High quality microfiber doesn't scratch by itself, but of course any particles embedded in it will. Btw, unfortunately these days there is a lot of pure crap out of China being sold as microfiber. You aren't going to find the good stuff at cut rate prices.
I've noticed a lot of comments in recent years from people who claim to never use a hose or water when cleaning their bike. I don't care what kind of cloth or detail spray they use when wiping down a dirty bike, they will get scratches. The first part of a proper wash, IMHO, is rinsing off as much of the dirt and debris as possible before touching the surface with any kind of sponge/cloth/towel/etc. It also makes a difference if you rub in circles versus cleaning in straight lines. Swirl marks aren't caused by straight line wiping, if you know what I mean.
If the black gloss Harley uses had a properly catalyzed and fully cured clear coat finish, it's unlikely people would be seeing visible scratches and swirls after one or two cleanings. I have no idea what material they are using, but it sounds cheap and soft based on all the comments.
JMHO - Jerry