Black fairings / paintwork - how does it hold up?

Hi, I saw a black 2010 bike at a dealer yesterday and the paintwork looked shocking. Now I dont know what the mileage was or how well looked after it was by the previous owner, but what is your experience with black bodywork?

I love the stealthy look but just don't know in the real world how well it holds up on a bike. Is it a case of everytime you take it out there's another mark?

what are your experiences?

 

I have a black rr5 however it has only done 3000 miles and it looks new? I use black polish so there are no white dried polish showing, my car is also black! If you like to keep your bike clean and polished you can't beat black it looks great but it does show off any marks!

 

Had a black k8 thou because all new paints are water based they are really soft and mark easily, as a result as soon as I got my L0 first mod was full venture shield kit.

After every ride I had to polish The swirl marks out the tank where my knees had been!

 

Is a pain to keep clean and yes my tank marked from my knees rubbing within minutes but it is my favorite colour. I don't mind too much getting marks to the paint due to using it i.e. wear and tear that's what I got it for and they can be polished out. Stone chips or road rash is bound to happen so don't worry about that.

As long as you keep on top of it, it looks great.

My 17700 mile 5 year old GSXR in black looked almost good as new when I sold it, because I looked after it and I wasn't afraid to use it.

 

i`ve done 10k on my 2011 blade, and it still looks mint. The odd stone chip on the front, but i touch it up and polish it in so you can't see it.

 

So, perhaps some paint protection film where the knees are and that would eliminate the majority of wear? Stonechips and road rash etc are just as likely on any colour bike.

 

Either that, or stomp grip or techspec gripster snakeskin.

Techspec gripster:

 

Like others have said black is a real pain in the ass to keep clean, and every time you ride it you have to be very careful not to scratch the paint when washing the dead flies off. I tend to soak them a bit first, then wash and re polish. Tank also marks when knees rub which have to be polished out every time. Got to be done though as it’s a well known fact that black blades are SO much faster. Once you go black you never go back! Unless it’s a Panigale off course.

 

Much prefer techspec over stomp grip but will see how polishing and re polishing goes with the knee marks first as I'd rather not fit, got used to it with the GSXR.

Failing that will put a new claim in for a tank cover

 

I put stomp grips on for a couple of reason one of which was the knee marks on the tank.

 

A full venture shield kit includes sections to cover the tank knee areas as well as all the major impact areas, after having mine resprayed black and the full kit fitted it comes up gleaming after a normal wash and polish, well worth the money to keep your body work looking good and chip free.

 

Marks like a Mofo, but it does look the smartest in my opinion. You'll just have to treat her well

 

Si your bike looks amazing and I like the Techspec gripsters but what happens when you take them off. Are you left with a sticky mess?

 

Very nice, is that an Akra slip on? cat or no cat? And the exhaust in fill Leo Vince? And what about those non drill crash bungs?

 

Nope... The techspecs are removeable anyway.

 

@ MrB. Akra slip-on no cat, Leo Vince carbon infill, and the crash bungs are 'Bike Design' Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade 2008> Onwards Crash Protectors | Frame Sliders