6 Motorcycle Body Polishes That Won't Damage the Paint—Try Them on Your Vehicle
YOGYAKARTA - Caring for your motorcycle's body is an important step to maintain its shiny appearance and protect it from damage caused by dust, dirt, and weather. However, choosing the wrong care product can risk damaging the paint. You need to know which motorcycle body polish will not damage the paint.
Choosing a motorcycle body polish is often a confusing decision for motorcycle owners. We are often tempted by cheap chemicals to shine our vehicles. However, chemicals, such as plastic cleaners, are actually unsafe and can damage the paint.
Therefore, make sure to use a motorcycle body polish that will not damage the paint. So, what are the safest ingredients to use to polish a vehicle's body?
Why is Motorcycle Paint Care Important?
Motorcycle paint not only serves an aesthetic purpose but also protects against rust and scratches. It protects the metal body from damage caused by sun exposure, acid rain, dust, and road debris.
If the paint is damaged, the motorcycle can appear dull and be more susceptible to corrosion. Meanwhile, a well-maintained motorcycle will have a higher resale value. Therefore, using a safe body polish that won't damage the paint is crucial to keeping your motorcycle looking like new.
Motorcycle Body Polish That Doesn't Damage the Paint
Here are some important tips you need to pay attention to when choosing a motorcycle body polish that is safe and won't damage the paint:
Avoid materials that contain silicone
Silicone and its derivatives are useful for providing an instant shine to plastic and rubber surfaces. Their slippery properties produce a quick shine.
However, excessive use of silicone on plastic or painted surfaces can cause the material to fade and become porous. These pores allow liquids to penetrate the paint layer, damaging it.
Therefore, use silicone only on specific plastic or rubber surfaces, such as the rubber supports or the sidewalls of motorcycle tires.
Avoid materials that can erode the paint/clear surface.
Abrasive materials such as compound or sandpaper can be used to abrade surfaces. Both water-based and oil-based compounds have the same properties: they can abrade surfaces. While they don't directly wear away the coating, they still require careful use.
The abrasive properties of compounds in the clear coat, the outermost layer of motorcycle paint, can help remove mold and fine scratches. However, compounds are actually more suitable for use on car paint surfaces, which have a thicker layer than motorcycle paint.
Choose Pure Wax Products
Wax products are widely available on the market, one of which is paste wax. Almost every body care product offers a paste wax variant. To use it, simply apply the wax evenly using a microfiber cloth.
Applying this product is quite simple: after thoroughly washing your motorcycle, take a small amount of paste wax and spread it evenly. Be sure to use a microfiber cloth, not a regular, rough-textured cloth, to protect the surface.
Avoid Using Wax With Silicone Mixture
While it may seem tricky, you can actually identify this by looking at the product's appearance. If it's a spray-on liquid, it likely contains chemicals like silicone or wax.
Pay attention to the active ingredients in the product. It's best to choose a liquid that uses wax as the main ingredient to protect the paint layer from being affected by overly aggressive chemicals.
Nano Coating
Nano coating is a semi-clear coat often used in polishing shops. However, you can also apply it yourself to your motorcycle body. The steps are quite simple: first, clean the motorcycle's surface thoroughly. Then, polish it lightly with wax to remove mold and fine scratches.
Make sure the surface is free of dust or wax residue. Afterward, apply the nano ceramic liquid evenly, let it sit for 1 minute, and wipe with a microfiber cloth until the surface looks shiny.
Use Sealant Guard
Sealant Guard refers to a sealant-based coating liquid that is safe to use to fill cracks and gaps in painted surfaces. This liquid also provides protection for vehicle paint.
Unlike wax, Sealant Guard offers greater paint protection and creates a glossy, lotus-like effect. This glossy effect can reduce the appearance of water spots on motorcycle paint.
Coating With PPF
PPF (Paint Protection Film) is a transparent coating applied to a vehicle's painted surface to protect it from scratches, damage, and chemical exposure. PPF is typically made from thermoplastic materials such as urethane or polyurethane.
This laminate on the vehicle body is very effective in protecting the paint from scratches and minor impacts. Furthermore, the PPF layer can also prevent damage from dust, dirt, and chemicals.
These are some motorcycle body polishing products that won't damage your vehicle's paint. If you're looking for a product to shine and protect your motorcycle's paint, try using the ingredients above. Also, read these tips for motorcycle shock absorber maintenance.
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