Scratches on the tank or fairings appear sooner than anyone would like: tight parking, a tip-over in the car park, a jacket zip, gravel thrown up by tyres. Even a few marks spoil the look of a well-kept bike.
If only the top clear coat is affected, you can restore the paint in your garage without a respray. Deep scratches down to primer or metal cannot be fixed this way and are best left to a body shop before corrosion starts under the paint.
What you will need
- a hose or bucket of water and vehicle shampoo
- several clean microfibre cloths
- white toothpaste with a fine abrasive, or a mild polishing compound
- WD-40 Multi-Use
Important: Keep all products away from brake discs, pads, tyres and handlebar grips. Work on a cold bike in the shade, never on a hot tank in direct sun.
Step 1
Check the scratch depth
Run a fingernail across the mark. If it does not catch, only the clear coat is damaged and it can be polished out. If your nail snags or you can see primer or metal, polishing will not help: protect the spot for now and plan a repair.
Step 2
Wash the bike thoroughly
Wash the tank and plastics with shampoo and rinse off the foam. Dust, grit and road salt rubbed into the paint while polishing would only add new scratches. Dry the surface with microfibre.
Step 3
Polish the clear coat
Put a pea-sized amount of white toothpaste or polishing compound on a damp microfibre cloth. Without heavy pressure, work it over the scratch in small circles until it is evenly spread. Rinse off the residue with water.
Step 4
Repeat and assess
If needed, go over the spot once more, then hose the surface down and dry it. Fine marks in the clear coat usually disappear or become barely visible. Do not overdo it, as excessive polishing thins the lacquer.
Step 5
Disguise what is left and protect the paint
Spray a little WD-40 Multi-Use onto a microfibre cloth, not onto the bike, and wipe over the scratch. It fills fine marks and evens out the shine, so they become far less noticeable. This is a temporary disguise, not a repair.
Where a scratch has reached bare metal, the thin film displaces moisture and protects the metal from rust until you can get it to a specialist. Finish by buffing the surface with a dry cloth.
Tip: Keep a pocket-size
WD-40 100 ml under the seat: a fresh scratch after a tip-over should be sealed against moisture straight away, especially in the rainy season.
What next
Wash the bike after rides on wet or salted roads and refresh the scratch treatment after every wash. Before winter storage, treat chrome and bare metal parts with WD-40 Multi-Use so they do not tarnish in the garage.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».