We saw the phenomenon balloon in the 1980s—black finishes and trim replacing traditional chrome. Likely the driver for this was cost, as painted parts are probably cheaper to bring to market than the chrome, which requires multiple layers of plating and polishing—and some nasty chemical baths too. However good such black surfaces look when new, after exposure to the elements, plus time, sunlight, and the scuffs that result from normal usage, black finishes can get chipped, stained, or dulled. They’ll look good again—for a short while at least—if you wipe on a top coat of silicone spray or even WD-40. But what works best to return those black finishes on your bike to their original appearance—and keep them looking good, for longer? Here are three good aerosol and liquid choices.

High-Gloss Coating

Delivered in a twin-pack of aerosol cans totaling a generous 34.4 ounces, Maxima’s SC1 High Gloss Coating is marketed as “New Bike In A Can”—for very good reason!

Amazon

Buy

If you’re like us, your confidence as a consumer grows when you discover products that are directly engineered or formulated for motorcycles. This exactly applies with the Maxima SC1 High Gloss Coating shown here. Delivered in a twin-pack so you’ll have plenty for multiple uses, SC1 High Gloss Coating treats plastic, fiberglass, and paint to a long-lasting luster and shine. As well, if you ride in rainy weather or off road, the SC1 High Gloss Coating does double duty by helping prevent mud and dirt from sticking in the first place, while making later cleanup easier.

Brighten That Engine

Bring those black engine cases, cylinders, and other castings back to looking new with this bespoke S100 product. It’s designed just for brightening black motorcycle engines—and it does just that!

Amazon

Buy

Formulated to withstand the high temperatures of black engine cases and related castings, S100 Motorcycle Engine Brightener is as simple to use as attaching the included special metered spray tube, tagging the valve on top, and then saturating the engine. You don’t get a huge volume of product per can—just 4.5 ounces—but…but! The brightener applies nicely, clings to surfaces, and dramatically improves the appearance. It’s also represented as safe for cables, rubber hoses, and plastic, so if some product lands there—or you just want to brighten those as well—it’s all good.

Restore Plastic, Vinyl, And Rubber

Sold in liquid form in 8-ounce bottles, TriNova Plastic & Trim Restorer spiffs up aged and worn-looking plastic, vinyl, and rubber. Each bottle comes with a special applicator pad.

Amazon

Buy

Unlike the (really!) old days, when motorcycles were made of iron, steel, and aluminum —plus some leather for the seats and rubber for the grips and tires—our modern CAD/CAM-produced bikes are great bastions of molded plastic. The problem for such motorcycles, unlike for cars and trucks, is that every surface gets exposed to the elements while in use—even the cockpit, seating, and controls. Sold in liquid form and including an applicator pad, TriNova Plastic & Trim Restorer aims to shine and darken the vulnerable plastic, vinyl, and rubber (including black), giving it “the showroom look you want.”