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Cleaning the body of my C650

Hammo1916

Hammo1916

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Joined
Dec 7, 2021
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11
Location
Western Australia
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The darker areas of my scooter are looking a bit worse for wear- scuff marks from my boots, petrol stains and (because it is the middle of the West Australian summer) bloody zinc from sunscreen. Any suggestions for gentle cleaners?
 
Not familiar with what is available down under, I've used several different auto shampoos or wash and wax with suitable results, I then ceramic coated the tupperware and clean up is very easy now, before that several coats of a good automotive wax helped with appearance and clean up.
 
Not difficult, tedious. Surface needs to be clean and dried to a spotless finish, whatever you leave will be there until you strip it and do it again, but the finish is incredible and the maintenance is minimal. I did it on a VTX1800, it always looked brand new, sold the bike 2 years ago and saw a friend of the new owner who says everyone they ride with knows the bike as the "clean" one. I told him why that bike looks like that and he is spreading the word in their circle, the new owner could only tell them he just washes it and it looks like that. That bike I did with the remnants of a bottle used on a small car of the "real" ceramic coating, there are "ceramic coatings" in a spray bottle that do a very good jod at shine and protection, but don't last like a true ceramic coat, that's what I have on my scoot, about once every 3 months after washing and drying takes about 15 minutes to reapply. Boots don't scuff the center, bird droppings squirt right off and the washes are only about one third as often.
 
Pappy13 said:
Not difficult, tedious. Surface needs to be clean and dried to a spotless finish, whatever you leave will be there until you strip it and do it again, but the finish is incredible and the maintenance is minimal. I did it on a VTX1800, it always looked brand new, sold the bike 2 years ago and saw a friend of the new owner who says everyone they ride with knows the bike as the "clean" one. I told him why that bike looks like that and he is spreading the word in their circle, the new owner could only tell them he just washes it and it looks like that. That bike I did with the remnants of a bottle used on a small car of the "real" ceramic coating, there are "ceramic coatings" in a spray bottle that do a very good jod at shine and protection, but don't last like a true ceramic coat, that's what I have on my scoot, about once every 3 months after washing and drying takes about 15 minutes to reapply. Boots don't scuff the center, bird droppings squirt right off and the washes are only about one third as often.
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Was this on painted areas or matte black plastic areas? The black plastic on mine looks pretty oxidized and nothing I do has helped.
 
I've used the spray ceramic coating on the shiny black plastic, the matte black, the headlights and tail lights and the wind screen. It's hydrophobic (sp?) (repels water) got caught in a shower and rain just runs off screen, creates a super slick surface that mud, bird poop, pollen just won't stay on, generally a stout spray of water and dry the bike is enough and there are wash solutions that "re-treat" the surface as you use them though I don't see much difference in that and regular car wash or wash and wax. I have a strong pressure washer and a foam cannon, very little elbow grease involved once the bike is prepped for the coating and you're just doing maintenance on the finish.
 
Back to Black has worked wonders on the black plastic of several GT's, Burgman 650's and Silver Wings. If the plastic is really faded, you might need some elbow grease to work it in, but eventually it will look like new. On one old Silver Wing, Back to Black made a dramatic, "holy cow, is that the same bike?" difference.

I use Turtle Wax ICE Spray Wax for the fairings. Like-new in minutes. For rubber and vinyl (seat, floor mats, passenger rails), I use Mother's Vinyl-Leather-Rubber cleaner (not shown, red + black bottle shaped like Spray Wax). I keep my 2015 super clean. Riding it feels better that way.
IMG_6335.jpg

2. Left Front.jpg
 
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Ceesie76 said:
@ Delray - it looks like that photo was taken in Mizner Park
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Good eye, you are exactly right.

The bike is in front of Starbucks on the south end of Mizner. It's 0.6 miles from my front door. I stop there sometimes after my morning run to the beach to feed pigeons and gulls. Although with the price of a grande Chai just hiked to $5.94, Starbucks will now get a big "eff you" instead most mornings.
 
Delray said:
Back to Black has worked wonders on the black plastic of several GT's, Burgman 650's and Silver Wings. If the plastic is really faded, you might need some elbow grease to work it in, but eventually it will look like new. On one old Silver Wing, Back to Black made a dramatic, "holy cow, is that the same bike?" difference.

I use Turtle Wax ICE Spray Wax for the fairings. Like-new in minutes. For rubber and vinyl (seat, floor mats, passenger rails), I use Mother's Vinyl-Leather-Rubber cleaner (not shown, red + black bottle shaped like Spray Wax). I keep my 2015 super clean. Riding it feels better that way.
View attachment 3255

View attachment 3256
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Thanks, that looks exactly like what I was looking for. I will see whether I can get it in Australia
 
I bought my C650 using the internet, so had not inspected it before purchase, just relied on photos. The only blemish is the matt black plastic covers - one side of the bike is OK, the other is oxidised almost to pale grey. I guess it was parked somewhere where the sun was very strong from one direction, over a period of time. I have been wondering if it is possible to restore that very faded matt black, and it sounds as if the Back to Black will do the trick - if I can find it (or its equivalent) here in Australia.
 
moodleman said:
I bought my C650 using the internet, so had not inspected it before purchase, just relied on photos. The only blemish is the matt black plastic covers - one side of the bike is OK, the other is oxidised almost to pale grey. I guess it was parked somewhere where the sun was very strong from one direction, over a period of time. I have been wondering if it is possible to restore that very faded matt black, and it sounds as if the Back to Black will do the trick - if I can find it (or its equivalent) here in Australia.
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I got some via Catch.com.au It came in about a week and it works well.
 
Have not found Mother's Back to Black here in Australia, but found Mother's Naturally Black - it's a plastic and trim restorer - should be the same product. It cost me about $35 for a 12oz bottle, so I hope it will work. Initial attempt on a small patch looked good until it dried out, the faded trim remains faded. But will try again using more of the product, I might have been a bit mean with it!
 
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