Matte Paint

Post by **mogu83** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:49 am

I'm shopping for a R1200R. Although Black is my color of choice I'm starting to find the Granite Gray Metallic an intresting color combination with the black bags,tires and seat. Also there seems to be a lot of them around in the dealers.

My problem: I like black bikes (two in the garage now) and don't mind taking the time to keep them clean. What are people doing to keep that matte finish looking like new? Is there a wax or some kind of cleaner that works? I've seen Guzzis and Ducatis with that dull paint and after a few years they don't look too good, but it could be because they weren't maintained.

Post by **mogu83** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:58 pm

Not relevant anymore. I just ordered a Black (no stripes) R1200R. Now the waiting begins.

DRothermel · Post by **DRothermel** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:55 pm

Mogu....black with no stripes looks great. My dealer had one on the floor last fall. During the winter he got in a black with pinstripes. It still sits on the floor. To bad they're painted on. As soon as I got mine home I took a hair dryer to my R1200R decals on my Crystal Metallic. IMHO the bike looks much richer w/o the tank decals.

Post by **celticus** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:10 pm

Can you please post a picture that emphasizes the lack of the decals? Removing them never ocurred to me.

Hmmmm. Mine is crystal Metallic also.

Mark

DRothermel · Post by **DRothermel** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:30 pm

Mark: Scroll down to my first post....A new RR owner in Michigan. You'll have a nice side shot of the tank sans the decals!

Post by **celticus** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:17 am

I did and it looks good.
Mark

rmak · Post by **rmak** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:17 am

Can someone walk me through using a hair dryer to remove the R1200R decal? This might seem obvious to some, but I've never done it before and I don't want to mar, scratch or overheat the finish in any way. Do you heat the whole decal or just a corner to get it started? How do you know when it is ready to go. Thanks.

DRothermel · Post by **DRothermel** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:24 am

Rmak....I just hold the dryer about a foot or so away from the surface waving it back and forth. Touch the surface from time to time. You want to get it warm, but not super hot. While I'm doing that I just start to work on the edge of one of the numbers or letters with my fingernail. As they warm up you'll be able to get a corner lifted up and then get a hold of it and pull most of it off in one piece. The numbers and letters are not connected but separate. Take two asprin, turn on the hair dryer and send me five bucks in the mail! One thing for sure.....if I can do it without any problems, you can too!

One other thing. Once the decals are off, you'll feel a little residue left on the tank. A little wax will remove it.

Post by **AllanCook** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:20 am

I took off the stickers on mine. Just peel right off. No heating was necessary. A photo is in this thread.

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... 894a1c3924

Hoosier Rider · Post by **Hoosier Rider** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:23 am

OK, now back to the original question. Is there any special care needed for that matte finish? My dealer has two of them in stock & the paint seems to have a smooth finish so that any polish & wax might work but I'm not sure about that. Both bikes have too many options for my tastes though. If I get one, I'll probably order a black one or another granite grey, or maybe even a silver one. I like 'em all!

DRothermel · Post by **DRothermel** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:53 pm

Hey Hoosier......my shop tells me that the paint is covered with a clear coat just like other colors, just a not glossy. So normal waxing, etc applies.

Hoosier Rider · Post by **Hoosier Rider** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:57 pm

Thanks Bro!

rmak · Post by **rmak** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:49 pm

Mr. DR, I turned on two asprins, took a hair-dryer and waited for your five bucks, but the durn decal still won't come off!

rmak

Post by **celticus** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:28 pm

I'd say an empty tank would heat up quicker.
Mark

Post by **AllanCook** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:37 pm

I don't think any special treatment is required. Wash and wax a couple of times a year.