Soft Paint

[DGA]

Hi,

I got me a '07 S3 that is parked outside under a bunch of trees that tend to drip s*** onto the bike, especially when it rains. I don't have anywhere else to keep it if I plan on riding it any other time but the weekends. So, I was using the Honda all purpose cleaner to get everything off and noticed how soft the paint really is (plastic tank). Swirls left and right on that thing and possibly some pitting in the clear coat from the tree sap. Is Triumph paint/clear coat really this bad?

I am about to get a cover, but could someone suggest a good cleaner?

Thanks

[ This message was edited by: DGA on 2007-06-19 18:27 ]

[jimmie]

Tree sap can be tuff to remove and when you do you can have swirl marks. 3m finishing glaze can help. Other swirl mark removers like Zymol work also. I had 3 coats of clear shot over my 06 because I thought the factory paint was soft and too much orange peel.

[ This message was edited by: jimmie on 2007-06-19 19:29 ]

[VonKujo]

You need to get a bike cover man. It's cheaper then fixing dents and repainting.

[hooliganrider]

For regular cleaning I use a quick detailing spray like Mothers. Works great and only takes a couple minutes to clean the whole bike before a ride. Tree sap I would get a bug and tar remover.

[greenbollocks]

Lotsa cleaners work well but use a good cloth to buff it out. I have always used the Honda cleaner and never had any issues

[JayArr]

Plexus

[Pablo]

Triumph's clear coat is really soft but it is also very thick. I have been buffing my tank out with a polisher and McGuire's polish two or three times a year for 4 years now.
Griot's Garage has the coolest little 3" buffer now that would be perfect for a bike. And their spray-on wax is great for a quick once-over.

[DGA]

Thanks. Its really time to get a cover. My neighbor has a Bonneville and hers has sat under that ***** tree for couple of years now, and that tank looks flaw less once its clean. I have had mine for a month and it looks bad already. I will try buffing some of the swirls out, but if worse comes to worse I will have it re-clear coat. It pisses me off to see it like that when its just sitting there, but as soon as I am riding all of that goes away. This is a *****'n bike.