Author Topic: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?  (Read 951 times)

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Offline rocs

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How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« on: July 03, 2014, 08:09:14 PM »
Hey guys,

I would like to detail my motorcycle and would like some tips on where to start. I have a mothers metal/chrome polish but I would like to give the bike a professional level detail. What does everyone recommend?

My goal is to clean the engine up as best as possible. Also, I would like to clean the forks up as well. The metal looks old and dull.

I would like to go from something like this,


to this
1975 CB550k's

Offline Thamuz

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2014, 08:21:09 PM »
Same here.  I know this is going to be hours of work.  elbow grease by the barrel. 

Oh and lots of buffing wheels? lol
1979 Yami Chopper XS1100s
1978 CB750k
1977 CB550F
1974 CB550k
Parts bike for the 550's

Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2014, 08:30:53 PM »
Gotta get thru the factory clearcoat first, unfortunately. Chemical stripping or elbow grease in order to do it. If you have bad pitting or very dark staining you could have to go down to 220.

I usually go 220, 320, 400, 600, scothbrite then polishing compound and then metal polish. I don't go in for the super shiny stuff tho, I like a clear, bright aluminum more than anything
The dirty girl-1976 cb750k, Ebay 836, Tracy bodykit
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2014, 12:13:37 AM »
red scotchbrite and lots of rubbing will get you started
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2014, 07:31:27 AM »
A glass beader will make quick work of that clear coat with a good compressor and allow you to skip right to 400 grit wet sand.  The higher you go the shinier it will get.

Offline tomk1960

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2014, 09:51:43 AM »
Zip Strip or a stripper of similar strength will take care of the remaining clearcoat fairly quickly.  Brush it on and work on something else for a half hour or so, then rinse off and dry, then begin polishing.  Any oxidation will require some work to remove, so wet sanding as others here have mentioned will help speed up the process.  My son polished the legs pictured below and spent approx. 4 hours on them.  After he was done, I thoroughly cleaned them and then powder coated with a nice high gloss clearcoat.  This will keep the oxidation from returning and will minimize maintenance.

2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic
1984 VF1000F Interceptor
1983 CB1100F Super Sport
1983 VF750F Interceptor
1982 CB900F Super Sport
1978 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1974 CB750 Four

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Offline calj737

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2014, 12:35:07 PM »
Rocs - the "chrome" Polish is the wrong product. These are not chromed, their aluminum with a clear coat. As others have said, remove the damaged clear coat, scuff, sand, buff, and then you can use "aluminum" polish to maintain the shine (unless you re-coat with clear or powder coat clear).
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

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Offline RJ CB450

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2014, 05:44:54 PM »
Aluminum for me is always the buff and polish... for what little I do of it cause I kept the patina on my bike.

Chrome, if really nasty, start with some glass cleaner or other lubricant and an SOS pad.  The finer rust and grime, the nighthawker's solution (from nighthawk forum) has been aluminum foil and wd40.

For cleaning engines, I have one trick I use, and only that trick.  Some will use oils, etc to hide the dirt, but to really scrub clean is is soaking with soaps and water, and I use those foam paint brushes (2" wide one) with the wood handle.  Super cheap, and they have a firm center perfect for cleaning between fins.

The rest, 1" foam brush is awesome for scrubbing wriggly parts like calipers, nooks in frames, etc and tight spots on the wheels.

If the bike is really bad for dirt, don't try to scrub it all off at once.  You can start scrubbing away paint, etc.  Better to just do it lightly each time you wash the bike, and it will take off the heavyset stuff over time.  Toilet bowl brushes are great for scrubbing tires!  Especially if you have white lettering/whitewalls.
74 CB450 K7 Supersport, 82 CB650sc Nighthawk, 1982 CBX 1000, 2015 Tiger XCx.... And some ol minibike with a 5hp Briggs.

Offline nixon

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2014, 02:55:13 AM »
like others have said- remove clear with stripper, then wet sand, bucket of water drop of dishwasher .

 What grade to start depends on condition of the aluminium.

if great condition id go 400/600/800/1200 and 1500/2000. if bad nicks you may need to start 240.

then buff with autosol.

theirs alot of guys who wont clear over again in fwar of yellowing and polish regularly. or you can use a metal clear

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-diamond-clear-gloss-bare-metal-aero-11-oz.html#

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Offline 70CB750

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Re: How to give your motorcycle a proper detail?
« Reply #9 on: July 05, 2014, 04:07:03 AM »
Prokop
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