My son asked me for some advice on bike detailing, after a search on the Internet I couldn't find much info so I decided to put this together. If anyone (Richy et al) has comments / additions I would be grateful for your input (and I'll add your name as a a byline) THANKS
Jon..I don't need to be included in a byline but the only thing I can add is for white wall tires, clean with a magic eraser and an APC like Zep Citrus (4:1) and rinse thoroughly. And, of course, like you said, NEVER apply dressing to the sidewalls (or the seat for that matter...don't want weight shift on the seat in the middle of leaning over in a turn).
[EDIT added 20.04.10] Matte or Satin Finish Paint Do not polish or wet-sand a matte clear, as the flattening agents that cause the matte appearance (textured finish) by diffuse reflection are retained very close to the clear coat surface. By levelling the surface the light will be reflected evenly and result in a ‘shine’. Use a rotary polisher and an ultra soft, zero abrasive cut (Lake County CCS Concourse Gold (100 PPI) foam pad) with a mild chemical paint cleaner/ polish (Zaino Z-AIO - All in One) it will remove surface marring and leave it flat and dull. Use a clear polymer (Zaino Z-CS - Clear Seal) the key is to add surface protection and depth without adding gloss. Swisswax - Opaque Wax- a premium wax specially developed for all satin matt paintwork types. It offers your car's paintwork thorough long term protection against all kinds of negative contaminants without damaging its satin matt appearance.
