Surf City Here We Come

Stunning paint and presentation. But how to keep it that way?

What else do you do when you have a range of cleaning and detailing products to try out?
Naturally I took the bike out on a few errands in pretty heavy rain - mainly to get it dirty.

Dumb, to take all that chrome and gold paint out in the muck, particularly when there’s a KLR650 parked next to it, but I wanted to see what the Chieftain was like on a wet road too.
It’s been a dry winter in Brisbane, but when the rain did finally arrive, it pelted down.

The first thing I noticed was how well the screen and bodywork kept the worst of the rain off me. In moderate shower conditions I only really got wet from the knees down. Those big mudguards do a great job of keeping the worst of the spray-effect off the bike too. It came back grubby enough to be worth washing, but cleaner than I expected.

The bike’s manners in the wet are quite good. It’s pretty easy to light up the rear wheel with so much torque on tap, but it’s all quite predictable. It’s like all the mega bikes on a slippery road.  There’s a lot of mass to mind. Mind it.

Back home and dry, it was time to survey the work bench again.

Surf City Professional Grade Detailing Products

Preamble

For want of a more original term I’ve always referred to the juice that makes a person want to keep a show bike showy as the ‘Elbow Grease’.

I’m not as 'retentive' as some of my pals (are you reading this Brian?), but I like to keep my stuff tidy. Machines operate more efficiently and it’s easier to diagnose a malfunction if they are clean. That's my theory anyway.

Having the Running Bull in the shed (that phrase still makes me lol!) has made me think that the ‘Elbow Grease’ is a renewable resource.

I ran out for a while. True. I had a Triumph Thunderbird that I polished, chromed and customised along with a heap of handling performance mods.

The day it retired with 120k on the dial

I kept it spotless for years and went through untold tubes of polish and countless hours of shed therapy.

Then one day when the T’bird was getting on a bit, I fell in lust with a Buell that had no bright finish parts at all and was pretty much good to go after hosing it off.

The T’bird was partially retired with an honourable 120,000km on the clock and that Buell and its no-bling finish dried up all my Elbow Grease. There just wasn't any point.

But since I’ve been in charge of the project bike I’ve whiled, fussed, cleaned and polished away a ton of enjoyable garage time again.

In case you missed it, here is the story on how I came to be testing these products and some advice from the painter - Mark Walker.

So far I have used them on the Project bike, my 14 year old Jeep and the Co-pilot's Merc. All have come up brilliantly. Literally.

The Products

Pacific Blue Wash and Wax. RRP $14.

‘Super concentrated’ according to the instructions. If the paint it in good order you can probably get away with just using this product. Soft towel it dry and it certainly won’t detract from an existing shine job. Fourteen bucks will last a while – the packaging claims 30+ washes to the bottle and a ‘scratch free’ clean. It’s got the hard wax. It worked well.
***

 

Barrier Reef Carnauba Liquid Wax Kit. RRP: $34.00

For me this is one of the stand-out products I have tested. It’s not only the brilliant, deep finish produced; it’s the ease of finishing it. On the bike it is easy to apply with the pad included in the kit. After giving it a few minutes to dry, it is remarkably easy to remove. Truly wipe on – wipe off. With the expenditure required with this product – the Elbow Grease will outlast my time with the bike.
I used the electric polisher to apply to the Jeep and was again impressed by the ease of bringing up a quality finish.
*****

Speed Demon Wax Detailer RRP: $19.00

For in between washes this stuff is brilliant. ‘Advanced Particle Suspension’ protects paint from scratching and after buffing dry the bike looks like it’s just had the full-shizzle liquid wax treatment.
****

Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner RRP: $15.00

I used this on the Jeep and the Mercedes and it does what it claims to do on the packaging. Cleans the wheels. The Merc’s mag wheels were pretty dirty and needed a bit of help with a brush to get the worst of the caked on disc dust off. The bike’s wheels are well enough enclosed to not need attention just yet.
***

Killer Chrome Perfect Polish RRP: $19.00

Non-abrasive, yet will deal to surface rust and oxidisation. I found it very easy to apply to the acres of chrome on the Bull. It’s also very easy to finish and the mirror shine it puts on the chrome is as good as any product I’ve used.
Again, the beauty of the product is how easy it is to remove.
****

Dash Away Interior Detailer RRP: $15.00

Another new favourite. Apply this product to the Dash Board (naturally) and other non-metallic finishes. It cleaned and renovated the kick marks on the saddle and backrest WITHOUT making them at all slippery. Good for grips and footboard rubbers and plastic infill panels. It restores to ‘as new’ condition.
*****







Conclusion
After application, the bike and cars looks fabulous, the products were very easy to use/remove and the pricing is pretty keen. And they encourage Elbow Grease.

I've always had favourite products for these jobs. I now have some new ones.

There is more info at Rollies or the Surf City Garage site features videos, application tips and more detailed product information.

If your local auto-care outlet doesn’t have the Surf City Range, tell them to call Rollies & get it.
To find your nearest stockist visit: http://www.rolliesspeedshop.com/dealer-locator/

Stage III additions

Here are the Stage III additions fitted by Indian Brisbane. Prices include fitting and are in $Au.

The latest additions to the project have added a deal of road presence.

The extra chrome and wire work fits well with the ornate paint job and it’s given a more complete looking presentation.

Stage III has added very well made ironwork and chrome to the bike's presentation.

Luggage rack – RRP: $440 

Nice rack. Handy for camera kit that won't fit in the bags. It's fitted to the backrest installed in stage II.

It’s rated to carry a bit over 3kg and has been very handy for carrying my camera kit. The tripods mainly, and it adds some length to the bike's aesthetic appeal. Nicely finished and it completes the rear backrest assembly. Indian says: “This strong, sturdy Luggage Rack bolts directly into designated mounting slots on the Indian Motorcycle Passenger Backrest (sold separately). This rack provides riders with a remote yet convenient place to securely attach cargo. The slotted rack offers countless tie-down locations so cargo can be secured in place, and it complements saddlebag storage for longer trips when riders want to carry extra gear.”

Saddlebag Racks – RRP: $520 

Does my arse look phat is this? Most of the stage III additions are to the rear of the bike.

These pannier racks are one of my choices. Even with long legs it’s easy to inadvertently drag a boot over the edge of the lid while dismounting. These racks add paint protection and look great.
Indian says it best: “These racks mount securely on the lids of Indian Motorcycle Hard Saddlebags (sold separately) and complement the interior cargo capacity of the saddlebags so riders can take along more gear. These strong, sturdy racks bolt onto the saddlebag lids. Special washers are provided to seal the mounting holes and maintain the excellent cargo protection the hard saddlebags provide. And protect the lid from scratches and work with saddlebag audio.”

Fender Bumper Front – RRP: $280

The Bumpers add a bit of protection around the shed and are completely in character.

Mainly an aesthetic addition, and worthwhile just for that, although it’s a handy thing. I’ve been pushing other bikes around in the shed and haven’t had to worry about the going too close to the leading edge of the painted fender.
Indian’s take: “This strong, sturdy bumper bolts onto the fender and extends beyond the sheet metal to create an appealing chrome leading edge on your Indian Motorcycle. The bumper can help prevent impacts with the painted fender, and it is strong enough to withstand all the rigors of hard riding.”

Fender Bumper Rear – RRP: $230

Tidy.

 Same as the front bumper. They offer extra protection backing into a parking space and look great.
Indian says: “Install a Rear Fender Bumper on your Indian Motorcycle and you enhance the motorcycle’s style, add bright chrome to a high-profile area at the rear of the bike, and provide dependable protection for the rear fender. This strong, sturdy bumper bolts onto the fender and extends beyond the sheet metal to create an appealing chrome rear edge on your Indian Motorcycle®. The bumper can help prevent impacts with the painted fender, and it is strong enough to withstand all the rigors of hard riding.”

Chrome Floorboards – RRP: $300

The footboard inserts add another layer of bling.

The way these footboard inserts reflect the side covers actually add more ‘bling’ to the engine’s presentation.
Indian says: “They are direct replacements for the stock floorboards, and they feature a stylish chrome-plated top surface that adds a bright custom touch to the center section of the motorcycle. These floorboards feature Indian Motorcycle® War Bonnet icon branding and provide a rider’s feet with sure footing.”

Saddlebag Protector Rails – RRP: $575

The saddle bag protector rails are nicely finished.

 These compliment the saddle bag racks nicely and add a bit more in-the-shed mishap protection.
“These strong, chrome-plated rails bolt on easily and provide protection along the outside edges of hard saddlebags (sold separately). These rails feature Indian Motorcycle® script branding and complement the look of the other chrome components on the motorcycle.”

Highway Bar Rear – RRP: $475 

Welcome to Sticker hell.

The warning stickers on the rear crash bars warn that they are not designed to protect you in a crash. Welcome to anti-litigation protection 2014 style!
Personally I reckon they would provide ‘some’ protection in an incident and will stop a lot of fall-over damage if you do knock the bike over. They also add some presence to the bike. Those warning stickers are b@stards of the highest order to remove. It took a concoction of De-solve-it, WD40 and a plastic paint scraper to get them off the front bars.

Next?
There are still a few bling items left in the catalogue to add. We have a sports air filter on the way and Brum is on the search-case for the camshafts we covet. Stay tuned for stage IV.

More pics - Here's the latest gallery additions

Keeping it clean

By David Cohen

Stage 2. All that glitters is mostly gold and chrome and paint and ....
 This photo took me longer to take than just about any other. The bike drew a small crowd and I told the 'Indian reborn' story 5 times to enquiring passers-by

When you have invested in unique paint, like the QMPP job on the Running Bull project, it makes sense to want to maintain and protect it. (Not to mention that I want it to look ‘showroom’ when I eventually do have to hand it over to the Publisher.)

The first person I asked for some tips was the painter himself.

The bloke who had stressed his carpal tunnel whilst creating the artwork would have sound counsel I reasoned.

So it proved. Back down the wire came Mark Walker’s nine-point paint maintenance plan - and several other pieces of sage advice.

1. Don’t wash your bike in the sun.
2. Hose thoroughly to remove any dirt/material.
3. Soak bugs off. Don’t ever scratch them off. “You’d be amazed at how many people stand there, scratching at their paint with a fingernail.”
4. Use dedicated automotive products. ”Not dish washing liquid. Don’t laugh, this does happen!”
5. A bike that is well polished is far easier to clean then one that sees polish once a year.
6. Spend some coin and get a proper ‘kit’ together.  “It will cost about $80 to $100. It’s an investment in your bike.”
7. Use a proper polish applicator sponge.
8. When polishing, use two towels to clean up. One to wipe the bulk of the polish off, then follow up with a clean one,
9. Use microfibre towels for polish removal.

The other serious bit of advice he imparted was to "drop in to Rollies Speed Shop and pick up some ‘Surf City Garage’ stuff”.

Coincidentally (read fortunately) I’d just used the last of my stock of spray-on detailer getting the splattered bugs of the Bull’s headlight. So I jumped on the beast and headed in the direction of Rollies Speed Shop in Newstead at the next available.

First call was the Indian Brisbane dealership though. Just up the road in Fortitude Valley, or as the locals say “The Valley”.

Which reminds me of this:



Incidentally, that opening lyric “went down on the Montevideo” refers to the POW ship sunk during WWII. The ‘Fortitude’ in the suburb name was after another vessel - the SS Fortitude, which brought many of the original Scottish immigrants to area.

You won’t see much tartan in the Valley these days though. According to a Brisbane web site it’s become the nightlife hub. Chinatown, pubs and entertainment malls – and there are an increasing number of Indians. The demo fleet is parked down in the yard across the laneway from the shop in Wickham Street.

(How’s that for a convoluted segue?)

I went in to talk to Robertino about the Sports Air Cleaner Brum wants installed - and to quiz him about the aftermarket camshafts we (Brum) has heard about.

He had a result (sort-of) on the air filter – it has been ordered ex-USA – but didn’t shine any light on the cam situation. He gave the bike the once over and we had a chat about tyre and suspension pre-load settings - and I was on my way.

It’s always a pleasant visit to that shop. They are a friendly, happy crew. Because they are kicking a few goals, I guess.

Indian upstairs

Victory ground floor

Not that they are alone in that regard either. There are a number of upbeat Brisbane bike shops currently.

To that end, the team I met at Rollies shortly after are really switched-on too.

I went in and introduced myself and the project bike to Hamish and explained the nature of my visit. “Heavy Duty Magazine and Mark Walker sent me”, and then asked for some tips on keeping the bike mint.

Like just about everyone else I’ve met in the motorcycle industry up here, ‘Ah, how is Brum?’ He enquired. The man's a Queensland legend - or everyone here is from Melbourne.

Anyway, he then set about putting together a sample kit of their Surf City Garage, Enthusiast Grade detailing products. A pannier full; give or take some foam packaging I already had in the boxes. (Forward planning or what!)

The Bull’s bags (lol) are quite serviceable. Capacity is quite good and access is a breeze. Even more so with the racks fitted to the lids. They act like big handles. No, definitely no farnarkling required with these lids. But, even so, I came away with quite a haul. Products marked as 'tester' and some straight out of the shipping container being unpacked as we spoke. (I love this gig.)

This selection is designed to maintain a bike and is for paint that is already in good condition. There is a range of restorative products available too, but this booty (in the Piratical sense, thank you) is all about protection and presentation.

I'll be shaking the bottles of this pile of promotional booty shortly. It's raining here now.

Click on the following product names to go to their page on the Surf City Garage Site (in a new window). There are videos, application tips and heaps of data on the various products.

Barrier Reef Carnauba Wax.
How about this for great copy too:

"A gloss so deep it’ll make you feel like you can dive right into the paint. A wax so easy to use, you may feel guilty at how little effort is needed…until friends rave about how great your ride looks. These are just two reasons why Barrier Reef has become the best selling wax in the Enthusiast Market. It’s blended with the world’s best pure #1 Brazilian Carnauba for the longest-lasting paint protection and the deepest, most mesmerizing gloss you’ll find under the sun. Use it and get lost in the gloss."

Which prompted me to wonder, okay, what is a Carne...Caranuba...Carnubia...CARNAUBA. I've read about it on automotive products since I rode a CB450, but never got much further contemplating it other than 'shiny wax'. Well using my Ph.D. in Google I found it's one of these:

School for very hard wax - The Brazilian Carnauba Palm. Surfers use it too.

The Barrier Reef kit comes with applicator pad and a microfibre cloth. I'll give it an application after the rain stops.

After it's thoroughly washed with the Pacific Blue Wash and wax of course. Referring to points one through nine above.

Clean up will be with as some of the Speed Demon Wax Detailer.

The Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner will be handy, not much wheel shows at either end - but cleaning what is visible is a down-on-the-ground affair. Even if it's on a jack. Any assistance will be a big plus.

Killer Chrome All Metal Polish sounds like it's just the ticket for all the metallic bling too. There is a lot of chrome.

Hamish also said that the Dash Away Interior Detailer is good not only for the dashboard, but all the other surfaces of the bike, including the saddle.

"Everyone is allowed to make the Armour-all-on-the-seat mistake once." I replied. "But only once."

To which Hamish assured me it will provide a great non-slip finish. Even on the saddle.

After a quick stroll around Rollies showroom I headed back towards base on the lookout for photo locations to show off the new Stage II bling. By the time I got back to the Bayside I still hadn't' found one so I used an old favourite spot in Manly.

Arvo marina.

We vill do ze talking. Park this anywhere and prepare to engage.

That's when the talk fest began. Before I had my helmet off I was being quizzed by a Vincent Lightning aficionado who was out walking his dog. Then the two Jehovah's Witness ladies arrived. Their opening gambit was a genuine compliment on the presentation of the vehicle, followed by the  "Some reading for your journey" ambush. It's the second time I've fallen for it. (The other was at remote Yalata Roadhouse in WA.) They didn't stand a chance once they had started me on motorcycles though. They ... okay ... I was finally interrupted by two blokes with a very keen interest in bikes and a heap of "how does it go" questions.

The JW ladies had long wandered up the Esplanade when two more "I'm a non-motorcyclist and I don't know anything about bikes but tell me ..." types made contact.

This motorcycle sure likes meeting people. Eventually the crowd thinned and I got some shots. Took a while though.

Today there's rain and a show bike to get dirty simply because cleaning it will be interesting. And that detailer wax smells great. Full reports to follow.

The day's collection of reading material. From it I have deduced that the answers to life's big questions are in hard wax.
The Surf City blurb is great fun too.

Up and down Moreton Bay

by David and Janet Cohen.

Co-pilot taking it all in on the east coast of Bribie Island.

I've lived in Brisbane for almost 3 years now and had never been to Bribie Island.
Ridden past the turn-off on the M1 plenty of times as we headed to destinations further north or north-west, but have never taken Exit 152 ... until today.
Some of the first rides I did on the bike were detours around the southern ends of Moreton and Raby Bays. But that was just taking the long way home on workday gigs and errands.

Wellington Point isn't too far from home.

Modifications after Stage 1 of the project.

The gentleman in the flat cap about to walk into frame had an Indian story to tell. So many do.

Today was a ride, just for the ride's sake. I didn't even take the big camera. It wasn't even a big ride, just a very pleasant cruise on the Bull.
We got away just before lunchtime.
Bribie lies at the northern end Moreton Bay, between the city and the Sunshine Coast and is one of the chain of large sand islands and coastal flats that start 100km south at the Gold Coast and run all the way to Fraser Island and Hervey Bay further North.

Above North Stardbroke Island and nada surf.

Looking South into Moreton Bay

The sand strip goes a long way.

Inland is where the good riding is. In the hinterland hills.
Not to say it wasn't a very enjoyable ride, but today was all about 8 lanes of super-slab or crossing those 'flats'.

The Bribie Island bridge

Glasshouse mountains in the distance

It was enjoyable because the Chieftain eats it up like the way I ate the Chicken Ceasar Salad at the Surf Club for lunch.

Cruise control central. Rocking a fur collar.

The on-board thermometer was showing 23c on the way home.

Damn it goes nice. Brum said 'get the high flow air filter installed' and is contemplating camshafts.
Hot diggity!
As you can see here, stage 2 of custom bling has already been added. I'll write it all up when I have RRP's confirmed. It looks great.

Stage 2: Lots of new ironwork and chrome. It's all added more presence to the machine.

Running Bull Visuals