like magic the swirls are gone.

Danr: most of the swirls were located on top of the tank due to drying the tank with the towel.

Another question thats off this topic . I noticed the "air cleaner drain plug" located under the air intake tends to drop a little water/oil on the bike. I emptied "air cleaner drain plug" this morning and after a 100 mile ride i noticed some new drops. Is this normal ?

Thanks again !

stp1971 · 11-14-2005, 10:39 AM

Also 3M makes a couple of products that work well for removing swirls and fine scratches. I used to use it on my old vette which was black and silver. They make a polish, a scratch remover, and a protectant which all makes it look like it is wet. They are in a black bottle and if I could remember the exact part numbers I would tell you but I bought all three at Pep Boys and it works better than anything I have used to date on black.

Pinhy · 11-14-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuacktheDuck

maguire's? macquires? lol guys it's meguiar's

jkulysses is right though, they're gonna appear eventually and have to be buffed out. I have what, 5 coats of meguiar's on there and some still show up...the ones on the rear fender irk me the most. But after awhile I got over trying to keep up with the swirls.

agreed...i have had a couple black cars (have one now) and my black bike...they are the best looking vehicles on the road, but hard to keep clean and free of swirls. i just live with it. they are VEHICLES! they go 80mph down the interstate with dust and rocks and everything else flying up hitting them. unless it is a show vehicle, i dont see a need to have a pristine paint finish on them. i have learned to just live with it

.

stp1971 · 11-14-2005, 10:45 AM

Doug seems that is the exact words you used that day at the car wash when you were washing your bike off. Do you have that memorized???? LOL!!!!!

Pinhy · 11-14-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp1971

Doug seems that is the exact words you used that day at the car wash when you were washing your bike off. Do you have that memorized???? LOL!!!!!

i have to keep telling myself that over and over, everytime i see a new scratch, nick, swirl, dent...etc!!

.

11-11-2005, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
cornell In Training Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 2006 FZ6 (sold blk 05 M50) Location: dirtee jerzee ~NJ~ Posts: 111	scratch & swirls on my black M50 after washing hey guys... this is my 1st post after months of wondering around and absorbing all the info. Well, last week I purchased my black m50 and put about 300 miles under my belt. Today since it was a week old i decided to give the bike her 1st wash. I washed her with turtle wax car soap and finished off with a wax. After washing and drying (dried w/ terry-cloth) her down i noticed light scratches and swirly marks on the tank, which is really annoying after the 1st week. Seems like i scratched into the clear coat. I goggled this topic and it seems like its very common on black cars/bikes etc. I noticed there is a ton of products for swirl and scratch removal. Does anyone know which is the best ?? Thanks!!

11-11-2005, 09:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
chadrob30 Sprocket Pilot Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2008 B-King Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas Posts: 818	I have a red M50 and mine is the same way already....Macquires here I come, lol. __________________ 2008 Suzuki B-King. Stainless Scorpion Slipons.

11-14-2005, 10:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	Also 3M makes a couple of products that work well for removing swirls and fine scratches. I used to use it on my old vette which was black and silver. They make a polish, a scratch remover, and a protectant which all makes it look like it is wet. They are in a black bottle and if I could remember the exact part numbers I would tell you but I bought all three at Pep Boys and it works better than anything I have used to date on black. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

11-14-2005, 10:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	Doug seems that is the exact words you used that day at the car wash when you were washing your bike off. Do you have that memorized???? LOL!!!!! __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

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11-11-2005, 07:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Uechi Kid Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 04 M95, Yamaha VStar 650 Location: Antioch, Ca. Posts: 744	Use a good polish. That will take care of the swirl marks. I use Maguire’s

11-11-2005, 08:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
jkulysses Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: Oregon Posts: 832	It is impossibe to not get these with black paint eventually. It helps to always use a clean soft rag, never let it touch the ground and don't wash by rubbing it around in a circular motion. Just rub it like left and right. The only way to actually remove these swirl marks is by buffing them out with a good polish compound and then apply a good wax to protect the paint.

11-11-2005, 10:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
QuacktheDuck Sprocket Pilot Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2004 FZ6 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 858	maguire's? macquires? lol guys it's meguiar's jkulysses is right though, they're gonna appear eventually and have to be buffed out. I have what, 5 coats of meguiar's on there and some still show up...the ones on the rear fender irk me the most. But after awhile I got over trying to keep up with the swirls.

11-12-2005, 04:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
cornell In Training Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 2006 FZ6 (sold blk 05 M50) Location: dirtee jerzee ~NJ~ Posts: 111	thanks guys !! went out and bought some meguiar's scratch remover and clear coat wax and like magic the swirls are gone. Danr: most of the swirls were located on top of the tank due to drying the tank with the towel. Another question thats off this topic . I noticed the "air cleaner drain plug" located under the air intake tends to drop a little water/oil on the bike. I emptied "air cleaner drain plug" this morning and after a 100 mile ride i noticed some new drops. Is this normal ? Thanks again !

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