My First Post / Harley Street Glide

[red rock rubi]

Thanks for the info on the Black Again Rich. My hardtop only goes on for winter as well so when it comes off in the spring (soon I hope!!) I'll give it a try. Sorry for the hijack of the post!

X2 on the vivid black TL. I ordered some 105 and 205 a while ago and was going to try it next on my RKC. Sounds like I should forgo the 205?:huh:

 

[imported_TLMitchell]

You know I just looked and realized the Power finish has a deeper cut than the 85rd ,but I did notice it created dust when I was in the final step. I told a friend of mine I thought it was very odd but with the words power finish I assumed it was for the final polish. This was my first time with Menzerna products. I've been using 3M products before so I'm more familiar with them. I did notice Ultrafina and the 85rd was very similar. It seems to me the Ultrafina slings a little more than Menz did but neither creates a big mess.

203 has a pretty good cut, which is why I found it unconventional for finishing although it does finish really nice. Just wondering if you think you gained anything with the 203/gold combo? Like I sez, I'd think you'd be ready for an LSP after 85RD.

I just ordered some M105 and M205 today but have never used it before. I'll let you know what I think. It seems everyone here is using over the 3M products.

Very nice polishes. You don't have to work them until breakdown since they're non-diminishing, just whatever is needed to achieve the result you're looking for. 105 with an aggressive pad will deal with almost anything you encounter with minimal marring. Makes your pad selection the only variable.

TL

 

[imported_TLMitchell]

X2 on the vivid black TL. I ordered some 105 and 205 a while ago and was going to try it next on my RKC. Sounds like I should forgo the 205?:huh:

:::shrug:::: Different people with different techniques get different results. I've found 205 finishes well on the fiberglass bits, it's the tank where I get micromarring that I can't seem to finish out. Looks good under the halogens, decent in the sun but when I hit it with the Light of Truth there it is. :doh: Maybe I ought to just toss the Brinkmann!

The fiberglass is manufactured and painted in WI, the Touring tanks originate in York. I suppose it's conceiveable they receive different finishes on the differing materials explaining why the two seemingly identically finished materials polish differently. It may also explain why there's frequently noticeable orange peel on the fiberglass and it's almost non-existent on the tins. Regardless of whether you use 205 on the RK I guarantee you'll find a use for it on something and marvel at the results.

I only do a real serious full-polish detail on the bikes in the Spring. I do a lot of spot detailing as needed while I'm heaping on the miles in absence of snow. I've accumulated lots of samples to try including Optimum polishes, Ultrafina & 85RD. I've got lots of fiberglass and tin to try different combos on so I expect I'll find a combo that works eventually.

Some experimenting outside of the box may be in order. Seeing the result of 203 with a gold pad with zero cut on the SG leads me to believe a more aggressive polish and softer pad may yield desired results. I'm also thinking of a detail that Nick Chapman posted on MOL a while back... he tried everything to get 205 to finish on a black Colorado that was so soft he was getting marring with washing and drying. After tearing his hair out trying every combo of polish and pad at his disposal he finally got a mirror finish using a combo I would've never even thought to try... LC yellow and 205! Who woulda thunkit?

When/if I have that Eureka! moment I'll post the solution.

TL