Professional Ceramic Coating

[Lanceautoman]

Has anyone had their bikes ceramic coated? My new MT09 is matte black. I've not had a matte bike before and I gather you can't polish or wax it. I figured a full ceramic cost of the bike might be a good idea and help with cleaning. I've had a quote from a detailer of £150 to do the whole bike. They say it'll last 2-3 years. Thanks in advance

[Gerontious]

It will add gloss.

[Lanceautoman]

They say it's a special one for matte paint 

 

[Bender]

I've seen ceramic matt protection stuff for cars on YouTube, it keeps the matt look but no idea how well it protects, they say upto 2yrs on a bonnet but that's a big flat sun trap.

[husoi]

I've look into ceramic coating and all other detailing options when I got my car and decided against it.

Ceramic coat won't protect against chips or deep scratched.

Film detailing will have a stronger protection on chips but will scratch and turn yellow with time.

Both will need redone if there is a rupture of the coating or film.

I know a bike have far less treated surface but a set of fairings imported from China will be around £350 (price for a St1300) will be painted to spec and will be as expensive as 3 coatings with less hassle.

[Bender]

I think it's to protect from sunlight and help clean easy, I don't think it's a stone chip protector.

[husoi]

Ceramic coating will protect from swirls caused by washing and that kind of light scratches.

I prefer to use this

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/carplan-no1-super-gloss-600ml-553996040

 

It is far cheaper at less than £8, you will apply every 3 months after washing. In my case this is once a year because I don't ride in winter.

Similar to wax but with better water repellent effect and gives a nice shine.

 

Keep in mind that those £150 are 90% labour the product itself is not that expensive but the "layers" of work is substantial. I would definitely consider a DIY process for a bike. This because the treated surfaces are far smaller so any defects less noticeable.

 

But I stick with first post, in my opinion is too expensive for what you get to be worth the money.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by husoi

[Gerontious]

11 hours ago, Lanceautoman said:

They say it's a special one for matte paint 

 

 

I'm sure they do. But, it doesn't matter what they say nor does it matter if you are intending to keep the bike for a year or so. at some point, they say 2-3yrs, it will need to be reapplied and that process will add gloss, there is only one way to remove a ceramic coating and it must be fully removed before a new coating can be reapplied. It must be polished off. buffed off. And that will add gloss. even if the original coating manages not to.

 

I would want to see a treated bike before doing this. I would also want to see a retreated bike. 

[Lanceautoman]

That's really helpful. Thank you

[Mr Fro]

My car was coated as part of it's pre-purchase valet.

 

That was about 14 months ago and now it looks a bit shitty. Now, I haven't actually washed it but was told it would come up like new when I turned a hose on it.

 

My logic says: rain = hose down - effort.

 

I'm not going to go to the effort of getting the hose out but I'm fairly sure it's not going to gleam if I did so.

[Fish]

There are some products out there for matt painwork, but it comes down to how it's applied. 

 

The stuff that main dealers apply is total crap, bought off the internet for £25-£50 at a push. The only types of main dealers who use proper ceramic coatings are the higher end dealers, porsche, aston martin, etc. They get a professional car detailer in to prep and apply the coating. The process if done properly takes a good few days, under heat lamps to fully harden/go off. 

 

You can buy all sorts of ceramic products, even turtle wax is in on the game now.

 

Fish

[Bender]

I've never really noticed this stuff in the real world but I'm not big on cleaning products, non corrosive soapy water and a tin of pledge does me , there is a new car cleaning supply place that's opened up near one of the suppliers I use, they have a big sign on Wall advertising ceramic coatings must be the in thing at the mo.

[Fish]

If you want to use some half decent products, check out Auto Finesse which can be found in Halfords of all places. They started as a pro car detailing company and with some backing are now getting to a fairly decent size. The products are spot on and freindly to paintwork.

 

Fish