Wax question for ak550

[jmcook1975]

Hi all,  Bought an AK550 back in Jan.  Have washed it a couple of times, but so far no wax.  This may be a stupid question, but previously I've only owned cruiser-style motorcycles that we mostly painted metal, and would usually avoid waxing any plastic stuff (usually just things like radiator cover and maybe some small side molding) because the wax would be near impossible to buff out.  So is it recommended to wax the AK body and if so, any specific wax recommendations or just the same thing I'd use on a car or the other bikes?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Iahawk]

my days of traditional 'waxing' ended a few years ago when I discovered the new hybrid ceramic spray waxes. I used to do hand applied (then moved to machine applied) traditional waxes...wax on, dry to haze, buff off...lots of time and labor... Now I exclusively use the hybrid ceramic spray waxes (Turtle wax, surprisingly, is one of the best...Griots Garage has a good one, too, but lots of others available).

I'll still prep the surface, initially, using a clay bar and then a polish, if needed, followed by an alcohol wipe down to remove all contaminants prior to spray wax application. 2 coats will bead water for a year on my cars.

I use it on my bikes, too. After the initial prep and application I just hit them with a detail spray after riding and they look like new.

Of course you can skip all the prep work and just wash and then use the ceramic spray wax...great results that way, too.

The only caveat is if your AK has the matte paint finish. That requires different care. What care that is? I don't know...I'm a glossy paint guy!

[randyo]

my understanding, to keep a matte finish, first you use a matte finish cleaner, then a spray on matte finish sealer

no wax

[jmcook1975]

Thanks so much for pointing out the obvious.  I've been thinking plastic vs metal rather than matte vs gloss.  Haven't ever had a matte finish on any of my bikes and last scooter I owned was in the mid 90s (and pretty sure it was also a glossy finish, but if I ever washed that one, I certainly don't remember it, hehe), so not something I'm used to thinking about.  Thanks again for the replies.

[rjs987]

I never wax a Matte finish. Water alone is enough. A good soaking (NOT power washer) and use a microfiber cloth. That's all it really needs. If you really really feel the need to use more than water then get a mild detergent that specifically states it is used for Matte finishes. Don't confuse a Satin finish with a Matte finish. It's not the same.

I was warned to stay away from any kind of "wax" for the Matte finish since that will  leave blotches all over making it look really bad.