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I'm a rider not a shiner, so my CB1100 will never attain the sparkly standards of members like ride4now and others. However, having just had my fuel tank resprayed as part of the recovery package after the mud pack episode (see [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=15248&pid=262991#pid262991]this shameless bit of self promotion), I'm curious about how I can maintain it in slightly better condition.
My problem is that my riding jeans leave marks on either side, low down at the back of the tank. They don't seem to come off easily. I've thought about knee pads, but, because of the angle of my stumpy wee legs, the marks are lower than the reach of a knee pad.
As a covid-19 service to those stuck inside, I wonder whether anyone has any suggestions?
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Cormanus, I had an local auto body shop apply a clear protective film on the knee areas and on the lower rear tank surface. I do not know anything about the film they applied, but I am very happy with the results. See picture in my post number 15:
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid216693
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The black paint is the worse to maintain scratch free. IMHO the best and permanent solution is to install a clear, thin protective film/vinyl. If done properly, you won’t even see its application. We do this on cars to protect paint from stone chips, abrasive sand plus more. Hope some others will chime in.
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(04-07-2020, 11:10 AM)peterbaron_imp Wrote: The black paint is the worse to maintain scratch free. IMHO the best and permanent solution is to install a clear, thin protective film/vinyl. If done properly, you won’t even see its application. We do this on cars to protect paint from stone chips, abrasive sand plus more. Hope some others will chime in.
I had my black tank covered with clear vinyl just as PB stated. You can’t even tell it’s on there. The guy that did mine installs window tint. Had the front and and 1/3 of the hood covered on both cars to head off paint chips.
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Having a pro job would be the really nice way like PB and MTeers did, but I have thetankslapper kit on mine. https://thetankslapper.biz/
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Begging your audience, Lord Popgun. I am a shiner and a rider, and do what I can to keep my paint perfect. I had always used Snider's Paint Guard film on my tanks. That's a non-adhesive clear film that sticks by static cling. I love it because you can remove it and replace it as you like.
Since Snider's has gone out of business, the only similar product I can find is Tankslapper. They offer several film types, but one is static cling. I haven't tried it, but by any chance are you using their cling film, or one of the adhesive films?
I usually take paper, tape it to the tank where I want protection, draw out a template, and transfer it to the film. Then, cut out the film and apply it. I like to apply to the front side of the tank for rock chip protection, and the area just near the tank to protect from scratches from jacket buttons and zippers. I ran out of my last sheet of Snider's doing this on my CB, and didn't have enough left over for knee protectors on the sides of the tank.
I remove scratches on my tanks with a variety of products. My favorites are Meguires 105 to compound the scratch out, then 205 to bring the shine back to perfect. I fell like Lady Macbeth every time I see any kind of imperfection on my tanks..."Out Damned Spot!"
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Gone,
I guess it is static and can be removed and reused. You install it with a spray of soapy water and squeegee (how do you spell that?) it out. Goof while installing, just remove it, spray some more and give it another go.
Some of the pieces in the ST1300 kit are crystal clear (3M IIRC) that uses a spray of water and alcohol. I think they are one time use only, and have a short work time. The headlights (at least those) get that and you can't even see it on there.
I didn't buy the film and cut my own though, I bought the pre-cut kits for both my bikes. I didn't like the knee pads that came with the ST1300 and gave them to another ST owner who wanted them and I used the tankslapper stuff.
I like 'Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war!" Now if only I had a Legion, or a starship...
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Thank you, My Lord! I had been searching in vain for a replacement for Snider's! Very glad to hear that Tankslapper is indeed the cling material. And, they are located in the next town over from my Mom, so I might drop in to pick some up.
For a while, Aerostitch was carrying Snider's film, but have changed to a regular adhesive type, which I don't prefer for motorcycle use.
Speaking of black tanks, my local multi-brand dealership recently had a '14 Standard on display in their showroom. It only had 1200 miles, and they were asking $8000 for it. The top of the tank was hazed with the obvious use of a tank bag. I thought "If they just polish out that tank, it would look 100 times better. Out damned spot!"
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(04-08-2020, 01:11 AM)Gone in 60_imp Wrote: Begging your audience, Lord Popgun. I am a shiner and a rider, and do what I can to keep my paint perfect. I had always used Snider's Paint Guard film on my tanks. That's a non-adhesive clear film that sticks by static cling. I love it because you can remove it and replace it as you like.
Since Snider's has gone out of business, the only similar product I can find is Tankslapper. They offer several film types, but one is static cling. I haven't tried it, but by any chance are you using their cling film, or one of the adhesive films?
I usually take paper, tape it to the tank where I want protection, draw out a template, and transfer it to the film. Then, cut out the film and apply it. I like to apply to the front side of the tank for rock chip protection, and the area just near the tank to protect from scratches from jacket buttons and zippers. I ran out of my last sheet of Snider's doing this on my CB, and didn't have enough left over for knee protectors on the sides of the tank.
I remove scratches on my tanks with a variety of products. My favorites are Meguires 105 to compound the scratch out, then 205 to bring the shine back to perfect. I fell like Lady Macbeth every time I see any kind of imperfection on my tanks..."Out Damned Spot!"
Was not expecting a Shakespeare reference so early in the morning! (for me)...been so long (English major in the 80s) that I had to look it up:
"A sentence from the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, spoken by Lady Macbeth, the wife of the title character. Her husband has killed the king of Scotland at her urging, but her guilt over the murder gradually drives her insane."
So her spot was imaginary while ours on the tanks are all too real! The question is who is bothered more by the "spot", Lady McB...or me?
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I had a Lexus with the factory applied film on about 1/3 of the hood. Looked great. Until it was about 5 years old then looked all scratched up. The dealer said just peel it off and it will look new again. That stuff had adhesive from H***! Even in direct Summer sun it took me a couple hours to get it off and my fingers didn't work right for a couple days  I don't want anything like that on my bike tank that's for sure! For someone else, YMMV.
Pd, are you going insane? 
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