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[kurt nt]

I have noticed that my once bright red SR has started to change colour.
This became noticeable when I bought a new tail piece after an accident.
Looking at photos I took when I first purchased the bike confirms that the colour is fading.
Are Zero using UV stable colour for their plastic body parts ?
I normally store and park the bike under cover as the sun is very strong in this part of the World (Darwin, Australia).
The place where they manufacture these bikes is known as a sunny place so I thought the plastics would be very good for UV stability.
I have never had this problem with other makes of motorcycle that I have owned some of which are getting quite old now.
Is anyone else noticing this with their Zero's.

[PhreaK]

I've heard reports of the white panels turning a little yellow over time too.

[ALLVLTS]

Good to know. Is the bodywork actually molded in color rather than painted? If it's just the color of the plastic then I can see why they would fade. Decent paint should hold its color much longer.
To me, that is unacceptable from a 2015 model that cost over $15k.

Can you post the before and after pics?

Fortunately, if I buy a 2016 SR I will be Plasti Dipping it Blaze Yellow anyway like I did to my helmet and backpack because I hate red and I want that super-hi-visibility yellow for commuting in this world full of distracted drivers. It also protects the panels from the sun and from light scratches, dings, and rock chips.
Ironically, Blaze Yellow Plasti Dip fades in the sun too but it's really easy to either peel it off and redo it completely or just add a new coat on top (which will still allow it to peel off easily if desired).

[Killroy]

I noticed that my 2015 paint is not looking too good either.

Can you get that fixed with warranty?

When I got it in November last year, I noticed that the color does not match well.  The front fender is more orange.

If you look closely at the tail, I can see micro cracks deep in the surface.  This makes it look faded.

I dont want to give Zero, or my dealer a hard time, but they should know.  I know my Zero.


Its so bad, I have been considering Plastidip  to protect the paint.  -But the paint is crap, so there is nothing to protect.

[Justin Andrews]

Killroy, there is no paint on a Zero. The plastic is dyed as part of the injection molding process.

[benswing]

Some cleaners will cause fade too. 


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[lolachampcar]

i noticed this on my first zero and now my SR.  The plastic fades.

I find it a bit strange given my bike lives inside and I do not wash it apart from rinsing it down every now and again so it can not be cleaners.

[Kocho]

I waxed mine as soon as I got it. Wax is supposed to offer some UV resistance, but I don't know how good. It did cover some micro-scratches pretty good and gave the plastics a nice smooth shine. I usually wax all smooth plastics, including windscreens, headlight, and turn signals and reflectors - keeps dust away better than without it.

An alternative would be to take off the plastics and spray-paint them with several layers of automotive clear coat - that sells in all auto parts stores and for $5 or so should offer both a sacrificial scratch layer and UV protection. It is very easy to apply, just wait 10-15 minutes between coats and don't over-spray, and you get a nice thick clear coat. I might do that, once my bike comes back from service at the dealership.

[Killroy]

I wax mine too.  Still faded.  It lives inside at night but outside at work. 

Can the finish be polished?