OK…here’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it  

After moddin’ my bike this past Saturday (OEM Backrest w/ Rear Rack, Windshield, Engine Guard) I decided to take the necessary “Victory” ride.

Being the practical guy that I am…Mmmost of the time anyway  … I decided to combine my ride with a destination. I had to cut my Dad’s lawn in Xenia about 20min. from my home.

All is well as I’m purrin’ along 35E…wind blowin’…sun shinin’. …Ahhhhh Sweetness.

Tinktinktink…ta-tinktink… tinktink

What was that???

After scanning the bike I realized that I forgot to put the holding screw back into my left side panel!

rrrrRRRRRRAAAAaaatttttssss!

LSS…I got my Dad’s grass cut and decided to call my local bike shop to see what a replacement would run me. 8 ½ min. on the phone later, I find out that a LFT side panel…with shipping and tax of course…will only loosen my wallet..$97.16!!!!

I finished up the yard, told my Pop I loved ‘im and headed back to that stretch of highway!

After walking ¼ mile through 2 foot high grass in the center median with traffic buzzin’ by at 60-65 mile per hour and horns yellin’…I FOUND IT!
Scraped up a bit but not scrunched…SO…I decided to paint it.

After 2 coats of gloss black and 1 coat of clear coat…spray paint cans BTW…It still doesn’t have that mirror finish…

How do I get that back?

Hope you had a good laugh and I await any bodymen’s response...
 
Thanks!

Thanks, Marshall13...

If I have to, I'll sand the whole thing down and start all over. This time following your advice...

Thank you, sir.

False Illusion wrote on 05/11/09 at 16:39:38:



For sure a very fine grit sanding of last coat of paint so that clear coat sticks. After second clear coat dries (2-4 days), then wet sand with 1200 grit, warm water and superbly minimal dish soap. Then you get you-self some buffing compound and buff like hell with a soft rag. I on the other hand purchased an orbital buffer for my tank. You will watch the shine appear as you continue to buff.

Well, way back when ... ~12 years ago I was running my cherry 1983 midnight blue nighthawk 650 down 238 in sunnyvale when the same thing happened ... I was flying down the carpool lane @ 80 when the left side cover (no screws ... stupid design, I think) came loose with wind, and scraped my leg as it disappeared.
I then try to locate the thing, find a red one for 15 bucks in almost as nice shape, fit it on and ride a few days, and of course it was the dead of winter and it was raining a bunch, then the next week I am riding by looking and seeing if the thing has been mangled up by a car etc and if I find any bits of it ... and in that narrow shoulder I find it, intact except for a small raspberry on the front corner. I park it, walk back, and pick it up. Then I fit it back on and 2 years alster sell that bike to my friend. With that side cover. My genius friend never rides it. 1983 bike, I got it with 250 or so miles in 1996 summer, I ride it to 6K, do all rust and all maintenance, fork seals, tank coating, armorall on everything, new O rings etc in carbs ... new air filter etc etc ... it was a new 83 nighthawk with 6K miles in 1998.
My friend rode it 3 miles in the next 10 years. Its still sitting in CA in a garage under a blanket. I plan on buying it back on my next trip to CA.
Cool.
Srinath.