Matte black cleaning assistance

Hi guys. I have the Stealth Black 1199S and it's my first matte paint I've ever had. Any cleaning and care suggestions? It seems so different than the clear coats I'm used to waxing etc. Thanks!

I just use windex.

I have the "Black Denim" on my Sportster, and I simply use wet micro-fiber cloth to clean it.
I am not sure if the Ducati one is better than the HD, but I could see an issue if it is not, on a superbike.
The finish is very susceptible to wear (as in loss of matte characteristic), and especially in the tank sides area, where the knees grab, it might wear out and become shiny.

HotIce said:

I have the "Black Denim" on my Sportster, and I simply use wet micro-fiber cloth to clean it.
I am not sure if the Ducati one is better than the HD, but I could see an issue if it is not, on a superbike.
The finish is very susceptible to wear (as in loss of matte characteristic), and especially in the tank sides area, where the knees grab, it might wear out and become shiny.

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wipe with alcohol. It'll get rid of the oil and grease and turn it matte again.

I have a matte colored car, and lots of products for it.

Most of the time the problem is that you wash the matte paint so much it becomes TOO matte (no sheen left). And you can't use traditional wax unless you spend hours and hours and hours making it perfect (or it leaves streaks). Best product I've ever used is this:

Swissvax USA: Quick Finish Opaque Detailing spray for satin matt paints, 470ml

Works like a charm.

I learned the hard way on one of my first bikes that I hit painted matte black. The only way to get the matte back was to hit the shiny parts with matte clear coat from a good 12" away. Never figured out a good way to clean it without buffing it smooth except a pressure hose, which replaced the dirt with water spots....

Owned a few matte black helmets and think it's the hardest color to keep clean.
Every fingerprint shows! Even by staring at it hard one might leave marks,

Nitrouz said:

wipe with alcohol. It'll get rid of the oil and grease and turn it matte again.

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I am not sure that's grease, as there's no skin contact. That's just wear of the matte coat, due to abrasion with jeans or other riding gear.

Stolen from Automobile Mag:

How To Wash And Clean -- Safely
Compared to glossy paint finishes, the surfaces of matte cars need to be washed more often and more gently. The most important step is to avoid creating scratches or swirl marks while washing. That means buying high-quality microfiber towels and soft wash mitts, and washing them thoroughly after each car wash. Any type of automotive-specific liquid car wash soap can be used safely. Owners also should use two buckets -- one with soapy suds, one with just water -- to avoid contamination. After applying soapy water to the car, dousing the wash mitt in the plain water and wringing it out will prevent some grime from being carried back into the clean, soap-filled bucket.
"We preach the two-bucket method on a gloss finish, but it's almost mandatory on a matte finish," Pennington says.
To avoid introducing corrosive and scratching brake dust into the paintwork, owners should also use a separate wash mitt for cleaning the wheels, and should do so with a separate bucket of water.Hyundai, meanwhile, recommends beginning each wash session by pressure-washing the car. The nozzle should be at least 10 inches from the surface of the car. After that, Hyundai suggests using the same two-bucket wash method advocated by Meguiar's.
Both BMW and Mercedes stress that anything that sticks to the paint surface, like dead bugs, tree sap, or bird droppings, should be removed immediately. Because rubbing aggressively can ruin the matte finish, the companies recommend dousing the item in insect remover or car-wash soap before gently rubbing it away. The key, Pennington says, is to avoid excessive friction when trying to remove anything stuck to the paint surface. Water spots should likewise be cleaned off quickly, even if they result from something as trivial as driving past a garden sprinkler.
As waxes and polishes are verboten, Pennington advises adding some UV protection and shine to matte paint with specially formulated spray waxes. Meguiar's own Ultimate Quick Wax, for instance, doesn't have any harsh cleaners that will damage matte paints, and it creates a protective coating over the paint surface.


Flat Finish: How You Should Tend To Matte Automotive Paint

Hello

Use a good quality microfibre towel, use it wet and do not rub. Do not use paper towels or chamois (don't know how it is called in english, the "skin" used to dry cars), as they can scratch.
Some glass cleaner also works fine if the finish is not sealed.
Us some de-ionized water to make the bug splatters soft and then rub it off without pressure, otherwise there is a risk of scratching.

We do a lot of cars and bikes with matte finish so enough experience here and a lot of mistakes that we see every month

I didn't realize that the de-ionized water is good for bugs....good advice for "standard" paint as well and you can pick up gallons of the stuff at your local pet fish store.

It is as good as normal water but the advantage is that you can spray it on the bugs/paint and it will not leave watermarks

Thanks for the help guys. I just ordered some Matte Detailing Spray & Wash from Chemical Guys. They have a line of wash, detailer, and sealant made specifically for matte paint. I'll give it a try this week and let you know how it works.

perhaps I'm the odd ball here....but matte finish has been the easiest to maintain for me.

I use the chemical guys matte detailer and sealant on my stealth S and it works pretty well. You have to apply with one microfiber cloth and wipe off with another right away to prevent streaking.

I would recommend,,

Baby shampoo, and or any car soap shampoo that is detergent free,
"Mix 1 part soap to ~30 parts water in a spray bottle and spray the surface or a quality micro fiber rag wipe and fold" rinse the rag out when it is soiled..

I never use old rags I retire it to spills or soiled hand wiping..

De-ionized water works wonders.. And mixed with isopropyl alcohol you have a winning team,, again use a spray bottle use causally spray the rag, this removes any thing almost. And will remove all wax and uv Protestants so reapply

Any opaque wax should work on the matte finish, to protect the matte finish on the body and carbon fiber.. Swissvax makes a great product, and I also recommend maguire's quick mist wax... It is needed frequent..


Good luck..
Matte side up guys..

Nitrous,

Let me know if I can exchange walking your 1199, for a ride in you superleggera
Lol