Scratches on New RT

[Atomicman]

Embarrassingly, :o I have unknowingly ended up with a number small scratches on the Tank filler surround and and filler cap as well as one on the center tank bag cover on my brand new (2 1.2 weeks old 650 miles) RT. I try not to put anything up there , but may have put my sunglasses up there unconsciously a few times while putting my helmet on??

These are all on the bright silver portions as I am sure you know (My bike is Black Sapphire Metallic) and they are constantly staring me in the face when I ride. (Read; I can't stand it!)

The dealer wants $350.00 to replace the filler cap and surround (Ya know it's keyed)

and the Tank bag rack is about a $265.00 part.

Any suggestions on a less spendy way to repair these scratches or replace the parts?????

[Stixx]

Take rubbing compound then polish it after. I leave my tank bag on mine all the time so I don't see the inevitable scratches that come from USING one's bike. LOL

[Turkus]

a tip from the body shop world:
if you can feel them with your fingernail - they won't polish out...:(

that being said, with today's super thin finishes on ANYTHING I would start with polish first if the scratches are light (barely perceptible with your fingernail) and then you may have to go after it a second time if you make some headway - most of the "rubbing compound" that you find in parts stores and Wally World is TOO agressive and could do more harm than good

do you have a shop near you that specializes in motorcycle collision repair ?? a $20 bribe to the detailer (with the manager's permission) will go a LONG way

good luck

[Atomicman]

I have a good buddy that owns a high end auto paint shop who also has a highly customized chopper! I may talk to him.

Isn't that stuff painted plastic??? I am a bit nervous about using any rubbing compound on it. A couple I can't feel with my nail , a couple I can.

One other idea I had was to install the ztechnik carbon fiber trim kit. They have one for the filler cap and surround, (one model is for the 2009 RT) that would cover all the scratches. They also have a kit for entire dash and the rear rack that the top box attaches to. (I have the big top box that I use for 2 up) As well as a piece for tank bag rack adjacent to or just above the front the seat.

I am a big fan of carbon fiber trim. Ztechnik looks likes it is very nicely done. It is pure carbon fiber encased in a clear resin top coat

See below!


http://shop.ztechnik.com/cgi-bin/ztech/Z8892.html?search_model=bm-066

http://shop.ztechnik.com/cgi-bin/ztech/Z8300.html?search_model=bm-066

http://shop.ztechnik.com/cgi-bin/ztech/Z8502.html?search_model=bm-066




How do you guys think this would look on the bike? would it look silly to just do the filler Cap and surround in carbon fiber. or maybe the filler the rear rack and the bag rack, but not the dash.

Any suggestions/opinions would be much appreciated!

Thanks for you responses so far

Stixx, i don't mind the thing getting used but jeez it is only 2 weeks old!!!! This is just killin' me!





I ahve the factory installed carbon fiber interior trim on my 2005 Audi S4 Avant.

[Stixx]

I've had my top box painted to match and both side cases repainted from drops and currently have scratches on one side case from dropping it while putting it on the roll a round dolly so I'm very familiar with painting these things and the complex formula that mine has. so far I've spent seven hundred bucks , actually seven fifty repainting. My guy puts the paint on the buffs and compounds and buffs some more until it looks like glass and it is easy to scratch it but it always buffs out as long as like the man said, it is only superfisial. I assumed that was what you had. I have found on the existing tupperwear than polishing rarely does anything with the little marrs and scratches that I get on each side of the top of the tank cover.

I bought some of the dash board stickys they sell at the car wash and put them on the flat surfaces. It really helps doesn't marr the finish and can be easily removed when washing and waxing. I keep a bottle of water laying on the "dash" as I ride and without the rubber sticky the finish would be marred pretty badly by the plast water bottle so I
recommend them if you are going to lay things up there. Surprisingly the bottles stay put under all but the most rigorous of riding , though I did find a bottle in my forks once down inside. My tech was amused as he did the service and said he found it there. LOL

[Harleyujoe]

I have had scratches and ordered paint from colorite and repainted the parts and
painted my lowers/old fender that I made and really happy with matching the color.

They sell spray cans if you do not have equipment and with small parts sure you
could learn to do a nice repair yourself if you take your time.
It may not be the last scratch and so if you can learn how to do repairs yourself
and next scratch you pull out the can of primer and paint and presto ..
New bike look...
3M has scratch remover that is real fine in auto stores you can try?
If that does not work than painting is what needs to be done.
You could try taking touchup jar and light paint on scratch and using 1500
wet and dry and see if you can fill scratch in and if few days let it dry and use 3M to buff it.
I just did this on Mini and pleased with results..
It is not perfect this way but sure looks better than scratch or chip..
3 weeks ago my Harley Springer just fell off my stand and broke clutch handle and rear fender hit tool box and dented my baby..
I priced the 5 paints (2 colors & 3 stripes) to redo fender and was close to 500.00 for just paints and Harley sold repainted fender and I elected for 617.00 to replace fender and not go thru all that work and striping it.
My RT being straight colors I have touched up few times and looks like new.
One thing I want to stress is before any painting or sanding go to a paint supply store and get the best wax remover before starting and you will save yourself lots of grief..

Just take your time and learn...Good Luck Joe

[twilson]

I've had good results removing small scratches from my side cases using this (http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G10307) and copious quantities of elbow grease.

[Barry5k]

My cruiser is black and there came a time when I saw every scratch and swirl big or small. I even saw scratches that weren't there and other swirls that would be there in the future. After a while I stopped looking and now those scratches are just part of the bike's personality. Get out what you can then just live with it. :)

[Atomicman]

if it were on the Bodywork painted surfaces it wouldn't be so bad. this is on the silver trim right on top of the tank!!!!! :mad:

[Atomicman]

I've had good results removing small scratches from my side cases using this (http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G10307) and copious quantities of elbow grease.Good call x-cept I already tried with Meguiar's Scratch-X. Didn't work!

this is on the Tank Bag rack and Filler Cap surround. Bright silver painted plastic! :crazy:

[mjordans2000]

Good call x-cept I already tried with Meguiar's Scratch-X. Didn't work!

this is on the Tank Bag rack and Filler Cap surround. Bright silver painted plastic! :crazy:

As noted, if you haven't gone through the finish polishing may well be possible. If you aren't comfortable with the process (yeah, you can go to far) going to a professional detailer is your best bet. They have all the goodies to do it right. Sounds like you're going to buy new parts if it can't be fixed so it's worth a shot to let them try.

[Atomicman]

As noted, if you haven't gone through the finish polishing may well be possible. If you aren't comfortable with the process (yeah, you can go to far) going to a professional detailer is your best bet. They have all the goodies to do it right. Sounds like you're going to buy new parts if it can't be fixed so it's worth a shot to let them try.

I think I am more leaning toward dtrying the ztechnik Carbon fiber trim first. The filler cap and surround trim is only $49.95 (this would cover most of the scratches) and the Tank Protector trim is only $29.95.

If I really like those 2 pieces, I may add the dcarbon Fiber Dash & rear rack trim too!

$229 and the scratches would be covered and I would be Carbon fiber pimpin'! :dance:

[Harleyujoe]

Just a thought.
If you use carbon tape and you do not like it ,it could be more trouble
removing that than to just paint items ..
These parts are flat paint and easy to paint and have no gloss to them
and would be hard to detect after painting both pieces together..

Good Luck in what ever way you go...Joe

[Atomicman]

Just a thought.
If you use carbon tape and you do not like it ,it could be more trouble
removing that than to just paint items ..
These parts are flat paint and easy to paint and have no gloss to them
and would be hard to detect after painting both pieces together..

Good Luck in what ever way you go...JoeThat thought did cross my mind. Although i was going to call ztechnik and ask about removing the Carbon fiber Trim parts "down the road"!

[Harleyujoe]

I just got new tires mounted and he scratched and I will have to paint that area on rim.
YUK,,,Nothing you can do but touch it up..Joe

[AFineRide]

My cruiser is black and there came a time when I saw every scratch and swirl big or small. I even saw scratches that weren't there and other swirls that would be there in the future. After a while I stopped looking and now those scratches are just part of the bike's personality. Get out what you can then just live with it. :)


Black is a tough color to maintain but when it's clean, it's awesome. I know. I have a black truck, wife has a black suv, my dresser and low rider are black....


Here is the best polish for black. No swirl marks, streaks etc, I don't know how they do it but it's the best I've seen for black.

http://www.californiacustom.com/mron_glass.html

[Atomicman]

Black is a tough color to maintain but when it's clean, it's awesome. I know. I have a black truck, wife has a black suv, my dresser and low rider are black....


Here is the best polish for black. No swirl marks, streaks etc, I don't know how they do it but it's the best I've seen for black.

http://www.californiacustom.com/mron_glass.htmlIt is Metallic Black, but as i have commented numerous times, it is the Silver Plastic trim that has the scratches.

I have found that clearcoated metallic black is not nearly as problematic as the regular black paint.

IT IS NOT THE BLACK PAINT THAT IS THE PROBLEM!!!!

[Atomicman]

Ok! here is the scoop!

Thank you to Collin at Ride West BMW in Seattle(He turned me on to Holt) and Elton (He also came up with M955 but had no paint) at Bob's. They were both very helpful, but collin is the man!!!

Holt BMW in Athens, Ohio is a BMW Motorrad Dealer and a Glasurit dealer.

Holt verified and mixed the paint for the Matte silver trim on my '09 RT. It is White Aluminum Metallic Matte #3. The color code is 955

My main color is Black Sapphire Metallic. Under the seat said N43, which must be the Scheme code?

They sold me 1/2 pint of 955 for $58.00 Talk to Marvin or Kent if you need paint.

They know Glasurit & BMW Motorcycles!

Phone # is (740) 593-6690

Once the parts are painted I will report back on the accuracy of the color!

[Atomicman]

Great News! Got my parts back from the paint shop today and they look great!

Weiss Aluminum Metallic Matte #3 is the correct color for the Silver trim on the '09 RT with an eggshell finish clearcoat.

I just took the parts in Monday!

The best news is that my buddy, who owns the body & paint shop, (They do mostly Audis) didn't charge me to wet sand, mask, prime, paint and clear coat the Gas filler Cap and surround and the Tank Bag Rack. He also painted a new triple clamp cap to match and I installed a BMW 1" roundel in it!

A big thumbs up to Holt BMW!!!!! :wave