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[Grizzly]

Thanks so much, that line reminded me of something that made me laugh until my eyes leaked.  Several years ago was dating a lass named Moira.  A true daughter of Ireland.  Still lived there part of the year when not doing some church volunteer task here in the states.  Her brother is a Priest here in the midwest.  Family from and still in the south of Ireland.  The real deal; red hair and all.

Red hair and all to include the attitude to go along with it.  One weekend we're riding and killing time at a rally.  Some family of hers are visiting the states and we're all meeting up "sometime" that weekend.  She's going on and on about home and how great it'll be to see the family.  And in the middle of all of it I had a sewing vendor make up a patch that read "Erin go Braghless."  Got it discretely pinned on the back of her vest while she was off to the restroom (or somewhere).  Then, of course, she didn't have the thing back on ten minutes before dad and brother showed up from behind her. 

Her brother was amused.  Her dad was not.  The evening went downhill for awhile after that....

That's a great story and what a character you are!

[spydglide]

Yes I'm lucky enough to have one of those Teal beauties.

yowsah.    har.  spyder

[Dr.D]

I hate a dirty bike. At times I like the cleaning a polishing ritual. Why spend gobs of money on a shiny new bike and then let it look poor???

As to the comment that they are only nuts, bolts and sheet metal. Sure are and you can buy buckets of that stuff at the hardware store but it WON'T be a great looking Harley.

[Wrongway]

i have read with interest over the last few months about this polish , that polish, glare this ......  etc etc
guys seriously , the harley davidson factory goes to an awful lot of trouble to use the best paint, apply it correctly , put clear coats and we try and analyse the crap out of it.
it is pretty simple wash the bike when it is dirty, pretty much anything will do , if you have got the harley wash , use that, that is what the factory deems to be the best, i have used it and it doesnt foam as much , so easy on easy off,
i have used on my 96 fxstc with 100, 000 km on the clock every sort of wax from furniture polish to macquires gold, whatever appeals at the time, it has been around australia, and toured the united states with me, and has even accompanied dave barr on his great southern cross ride .  it has gone months on end without washing, had mud caked on it, has been usually washed with a bucket and sponge, but has now graduated to a lambswool mitt,
so as you can see the paint has had a hard life , usually it sits in the garage next to my new cvo, so it doesnt get much use , but when it does i sparay any thing that is handy from harley glaze to mr sheen, an australian waxy furniture polish, and the paint looks still as good as the day i bought it .
so remember , dont be to precious just ride it hard, wash it when its dirty and keep the shiny side up.

 Sorry that I am just now seeing this, clearly you weren't around in 2006!

[dcigar]

what happened in 2006 ??

[Midnight Rider]

what happened in 2006 ??

Lot's of milky clear coat on the SEUC's.  They had to replace a lot of painted parts that year.  Later in the model year, they got the problems corrected.  The problem is, there's no telling how many owners are out there with bad paint and don't even know it.

[dcigar]

obviously wrongway got it the wrong way....... 
i was referring to my 96 fxstc, paint is still perfect.

heard nothing about problems on 06 cvo,s .. there has never been a huge amount of them in oz until this year when the price dropped dramatically.

[Elixer]

i say...to each his own....

keeping the shiny and clean is one thing. i choose to do so and like it as I do with my automobiles. its a hobbie ajd just that...not a fanatic about it and it keeps me in garage which is my domain....

garage queens that never get ridden is another story, i.e. when i hear / read of a MC that has never been ridden in the rain.now that's gettin anal..

[Wrongway]

obviously wrongway got it the wrong way....... 
i was referring to my 96 fxstc, paint is still perfect.

heard nothing about problems on 06 cvo,s .. there has never been a huge amount of them in oz until this year when the price dropped dramatically.

117 pages on this topic and I got it wrong?

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=3842.0

[dcigar]

try reading the post correctly. i am referring to a 96 model.
i have no idea about the 06 models,

IMHO the factory paint on both my bikes cant be faulted
but i will read the thread you provided

[Midnight Rider]

The issue here is making a blanket statement that HD uses the "best" paint/clearcoat, which is simply not true for all bikes and all year models.  In addition, their quality control leaves something to be desired in many cases, the '06 SEUC being a glaring case, with thousands of bikes shipped to dealers with bad paint jobs.  Owners of those bikes went through hell getting the paint issues resolved.  There have also been cases where there were bubbles under the paint, fingerprints under clearcoat, etc.  Plus, the hardness of the clearcoat seems to vary some, with some being more likely to get small scratches/swirl marks, etc very easily.

That your '96 model has excellent paint is great, but making a general statement about ALL paint jobs on HD bikes, based on one example, is a stretch...thus some of the responses to your OP.

[spydglide]

The issue here is making a blanket statement that HD uses the "best" paint/clearcoat, which is simply not true for all bikes and all year models.  That your '96 model has excellent paint is great, but making a general statement about ALL paint jobs on HD bikes, based on one example, is a stretch...thus some of the responses to your OP.

Especially since they tend to contract with different vendors for their 'custom' paint and it therefore can vary accordingly.  spyder

[miker]

Its why the wise ones switch to Webber Grill paint in a rattle can. 

[Spanky]

I love washing and waxing my bike. Its kinda  therapeutic, plus it makes my ride more purdy.

[mlbraptor]

I enjoy drinking a beer and polishing my sled..
not because I have to; because I want to.