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[GrantMeStrength]

Some.. person, shall we say.. splattered white paint on my bike while it was parked at the office.

Any recommendations for cleaning the red tank to remove the paint?

[munchie33]

The type of paint makes a difference. Would just start with the orange oil type cleaner. See if it softens and rubs clean. There are more agressive methods to try after that. I had to buy a tiny 3" buffer to polish through some mystery crud that got on my tank. May as well have been catalyzed paint for how impossible it was to remove.

[GrantMeStrength]

Yeah, tried that. 

Never bought or used a buffer. Although I'm pretty much an old duffer, which is maybe close..

[clockfort]

If you find a paint that blends well and looks nice, I know some... person (who may or may not be me)... who discolored his front fender with brake fluid at once point while bleeding his brakes, and would be interested in anything that works well...

[BamBam]

I would try some paint cleaning clay that you can get at most auto parts stores. It worked to remove some paint overspray on my truck.

[GrantMeStrength]

Sigh. Well, that didn't work out so well.

I tried all sorts of cleaners and plastic polish. Nothing worked. Seems as though the white paint spots have chemically bonded with the surface of the tank, and it wasn't coming off because it was part of it now.

In desperation I tried a Dremmel polisher, and so now I have a choice between a tank that is covered in white dots, or one that has dents, grooves and marks where I've finally got the white off.
At the moment, I've both - one on each side of the tank.

In other words, it's buggered

How much is a set of plastics for the tank? Might as well price the newer plastics with the lockable storage compartment - that'll work on my 2015, right?

[BamBam]

Well if you don't mind changing the color to black, Duplicolor spray-on truck bed coating makes a nice durable finish and is very forgiving. I did that to my red KLR650 and it came out looking really good. It would be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying new tank covers.

[GrantMeStrength]

Ugh. I thought the Zero SR plastics were supposed to be (a) pre-colored and (b) not too expensive to replace?

[Ndm]

I have a full set of Sr red plastics from a 2015 for sale, pm me if you want

[SR2016]

it is real easy.
First slow down and put the dremel thing away.

(I just repaired a few rock chips out of my SR fender and it looks new again) cost about $15. 

there are tons of youtube videos about auto paint repair so do some watching to see what will help you..
We don't know how bad you paint damage is but I bet if you go to your local body shop they will have a simple way to fix it.


In case others want to fix their paint.
1. hand sand (lightly ) it off with 100 grit, 400 grit, then 800 grit wet  .  This is scary the first time.
2. spray paint it (in Canada  Honda Milano Red from Canadian Tire is a good match).    Other wise follow instruction on the can.
3. Sand lightly between coats with 800 grit then 1000 grit.
4. Spray Clear coat - lightly sand 2000 grit between coats as per instructions.
5.  after a few days use cut polish, then fine cut polish, then wax

Don't use mechanical buffers unless you got experience.
Voilà good as new. 

Spray can might leave some orange peel if you are not careful.  But that is the cheapest way.

Sorry this happened to you. 

[BamBam]

Before thinking about repainting, I would try to wet sand your plastic with 2000 grit and then buff. That may be enough to take out the paint overspray and other imperfections.