Ceramic Coating

[pa-outdoorsman]

Hey guys, I have a friend close to home who is a full-time auto detailer. He specializes in high-end ceramic coatings and other products that not only make vehicles look great but offer long-term (think years, not months) protection for paint and other surfaces. Today, I had him apply a ceramic coating to my scooter, which was kind of cool, because this was the very first two-wheeled vehicle he had ever coated. The coating really adds a richness and luster to the finish, and is particularly notable on the unfinished, matte black plastic portions of the bike.

Here's a link to a video if you are interested in more information about the coating process. I'll also attach a few photos.

https://fb.watch/5MVKghM2RR/

I know many of you are very particular about keeping your scooters cleaned, polished, etc. If that's you, perhaps check in with a professional detailer near you and see what you options would be for a coating. This particular coating I got comes with a one-year warranty, but given the fact that my scooter will probably only see the road five or six months a year, he believes I will get at least two years of performance out of it. Some of the coatings actually last several years, but because much of the scooter exterior is plastic, we decided to use a product designed specifically for trim, as it bonds to the plastic surfaces but does not necessarily last as long as some of the other coatings designed to be applied to clear coat automotive paint. Regardless, he said it will make water bead up and sheet off, and he said any future washings of the scooter should be extremely easy. Things such as dirt, pollen, bugs, etc., should not able to adhere to the surface of the scooter.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I think it is the SYM scooters which have ceramic coated cylinders.
Didn't know you could spray it on a scooter.

How is this different than a good auto wax for keeping a shine, beading water, adding depth to plastics and making bugs and dirt rinse off?
Can it prevent corrosion like ACF-50?
(I don't do facebook)

Stig

[pa-outdoorsman]

Well, I'm not the ceramic coating expert. My friend is. But in a nutshell, I think ceramic coatings provide the same benefits as a good wax, with the added benefits of being much longer lasting and harder. My understanding is that ceramic coating actually bonds to the surface of the vehicle and helps protect it from scratches, UV deterioration, etc.

You could literally spend days looking at all the various ceramic coating products on the market and their various attributes. Ceramic coatings have largely replaced wax as the "coating of choice" for high-end detailers and vehicle owners. However, there are still some very high-end waxes that are popular and do a good job. My friend will still do wax and has a few that he prefers. Waxes are less expensive than the ceramics, and again, do not last as long before the need to be reapplied.

Here's a link to the particular product used on my scooter. You can also see the company's other offerings:

https://iglcoatings.com/products/ecocoat-trim

[Iahawk]

Ceramics are awesome! I did a true ceramic coating on my motorcycle a few years ago and it still looks fantastic. I hit it with a ceramic/hybrid spray wax on a regular basis and use detail spray after riding. Paint looks like new. You will need to properly prep your paint for the best results...wash, de iron, clay bar, machine polish, isopropyl alcohol final wipe down..then apply ceramic coating.

An alternative is the new ceramic hybrid spray waxes. Lots of choices. Simple spray on, wipe off application and with 2 apps can last a year. You’ll still want to prep your paint prior to any top coating to get the best results. I use those on my cars and the beading is out of this world.