I got really angry at my 400ex for lacking a good shine on the plastics. So, I set out on a mission to polish them to a near mirror finish. This process is sure to work on Honda brand black and red plastics, but I assume it would work elsewhere too.
If they are just dull, you can start by 600-grit wet sanding, othewise, sand the deep stuff out by working up from 200 to 400 to 600.
After there is an even 600-grit sand-down on your plastics, go to 800 grit wet-sanding, and proceed to 1500-grit wet sanding from there. I've found that keeping a hefty amount of water on the plastics as opposed to a gritty sludge of re-used water works best. Do whatever creates the most drag between the sandpaper and the plastic. Then, you know it's cutting the most it can.
After the plastics are dry (and you've washed them of sanding crap!) you can proceed to buying and extensively using the finest steel wool you can get your hands on. This will make your dominant arm very strong. Buff them long enough so that you can see no more sanding lines of any sort, and the plastic has a matte finish. Doing little circles helps.
Then, find some tool that spins at about 3000-4000 rpm, and a very loose-knit buffing wheel. I use the type that have a bunch of layers of cloth stitched together near the center. Chuck the wheel up, and coat it lightly with a polshing compound. I use Turtle Wax Polsihing Compound. It's like 4 bucks. Now, go at your plastics. At first, they will look dull and poopy, but as the compund starts to dry, and you go back over it with the wheel, stuff starts to get REAL shiny.
If you're hardcore like me, you can go to wal-mart and grab a 15 dollar 6" random-orbit buffer and a wool bonnet. This gives a non-directional finsh that I could compare to showroom floor. I run it dry. (no compound)
There is nothing about this that is fun. It's 88 billion times better than PC racing's plastic renew. Stickers actually stick this way.
WARNING!!! Ways to screw this up: Dry sanding, using a tight-knit wheel, using the wheel on an angle grinder, using RUBBING COMPOUND, not polishing compound.
Last edited by tigmaster; 05-13-2007 at 06:13 PM. Reason: couldnt let him spell hardcore wrong
2006 Blue YFZ450. Lots of goodies but stock suspension.
'99 CR125r Crower Cam, high ratio rockers, Twin Air filter.
Man that sounds like a lot of work! When I got my last bike the plastics were pretty torn up so I removed all the stickers and found that WD-40 helped get all the sticker goo off and put a nice shine on the platics at the same time. Of couse they did not look as good as completely polishing them out but it is a good quick fix.
Lotta work or no work, I guess you could say that it, well, PAID OFF.
Oh yeah. Yeah.
2006 Blue YFZ450. Lots of goodies but stock suspension.
'99 CR125r Crower Cam, high ratio rockers, Twin Air filter.
Hey thanks for the great article. To the front page it goes. Very clean looking. I have never been able to get my plastics looking good after a lot of use. I am going to have to try this out
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ya, his plastics were pretty scratched up when he got them and Plastic Renew did little to aid. it started to peel off after the first ride.
--'03 CRF450r--
--FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle--
--Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs--
--Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars--
--Devol Full SP With Moose HGs--
--Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain--
--Now It Is The End, Probably...--
--'06 CBR F4I--
--Bone Stock--
LOOKS GOOD!! I may have to try that out this summer>
ya, its a good fix for quad plastics that run like $400, but for dirt bikes it is easier just to pick up a new set. i bought my new set of all black ufo's for $120. trust me its worth the money, because that process takes a real real long time, but the results are great
--'03 CRF450r--
--FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle--
--Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs--
--Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars--
--Devol Full SP With Moose HGs--
--Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain--
--Now It Is The End, Probably...--
--'06 CBR F4I--
--Bone Stock--
UPDATE: I took my bad boy to the track two days ago and got it all ickynasty. I washed it off, and that good 'ol factory shine came right back. (I'm also pretty sure I intimidated the guy I was riding with into letting me ride his 450r, which was hillarious.)
I was over at Tigmaster's house today doing a little head work and casually assembling his engine with him, and I saw the UFO plastics he's talking about. I'm proud to say that my black plastic parts on my 400 are DARN CLOSE to the shine on his brand new set of black stuff.
2006 Blue YFZ450. Lots of goodies but stock suspension.
'99 CR125r Crower Cam, high ratio rockers, Twin Air filter.
I've found those microfiber cloths an excellent way to clean things up between those time-consuming detailing sessions. Plastics, seats, grips -- gets 'em all clean! And the dollar-store ones work just as good as all the others.
really now? i will give that a try once the new shine of my plastics wears off.
--'03 CRF450r--
--FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle--
--Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs--
--Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars--
--Devol Full SP With Moose HGs--
--Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain--
--Now It Is The End, Probably...--
--'06 CBR F4I--
--Bone Stock--
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