Thread: Help!!! How to keep my Apache RTR 180 shining and new

Hi all,

I am a newbie in bike ownership and have just bought a pearl white apache RTR 180 2 weeks ago..

now i am worried as to how to protect the paint of my bike...people are saying the pearl white color will fade very quickly and i read a similar thread in this website tilted "which wax to use" but it has made me all the more confused...

okay any bike has metal paint and plastics ,stickers(or vinyls) (pardon me if i am wrong i m a newbie ) and i want to ask whether different parts need to be polished with different waxes or polish???

my friend said to use a shampoo to wash the bike and also gave me waxpol silicone liquid polish for polishing my bike. is it okay to use this or are there any other brands that i should buy...

also the waxpol polish says not to be used on metalised plastic..now what does that even mean....????

please suggest how to take care of my bike....and also please tell me which bike care products i should buy???...the last thing i want is to have minute scratches on its paint and plastics

i know the basic drill that is to keep the bike parked in shade but that is not possible everytime..also do these polished protect the paint frm the sun???

Query Approved.

Hi pankaj,
I know the feeling when new paint gets scratched or something similar.Since you booked white its good.I will tell you a thing, many people think than dark colours(like black,dark blue etc) are easy to maintain, but in reality lighter colours are easier to maintain.Firstly your bike is new so it will be polished from the showroom/factory only so for now take it easy.
Remember this polish are wax are not same but two completely different things.Polish smothens the scratches and rough paint(but only to a small extent,not big scratches) and wax creates a thin transperent wax coat which gives protection to the painted surface.So usually wash your bike twice or thrice a month with atleast a weeks gap.Wash it with car shampoo or good quality hair shampoo also works(but not the best)
and then wipe the bike dry with good cloth and apply low pressure.Then polish your bike(Polish it as recommended on the product) and then apply a coat of wax(again as recommended) and your bike will be shining.You can repeat the process after 6 months say.
For Black plastics(Rear mudgaurd etc) use MIN cream.
CAUTION:Too much polish can also harm your paint and never ever use the product mix of polish and wax

Thanks for taking the time to reply...

Could you please suggest any good products for the same.. i mean polish and wax and car shampoo??

You can go for FORMULA1 car wax..
I have recently used it and it is pretty good..

Originally Posted by pankajsingh5k

Thanks for taking the time to reply...

Could you please suggest any good products for the same.. i mean polish and wax and car shampoo??

I too request an answer.

Ok...googling for the same topic i found the difference between polish and wax

. “Traditionally, most polishes
have contained abrasives that are suspended in a paste or liquid. They actually
grind away dirt and oxidation—or unsightly dead paint. Unfortunately, polish also
lifts good paint right off the car or bike.”

so i need a non abrasive polish and then after that wax over it so as to keep the paint protected...

Has anyone used this Waxpol Silicone polish???

Originally Posted by pankajsingh5k

Ok...googling for the same topic i found the difference between polish and wax



so i need a non abrasive polish and then after that wax over it so as to keep the paint protected...

Has anyone used this Waxpol Silicone polish???

A polish, by definition, is a substance that's used to remove material by abrasion. So there's no such thing as a non-abrasive polish for paint.

Waxpol silicone polish is not durable. It looks good for a day or two but quickly wears off.

You could try a good quality liquid or paste wax. Paste waxes are available as both simple paste wax and cleaner wax. The cleaner waxes contain a mild abrasive that cleans the paint surface of contaminants. A good quality one will not harm the paint.

Some brands that come to mind: Waxpol super wax polish, NOT scooter polish. Abel Auto, Turtle wax, Sonax, 3M. Of these, 3M is the best bet since it's of good quality, affordable, easy to find and less likely to be fake.

I suggest you just buy the 3M car care kit that's available in many shops. It contains shampoo, wax and dashboard protectant. The dashboard protectant can be used on unpainted plastic surfaces like mudguards. Be sure to follow their instructions carefully for best results.


Guidelines for bike care:

- Wash regularly to prevent paint and plastic damage from corrosive chemicals and pollution.

- Clean the engine and wheels first and then proceed to the paint.

- Use a good quality terry cloth for the paint.

- Use a good quality paint brush for the engine and wheels.

- Use different water shampoo solutions for paint and engine to prevent scratching the paint from the dirt left behind in the water.

- Use a liquid detergent to degrease if required for the engine and wheels. e.g. Pril, Colin, etc. Don't use them on the body since they are very strong.

- DO NOT wash under the sun. Dry the bike immediately to avoid water marks from hard water.

- DO NOT apply wax to a hot bike or under the sun.

- DO NOT dust or wipe the bike when dry. If you don't have water to clean it, then leave it alone.

- Most waxes, paste or liquid, should not be applied to rough surfaces like black plastic mudguards, etc. that can't be buffed properly. Once they dry fully, they become whitish and make the plastic look faded. If you apply accidentally, wipe it away immediately with a wet cloth.

- If you use a good shampoo like 3M to wash regularly and follow their dilution instruction, the wax will last for 4 - 6 weeks in Indian conditions.

- Open chains will fling lubricant on the back wheel. Use a cloth soaked in kerosene or petrol to wipe it away. DO NOT let it touch the tyre. Oils and solvents like petrol, kerosne damage rubber.

Good luck with your bike!

he can go for Teflon courting...

@iamvik....
Thanks a lot...that is a very educating answer..will get right on it and buy 3M

@brijen.gamer..
that is also an option but unfortunately i dont knw much about Teflon or lacquer coating....and i dont know any good shops in my city where i can get it Teflon coated and also people say that Teflon coating is costly...
i will wait for some time and learn about bike care and find some good shops and then consider these options.