What is the best wax for the Terra?

Discussion in 'TR650' started by mag00, Aug 20, 2013.

  1. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    I need to find a good wax. My last NEW bike was a red MZ 500. It had a plastic fender. I waxed it with Mothers, and within weeks, the fender was cloudy, never again to be bright shiny red. Seems the wax (or whatever base) soaked into the plastic and dulled it.

    I do not wish to do that to my plastics on My Terra. Anybody have a good recommendation? How long have you used it on your Terra/Strada?

    Thanks,
    Dave
  2. kjackbrown Keep on keepin on.

    Location:
    Fresno, Ca.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    KLR650
    Meguiars makes products for plastic parts. Great brand...you might try them.
  3. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    Funny guy LOL. :lol:

    I am not willing to "try" things on the finish at this time. I want someone else to try it and let me know how it worked. Where's Mikey, he'll try it. Already wrecked one bike finish trying things from great companies.I guess I could put it on the underside of some panel for testing.

    Have you used this product on your TR?
  4. Highfive Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    Husaberg FE390, BMW F800GS
    Use "Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish" sold at Honda Motorcycle shop. Great stuff for plastics....even windshields & face shields. Comes in an aerosol can. Spray on, wipe off & buff. It's not waxy, doesn't cause any fading.....quite the opposite. It restores a brilliant finish very easily.

    You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

    HF
    mag00 and chris1261 like this.
  5. Trapperj Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Knoxville TN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Tr 650 Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    R1200 GS RALLY..KLR 650..Zrx 1200
    Most of the sprays out by the big names will do well.best advice I think woukd be to watch what you use when rubbing on the plastic. Make sure and use lots and lots of water(when washing) ...knock off all the big chunks of dirt so you don't cause scratches yourself. Then always use a nice soft towell...watch crazy stitching ...even the label that's attached can cause surface scratches you'll later have to buff/rubb out. Especially on black! Watch out for anything that removes any paint..NO COMPOUND! It'll eat away the shine and you'll have a mat Finnish. I bought some clear 3m tape and placed on my Strada underneath the tank bag straps to prevent scuffing up the black...it's worked well ao far.
    mag00 likes this.
  6. Coffee CH Owner

    Location:
    Between homes - in ft Wayne IN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2006 TE250, 2013 TR650 Terra - sold
    Not sure if my approach is right or wrong, but my bikes are quite lucky to get soap and water. Never even considered wax, especially when I want to grip the tank with my knees much of the time offroad.

    dunno...
    nev.., PaulC, Hansi and 2 others like this.
  7. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    Thanks guys, them are some great tips. I was going to just live with the wear on the tank bag straps, battle wounds, so to speak, but that sure is an easy cheap remedy.

    Any suggestions on keeping the motor from oxidizing?

    I have Flitz for the rims, that should still be a good thing.
  8. Mike-AK Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Alaska
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 TE 310
    Used to use Meguiars Plastic Polish on airplane canopies and it worked great. Never had any turn cloudy. The scratch remover works good too.
    mag00 and kjackbrown like this.
  9. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    Nothing quite like a freshly treated seat... Swing your leg over and end up on your back on the other side holding on dearly to the handlebars :lol:
    PaulC and Coffee like this.
  10. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    What types of plastics are we dealing with? Have you used it on a Husky plastic? I think that the turn lenses and fenders are different types of plastic. The bezels on my car, yellow real bad. That seems to be yet another plastic/acrylic/polymer.
  11. Mike-AK Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Alaska
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 TE 310
    I suppose I'm more concerned with getting the bike dirty than with getting it clean. I didn't buy it for a living room conversation piece. I bought it to ride in the dirt, lather, rinse, repeat.
    Centerline, mag00 and fasteer like this.
  12. nev.. Terrarist

    Location:
    Greensborough, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '13 TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    '14 XT1200ZE
    My dirt riding lacks such credibility that I aim for puddles to splash on my bike just to get it dirty and then I dodge the rain, lest it wash away the precious dirt.
  13. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    If I could get mine around the corner, it would be in the front room. :thumbsup:
  14. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
  15. fasteer Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2017 701 Enduro
    Other Motorcycles:
    Sherco SEF300 (for sale)
    Motul Shine & Go works well on plastics on the 511.
    It's nasty stuff tho, only use it outside and stand upwind.
    mag00 likes this.
  16. 268fords Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Powell, Wyoming
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08' TE510'
    Other Motorcycles:
    Honda CRF 100, Kawasaki KLX 110
    image.jpg
    Both of these work great on my stock 08' TE510 UFO plastics. I use the turtle wax ice more than the meguirs because you can easily spray a microfiber towel and clean and polish at the same time. You can see the shine on the red plastic. No adverse effects from either.
    HuskyDude and mag00 like this.
  17. nev.. Terrarist

    Location:
    Greensborough, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '13 TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    '14 XT1200ZE

    Think laterally.. does that wall really need to be there ?
    Centerline and mag00 like this.
  18. nev.. Terrarist

    Location:
    Greensborough, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '13 TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    '14 XT1200ZE

    Thanks for the link. I've seen a few instructional videos on youtube but that one is particularly well done and helpful. I'm afraid you well overestimate my abilities or even my ambitions. I'm happy enough riding graded dirt roads, and and getting to the top of an occasional 15% grade is quite an accomplishment. I don't really have any ambitions to ride any road that I couldn't pass an oncoming car on, or which has ruts more than a few inches deep.

    enough of the hijack.. back to cleaning products
    Centerline and kjackbrown like this.
  19. jtemple Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Papillion, NE
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2011 TE630
    Other Motorcycles:
    2013 Kawasaki ZX-14R
    Can't say I have ever waxed my 630. Been using Turtle Wax Ice on my ZX-14R since I got it with good results.
    mag00 likes this.
  20. mag00 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Tucson
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra, Strada
    Other Motorcycles:
    XR250 R1100RS CH50
    Let the inner adventurist out Nev. It's in there waiting for some encouragement. Wash and wax, become one.
    nev.. likes this.