Swirl marks and scratches!!!!!

beniblanco · April 10th, 2012, 12:20 PM

Well not too happy was cleaning up the bike a bit and noticed some small swirls and scratches on the bike near the headlights both on the paint and on the windscreen. Now the bike is 2011 but it is brand new as I am the first owner I can try and buff it out but I was wondering if i should just take it back. When they had cleaned it up before my pick up who ever had cleaned it most of used a crappy cloth and rushed. I didnt notice anything at the time because we were in the shade but today when in the sun it showed. I had picked up on Thursday and was busy with family during the easter weekend and today I had some time with the bike.

I guess my point is would it be worth it or not to bring it back to the dealer or just cut my loss and fix it myself as everything else is fine on the bike.

dubojr1 · April 10th, 2012, 12:36 PM

If you can... I'd fix it. If not I'd make them polish it and hope they don't screw something else up.

csmith12 · April 10th, 2012, 12:45 PM

If it was me, I would call and get a credit and do it myself so I know it's done right.

cbdallas · April 10th, 2012, 12:57 PM

Past experience has taught me that fixing stuff like that myself yields far better results than taking it back to the dealership so they can have one of their lackies give my bike a rub-down with a dirty rag. I'm betting that most dealerships don't have the proper materials & equipment to repair light damage to paint.

Get yourself a good quality swirl remover (I use Pinnacle), and either a real random orbital buffer, or do it by hand. Follow it up with good wax (I use Zaino). Those two products, used with a Porter Cable 7424 buffer & Lake Country pads (orange and red) brought back my badly swirled Mazda 6 to showroom condition, and keeps my bike & cars looking great. One of the best investments I've ever made.

beniblanco · April 11th, 2012, 08:41 PM

So I did try and do it myself. End result being the paint was fixed but I did still notice scratches on the windshield. By fluke the sales rep called me today for customer feedback and I had explained to him my issue and he told me to bring it in and they will see what they can do. The funny thing is that he had mentioned to me that he had seen some other scratches on windshields of other 250's as well. So in my head I'm like ok well why did you guys not just fix it then? So later this week I am going to bring it in and see what they can do or will do for me.

Boom King · April 11th, 2012, 08:51 PM

Which dealership was this?

beniblanco · April 11th, 2012, 09:12 PM

Snow city cycle

reaperw · April 11th, 2012, 09:19 PM

is that one on kennedy rd north of lawrance

beniblanco · April 11th, 2012, 09:27 PM

Yeah that's the one. The people there are fine but even though it was a minor issue I would have liked no issues. I will have to wait for now and see what they will do.

Malicious Logic · April 11th, 2012, 09:46 PM

Maybe you should post up a DIY for bike cleaning? I always figured swirls weren't a big deal like on cars cuz bikes are...bikes. Then again, I guess the bike's paint is the same as a car's paint...

alex.s · April 12th, 2012, 12:39 AM

take it back and make one of the cute sales girls clean it in a bikini.

dk58 · April 12th, 2012, 12:56 PM

Ahhhh the joys of owning a black vehicle.

cbdallas · April 12th, 2012, 01:08 PM

Black Cherry was no walk in the park either. I have a white car now...SO much easier.

Jay72 · April 12th, 2012, 01:09 PM

As they say owning a black (any) vehicle is like having a second job trying to keep it looking nice, and swirl free.
The best advise you received was to go the route that cbdallas gave you. I got into using some of what he mentioned last year and I tell you that you can make a new anything look even newer.
And I have the blue 2011 Ninja bought just outside London Ontario last fall brand new and the same thing, once out in the sun there were swirlls all over it, so I did the few steps and now looks great. Also go to Canadian Tire and buy a package of microfiber towels and only use them, then no marks. Good luck and happy riding...I am not that far from you!!

JAy

ForceofWill · April 12th, 2012, 05:46 PM

adamspolishes.com do it. Porter cable polishing is really easy and the stuff Adam's makes is awesome.

beniblanco · April 12th, 2012, 07:46 PM

I here what your saying. I always use microfiber and I had some mothers products from last summer laying around the house for me to use which did help make some of it go away but not fully. For now I will see what they can do.

A few years back I did have an all white car and I still swear that was the easiet colour to maintain but a friend of mine who is a die hard silver gray fan would argue with me all the time and say that the gray was easier and better to maintain but I still beg to differ.

When I was first looking for the ninja my two colour choices were either solid black or solid white. Unfortunately the white is not available in a solid colour only in the SE with the decals. The SE decals are ok but the splatter paint on the sides just wasn't working for my style and I thought it would be too much of a hassle to get it all removed and then touched up again in a solid white so I went with the black. I do have a black suv at home already and have had it for the last 3 years so I am familiar with the pains of the colour but when it is waxed and polished up after detailing the colour black is deadly sweet and it just shows off better than white.

NDspd · April 12th, 2012, 08:01 PM

So what is a good way to get rid of heavy swirls on the windshield?

beniblanco · April 12th, 2012, 08:16 PM

I used a rain x headlight restoration kit. It had worked out ok but it didnt get everything. I was thinking of giving it another application and see what happens but for now I think what I have done so far is the best that I am going to get it.

leed · April 12th, 2012, 08:23 PM

Unfortunately, in my experience Polycarbonate is much harder to polish than acrylic.. Having been said, you can try one of the 3M Headlight kits:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...enance/4252611

NDspd · April 13th, 2012, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leed

Unfortunately, in my experience Polycarbonate is much harder to polish than acrylic.. Having been said, you can try one of the 3M Headlight kits:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...enance/4252611

Hmm...seems simple enough, but I think I'm gonna just replace my windshield in the near future anyways.

soundsfasterthanitis · April 15th, 2012, 02:02 PM

Do it yourself, even if you don't have a buffer a good polish followed by a good wax can work miracles. Observe my 1987 VW Scirocco 16v

Before:

After:

However, in these pictures you can see that molded plastic (bumpers and bodykit) does not clean up nearly as well as plastics do, but maybe newer paint is different. This took me about a week to do by hand working about 4 hours a day on it. Worth it!

Alex · April 15th, 2012, 02:25 PM

The wax job even made the wheels more attractive!

soundsfasterthanitis · April 15th, 2012, 02:51 PM

Exactly. You do this to your ninja and your wheels will look like this

April 10th, 2012, 12:20 PM	#1
beniblanco ninjette.org member Name: B Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 black Ninja 250r Posts: 114	Swirl marks and scratches!!!!! Well not too happy was cleaning up the bike a bit and noticed some small swirls and scratches on the bike near the headlights both on the paint and on the windscreen. Now the bike is 2011 but it is brand new as I am the first owner I can try and buff it out but I was wondering if i should just take it back. When they had cleaned it up before my pick up who ever had cleaned it most of used a crappy cloth and rushed. I didnt notice anything at the time because we were in the shade but today when in the sun it showed. I had picked up on Thursday and was busy with family during the easter weekend and today I had some time with the bike. I guess my point is would it be worth it or not to bring it back to the dealer or just cut my loss and fix it myself as everything else is fine on the bike.

April 10th, 2012, 12:36 PM	#2
dubojr1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Jacksonville, Florida Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250R SE, 07 Honda CRF230F, 06 Honda CRF150F Posts: A lot.	If you can... I'd fix it. If not I'd make them polish it and hope they don't screw something else up. __________________________________________________ 09 250R SE: Paying it forward one post at a time! Don't forget to add yourself to our Member Map

April 10th, 2012, 12:45 PM	#3
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	If it was me, I would call and get a credit and do it myself so I know it's done right. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

April 11th, 2012, 09:46 PM	#10
Malicious Logic hates stupid people Name: Mark Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ZX6R Posts: 860	Maybe you should post up a DIY for bike cleaning? I always figured swirls weren't a big deal like on cars cuz bikes are...bikes. Then again, I guess the bike's paint is the same as a car's paint... __________________________________________________ My vlogging channel: Ma1iciousLogic

April 12th, 2012, 12:39 AM	#11
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	take it back and make one of the cute sales girls clean it in a bikini. __________________________________________________

April 10th, 2012, 12:57 PM	#4
cbdallas ninjette.org guru Name: Charlie Location: Wylie, TX Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 650R Posts: 317	Past experience has taught me that fixing stuff like that myself yields far better results than taking it back to the dealership so they can have one of their lackies give my bike a rub-down with a dirty rag. I'm betting that most dealerships don't have the proper materials & equipment to repair light damage to paint. Get yourself a good quality swirl remover (I use Pinnacle), and either a real random orbital buffer, or do it by hand. Follow it up with good wax (I use Zaino). Those two products, used with a Porter Cable 7424 buffer & Lake Country pads (orange and red) brought back my badly swirled Mazda 6 to showroom condition, and keeps my bike & cars looking great. One of the best investments I've ever made.

April 11th, 2012, 08:41 PM	#5
beniblanco ninjette.org member Name: B Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 black Ninja 250r Posts: 114	So I did try and do it myself. End result being the paint was fixed but I did still notice scratches on the windshield. By fluke the sales rep called me today for customer feedback and I had explained to him my issue and he told me to bring it in and they will see what they can do. The funny thing is that he had mentioned to me that he had seen some other scratches on windshields of other 250's as well. So in my head I'm like ok well why did you guys not just fix it then? So later this week I am going to bring it in and see what they can do or will do for me.

April 11th, 2012, 08:51 PM	#6
Boom King So, where's the reverse? Name: Anson Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Which dealership was this?

April 11th, 2012, 09:12 PM	#7
beniblanco ninjette.org member Name: B Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 black Ninja 250r Posts: 114	Snow city cycle

April 11th, 2012, 09:19 PM	#8
reaperw ninjette.org member Name: Ian Location: newmarket Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250 Posts: 191	is that one on kennedy rd north of lawrance

April 11th, 2012, 09:27 PM	#9
beniblanco ninjette.org member Name: B Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 black Ninja 250r Posts: 114	Yeah that's the one. The people there are fine but even though it was a minor issue I would have liked no issues. I will have to wait for now and see what they will do.

April 12th, 2012, 12:56 PM	#12
dk58 ninjette.org member Name: Dan Location: Pittsburgh, PA Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 10 Ninja 250R Posts: 160	Ahhhh the joys of owning a black vehicle.

April 12th, 2012, 01:08 PM	#13
cbdallas ninjette.org guru Name: Charlie Location: Wylie, TX Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 650R Posts: 317	Black Cherry was no walk in the park either. I have a white car now...SO much easier.

April 12th, 2012, 01:09 PM	#14
Jay72 ninjette.org member Name: Jay Location: St. Marys, Ontario, Canada Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Posts: 169	As they say owning a black (any) vehicle is like having a second job trying to keep it looking nice, and swirl free. The best advise you received was to go the route that cbdallas gave you. I got into using some of what he mentioned last year and I tell you that you can make a new anything look even newer. And I have the blue 2011 Ninja bought just outside London Ontario last fall brand new and the same thing, once out in the sun there were swirlls all over it, so I did the few steps and now looks great. Also go to Canadian Tire and buy a package of microfiber towels and only use them, then no marks. Good luck and happy riding...I am not that far from you!! JAy

April 12th, 2012, 05:46 PM	#15
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	adamspolishes.com do it. Porter cable polishing is really easy and the stuff Adam's makes is awesome.

April 12th, 2012, 07:46 PM	#16
beniblanco ninjette.org member Name: B Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 black Ninja 250r Posts: 114	I here what your saying. I always use microfiber and I had some mothers products from last summer laying around the house for me to use which did help make some of it go away but not fully. For now I will see what they can do. A few years back I did have an all white car and I still swear that was the easiet colour to maintain but a friend of mine who is a die hard silver gray fan would argue with me all the time and say that the gray was easier and better to maintain but I still beg to differ. When I was first looking for the ninja my two colour choices were either solid black or solid white. Unfortunately the white is not available in a solid colour only in the SE with the decals. The SE decals are ok but the splatter paint on the sides just wasn't working for my style and I thought it would be too much of a hassle to get it all removed and then touched up again in a solid white so I went with the black. I do have a black suv at home already and have had it for the last 3 years so I am familiar with the pains of the colour but when it is waxed and polished up after detailing the colour black is deadly sweet and it just shows off better than white.

April 12th, 2012, 08:01 PM	#17
NDspd 1/4 English, 3/4 Kick Ass Name: Jeremy Location: Dayton, OH Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Triumph Speed Triple 955i, '05 Suzuki SV650S(retired), '11 Ninja 250R(sold) Posts: A lot.	So what is a good way to get rid of heavy swirls on the windshield?

April 12th, 2012, 08:16 PM	#18
beniblanco ninjette.org member Name: B Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 black Ninja 250r Posts: 114	I used a rain x headlight restoration kit. It had worked out ok but it didnt get everything. I was thinking of giving it another application and see what happens but for now I think what I have done so far is the best that I am going to get it.

April 12th, 2012, 08:23 PM	#19
leed ninjette.org sage Name: David Location: Loves Park, IL Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): Time will tell Posts: 969	Unfortunately, in my experience Polycarbonate is much harder to polish than acrylic.. Having been said, you can try one of the 3M Headlight kits: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...enance/4252611

April 15th, 2012, 02:02 PM	#21
soundsfasterthanitis ninjette.org member Name: Jake Location: SE Wisconsin Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue Ninja 250R Posts: 58	Do it yourself, even if you don't have a buffer a good polish followed by a good wax can work miracles. Observe my 1987 VW Scirocco 16v Before: After: However, in these pictures you can see that molded plastic (bumpers and bodykit) does not clean up nearly as well as plastics do, but maybe newer paint is different. This took me about a week to do by hand working about 4 hours a day on it. Worth it!

April 15th, 2012, 02:25 PM	#22
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	The wax job even made the wheels more attractive! __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

April 15th, 2012, 02:51 PM	#23
soundsfasterthanitis ninjette.org member Name: Jake Location: SE Wisconsin Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue Ninja 250R Posts: 58	Exactly. You do this to your ninja and your wheels will look like this

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