Cleaning/preserving white sidepanels....

[NCSteve]

My side panels started to get semi permanent black scuffs from my boots. Yes, I know it's a dirt bike.... I usually keep a couple of feet of 3M or similar film for abrasion areas on bikes in general. After finally getting it somewhat clean, made a couple of patches to preserve the side panels. Easily peeled off and remade as needed. Tried my usual cleaning with Dawn and brush, vinegar, boeshield and found these Oxy packets in the house and they seemed to do the trick.

Yeah, thanks for that. Will give them a try. I'm not into polishing too much, but nice to preserve the plastic. I still use Armor All to resist stains and to make clean up easier and it still works fine.

 

[Bad Juju]

Rather than a new thread, I thought I would revive this one..
I can buy plastics for my 08 TE510 $10 cheaper then the protective sticker kits..... go figure
Also anyone with light scuffing you can flame polish out that with a propane torch

 

[bikesparky]

+1 for tyre shine, it stops the plastics deteriorating from the high UV here too.

 

[duggoey]

Rather than a new thread, I thought I would revive this one..
I can buy plastics for my 08 TE510 $10 cheaper then the protective sticker kits..... go figure
Also anyone with light scuffing you can flame polish out that with a propane torch

Could you elaborate on the flame polishing method please.

 

[La Flama Blanca]

http://www.motosport.com/plexus-plastic-cleaner

This stuff is the bee's knees.

 

[duggoey]

Can anyone else elaborate on the flame polish method?

 

[duggoey]

Alternatively i could just turn the torch onto the bike and see what it does. What's the worst that can happen.

 

[shawbagga]

Alternatively i could just turn the torch onto the bike and see what it does. What's the worst that can happen.

can you please film the above mentioned proposed polishing method please duggoey?! also make sure you do it in an unventilated area fuel of flammables after half a slab with no ppe on. i see youtube fame on your horizon(& a trip to the ER)

 

[duggoey]

can you please film the above mentioned proposed polishing method please duggoey?! also make sure you do it in an unventilated area fuel of flammables after half a slab with no ppe on. i see youtube fame on your horizon(& a trip to the ER)

 

[shawbagga]

bwwahahaha classic!

is there any hair left on your body?!

 

[NCSteve]

did that work?

 

[Xriderdown]

Nothing works better than BonAmi. Been using it since the white Yamaha days. Doesn't dull the plastic and cleans better than anything......trust me!

 

[shawbagga]

Yeah but is it flammable?!

 

[pahusky]

+1 for the Plexus after you clean.

Bon ami does works. But if your plastic is rough/stained already you can try 'Soft Scrub with Bleach', let it set a little then scrub and it will clean or bleach stains.

And that's where the Plexus comes in to seal and put the shine back on.

 

[HS507]

Midseason polish? You guys crack me up.

Even if I didn't crash (I do, although a lot less than I did in years past), my bike is nonstop getting beaten down by sticks, branches, mud, roost, boots, and riding pants. I wash and lube it every ride and the mechanical bits are kept in impeccable shape, but the idea of making my plastics shiny is nuts!

Nice!!

 

[HS507]

I use wd40 to shine, but i dont shine. Maintenance like a freak but looks? Nah.
I will say that paint thinner or acetone cleans white plastic nicely!!!

 

[Big Timmy]

I have used "Plexus" for years on Lexan windows on my Drag Race cars. It makes them last and they don't dull or craze. Cleaning plastics in the case of clear plastics should really be done in an up and down motion or a sideways back and forth motion. One or the other. Never in a circular pattern. This causes that dull surface crazing 'fine cracks" to appear quicker.

The use of nearly all window cleaners on any plastics is a No-No. Even if the container says its safe for plastics. As nearly every one of them contains Ethyl or Methyl alcohol and even Glycol ether, and like any strong solvent. Such as "acetone" will clean yes but its use is a No-No on any plastics as it draws out the plastics essential oils. On clear plastics especially as it can be easily seen. It causes crazing on both Plexiglass and Lexan a dull surface will be the result.

Look for plastic cleaners with a "Surfactant" in it. Which is really what all soap is. It's a wetting agent that takes away surface tension like plain water has and allows the chosen cleaning product to work against the solid surface. Allowing it to more easily penetrate the plastics surface and do its job. It allows the cleaning product to penetrate and get under the grime to help the water to lift it away.

Its also a surface tension lubricant. So is shaving cream, the surfactants in shaving cream allow a razor to glide across the surface more easily. We all know shaving with a razor without is not that fun.

An alternative to "Plexus" and at about half the cost as it isn't in an aerosol can. Is "Plaskolite" Plastic Cleaner. It's available at about any hardware store that may not have "Plexus" brand. It will be in the section where they might sell items to repair or replace your houses Screendoors and pieces of "Plexiglass" panels for the same thing.

"Plaskolite" plastic cleaner. (Pictured below) Its recommended for "Duraplex", "Optix" and "Lexan". It has anti static properties. It brings back a shine on dirt bike goggles, Plastic lenses on eyeglasses and safety glasses, motorcycle windscreens, even painted surfaces with clear coats.

It does a real nice job on dirt bike plastics as well after a good cleaning. It cleans and polishes and make the bike easier to wash after a good thrashing too. If its safe for prescription lens glasses it will work on your dirt bikes plastics and is probably one of the safest products you can use.

 

[HS507]

I have used "Plexus" for years on Lexan windows on my Drag Race cars. It makes them last and they don't dull or craze. Cleaning plastics in the case of clear plastics should really be done in an up and down motion or a sideways back and forth motion. One or the other. Never in a circular pattern. This causes that dull surface crazing 'fine cracks" to appear quicker.

The use of nearly all window cleaners on any plastics is a No-No. Even if the container says its safe for plastics. As nearly every one of them contains Ethyl or Methyl alcohol and even Glycol ether, and like any strong solvent. Such as "acetone" will clean yes but its use is a No-No on any plastics as it draws out the plastics essential oils. On clear plastics especially as it can be easily seen. It causes crazing on both Plexiglass and Lexan a dull surface will be the result.

Look for plastic cleaners with a "Surfactant" in it. Which is really what all soap is. It's a wetting agent that takes away surface tension like plain water has and allows the chosen cleaning product to work against the solid surface. Allowing it to more easily penetrate the plastics surface and do its job. It allows the cleaning product to penetrate and get under the grime to help the water to lift it away.

Its also a surface tension lubricant. So is shaving cream, the surfactants in shaving cream allow a razor to glide across the surface more easily. We all know shaving with a razor without is not that fun.

An alternative to "Plexus" and at about half the cost as it isn't in an aerosol can. Is "Plaskolite" Plastic Cleaner. It's available at about any hardware store that may not have "Plexus" brand. It will be in the section where they might sell items to repair or replace your houses Screendoors and pieces of "Plexiglass" panels for the same thing.

"Plaskolite" plastic cleaner. (Pictured below) Its recommended for "Duraplex", "Optix" and "Lexan". It has anti static properties. It brings back a shine on dirt bike goggles, Plastic lenses on eyeglasses and safety glasses, motorcycle windscreens, even painted surfaces with clear coats.

It does a real nice job on dirt bike plastics as well after a good cleaning. It cleans and polishes and make the bike easier to wash after a good thrashing too. If its safe for prescription lens glasses it will work on your dirt bikes plastics and is probably one of the safest products you can use.

View attachment 65334

So do u recommend this fir googles? Plastics i dont worry about

 

[Big Timmy]

Yes of course. I use it on my goggles all the time. it has great anti static characteristics. It even hides fine scuffs and tiny scratches on the surface caused from the brush, branches and the like. It works just as good as the "Plexus' brand product at about half the cost. Where I get it anyway. Home Depot sells "Plexus". In the same size aerosol cans at about 1/3 less than buying it at a motorcycle retailer or race car supply parts house.

I get the "Plaskolite" cleaner locally at a Hardware / lumber store and I use it on my reading glasses, work safety glasses, my clear or tinted lenses on my dirt bike goggles, my face shields on my ADV helmet and my full face street helmets all the time. It also helps keep them from fogging up.

I even use it on my welding hood lenses. To keep the static down which causes dust to collect on the inside and outside of my welding hoods when they are not in use and they are in the helmet bags in my work truck. It helps a lot when I'm going down dirt roads all the time with the trucks windows open.

IMO, It works just as good as the Plexus and doesn't cost as much.

 

[HS507]

Great! Went to menards today, no such thing. Wil

Yes of course. I use it on my goggles all the time. it has great anti static characteristics. It even hides fine scuffs and tiny scratches on the surface caused from the brush, branches and the like. It works just as good as the "Plexus' brand product at about half the cost. Where I get it anyway. Home Depot sells "Plexus". In the same size aerosol cans at about 1/3 less than buying it at a motorcycle retailer or race car supply parts house.

I get the "Plaskolite" cleaner locally at a Hardware / lumber store and I use it on my reading glasses, work safety glasses, my clear or tinted lenses on my dirt bike goggles, my face shields on my ADV helmet and my full face street helmets all the time. It also helps keep them from fogging up.

I even use it on my welding hood lenses. To keep the static down which causes dust to collect on the inside and outside of my welding hoods when they are not in use and they are in the helmet bags in my work truck. It helps a lot when I'm going down dirt roads all the time with the trucks windows open.

IMO, It works just as good as the Plexus and doesn't cost as much.

l try homedepot for plasko as well