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[dcigar]

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.

[Twolanerider]

Tellin' this crowd not to be so anal retentive about their bikes.  That's funny.

[TIF2]

^^

No, THIS is what is funny:

" ... the harley davidson factory goes to an awful lot of trouble to use the best paint, apply it correctly , put clear coats ... "

Almost spit out my coffee when I read that one    
Wish it were true though ...

[GregKhougaz]

Cigar,

       I love the Aussies but I think I have to say you're "upside down" on this one.  Harley paint is good but not the best.  Their polish products are the ones they can make the most money on.  Not that there is anything wrong with them but there are certainly better products available.  Reading your post, I guess I just have to say:

GK

[Midnight Rider]

Tellin' this crowd not to be so anal retentive about their bikes.  That's funny.

X2!

[dcigar]

decided on the weekend to give my bike its first full wash and polish, as sunday was going to be a cold windy rainy day, and the day before was a sunny perfect winter riding day, and melbournes biggest harley dealer harley heaven had a 30 % off sale on all parts and accessories and cleaners etc, so i relented and bought harley sealer and polish, about $10 , some hd chrome polish, and even a microfibre cloth.
after washing , rinsing, and drying, i gave it a top to bottom full detail,
chrome now has a beautiful deep shine, paint is as smooth as glass.

i found the products very inexpensive and of good quality

[Chains]

X2!

X3

[HogBreath]

I'm with ya. Ride the bitch hard. Wash it annually whether it needs it or not.

[HogBreath]

Oh, and a little mold in the TP never hurt nobody.

[miker]

Own a silver bike and no washie worries at all...

[DesertHOG]

I'm with ya. Ride the bitch hard. Wash it annually whether it needs it or not.

Well, now that I have a CVO my routine might change a little but this has been my basic philosophy in the past.
Ride the bitch hard and let the dealer wash it every 2500 miles as part of my service (pre-paid 3yr plan). The only
exception is when I am on extended trips and the bugs start collecting way too fast.

[Midnight Rider]

Oh, and a little mold in the TP never hurt nobody.

Ken carries an on board Penicillin culture with him in his TP at all times...

[grandpadoc]

I'm often jealous of the folks who never wash or detail their bikes, boats, cars. Life would be so much simpler. Its damn frustrating sometimes. My Buddy Norm is like that and he had never washed his Harley for five years and when he had it serviced he told them not to clean anything. When he sold it we gave it the Glare treatment with Spyder and the Polish and it cleaned up real nice. Just shows you that the MoCo does use the good stuff when finishing our bikes.  Doc

[HogBreath]

When it's all said and done, it's just a pile of nuts, bolts, and sheet metal. They'll make more next year.

[spydglide]

I gotta disagree on Harley's paint not being good.  My experience with the late model Harleys (Evo's, etc) has been excellent paint with lots of clear that is very durable.  No 'cracking' from age on my '94 and with 100K + miles, the paint looks brand new.  I don't see any better paint on other bikes that are that old and with that amt. of use.  Harley has cut corners in a lot of areas, but my experience has been that their paint is not one of the shortcomings.  Now, our CVO's are not factory painted and lots of the problems we've experienced with these paint jobs are due, in part, to trying to replicate trick/custom/candy/flake/hand-striped/gold-leaf/etc one off paint schemes and that's hard to do in a consistant manner.  I just wish the rest of the bike was of the same quality throughout as the paint.  JMHO.  spyder

[110tHunDer]

 

I gotta disagree on Harley's paint not being good...

There's a lot I disagree with in this thread. 

[Grizzly]

Okay Cigar, I have to ask... Not that I'm doubting you but,

How about some real good (close up) pictures of this amazing 100,000+ bike with its "like new" paint?

  

[spydglide]

Ole Granny turns 100k.  spyder

[spydglide]

 

[spydglide]

Hey Grizzly, best I can do right now....I'm kinda 'laid-up'.  har.   spyder

[C2CRider]

When it's all said and done, it's just a pile of nuts, bolts, and sheet metal. They'll make more next year.

100% correct!   

[Grizzly]

Hey Grizzly, best I can do right now....I'm kinda 'laid-up'.  har.   spyder

Thanks Spyder.  That sure is a beautiful looking bike.  I'm very impressed with the condition after so many miles!


A couple of weeks ago I decided to enter my 20 year old Heritage into a Show & Shine competition and was quite pleased when it won 1st Place.  It only has half the miles of the nice looking white one though.

Hope you're back on your feet and riding soon Spyder.

[spydglide]

Thanks Spyder.  That sure is a beautiful looking bike.  I'm very impressed with the condition after so many miles!


A couple of weeks ago I decided to enter my 20 year old Heritage into a Show & Shine competition and was quite pleased when it won 1st Place.  It only has half the miles of the nice looking white one though.

Hope you're back on your feet and riding soon Spyder.

I love the green Evo, Grizzly.  I'm partial to green bikes anyway.....my knucklehead, which I rode for 19 yrs. was always some form of Green, although different chopper builds over the years.  They say the green bikes are unlucky, but I always believed it was only if you changed the green to another color. ...har.  spyder

[Grizzly]

I love the green Evo, Grizzly.  I'm partial to green bikes anyway.....my knucklehead, which I rode for 19 yrs. was always some form of Green, although different chopper builds over the years.  They say the green bikes are unlucky, but I always believed it was only if you changed the green to another color. ...har.  spyder

Thanks Spyder,

That's one reason why I have "Erin go Bragh" (which is Gaelic for "Ireland Forever") painted on my rear fender.

The luck o' the Irish is with me always!

[spydglide]

Thanks Spyder,

That's one reason why I have "Erin go Bragh" (which is Gaelic for "Ireland Forever") painted on my rear fender.

The luck o' the Irish is with me always!

Great.  And do you have a '05 Teal SEEG also?    spyder

[hogasm]

I love the green Evo, Grizzly.  I'm partial to green bikes anyway.....my knucklehead, which I rode for 19 yrs. was always some form of Green, although different chopper builds over the years.  They say the green bikes are unlucky, but I always believed it was only if you changed the green to another color. ...har.  spyder

Well then I am up chits creek without a paddle

My 02 started out as a green ultra

[spydglide]

Well then I am up chits creek without a paddle

My 02 started out as a green ultra

Whew!  That sucks Brian.  You better see 2Lane or Spiderman about a cajun voodoo spell to  fix that bitch before anyone rides it again.  whew!  dayum!  uhhhh.  spyder

[Twolanerider]

That's one reason why I have "Erin go Bragh"

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....

[spydglide]

That one made my ribs hurt.  You really are a evil bastaad.  ugh.  spyder

[Grizzly]

Great.  And do you have a '05 Teal SEEG also?    spyder

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

[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.

[bikerdad]

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


say, does anyone know who did the paint on the '11 CVO's

[CVODON]

I am not sure any of the major paint companies make a bad product anymore. Any quality body shop will give a 5 - 10 year warranty on paint. They have to because next guy down the street will if they don't and the warranty is based on paint company and there products. Paint is like anything else in the world, occassionally a bad batch is made but overall all the quality urethanes/water borne base clear systems are excellent and will hold up almost indefinitely if properly maintained.
Harley, just like GM or BMW takes bids on products, BUT if that product has a warranty problem you know who handles the warranty? The supplier in the end just gets a bill so they have to supply good stuff as a bad run or cheap product will be warrantied by GM or HD and then the supplier get the bill in the form of straight dollar deduction from the contract price for the next paint order and no company can afford many of those happening when they already are selling at the bone.

[Frank FX]

2011 CVO Convertible...Paint by Gunslinger Custom Paint

[Panhead_Jimmy]

2011 CVO Convertible...Paint by Gunslinger Custom Paint

Gunslinger is one of the official CVO paint vendors.  There are at least two...I believe.  Gunslinger is definitely one of them.  One of my friends has had his non-CVO Street Glide painted by them and has seen many fenders, tanks and the like, ready to be shipped.  His paint was not a CVO design.  They have legal agreements with the mothership regarding not painting private party bikes too similar to official H-D CVO designs.

[Screamin08]

^^

No, THIS is what is funny:

Almost spit out my coffee when I read that one    
Wish it were true though ...

X2