Caring for Your Motor Scooter's Paint Job

Like other vehicles, the paint job of your Vespa or other motor scooter is designed to protect it from weather, preventing corrosion and keeping the body in good condition for years. Fading, rain, small scratches, and normal wear and tear, however, will affect your scooter's paint job, leading over time to a dull finish. Buffing and polishing your scooter's paint job will keep it appearing like new. Here are the steps for detailing your scooter's paint job:

1.

Cleaning - Wash the surface, making extra effort to remove stubborn, grimy buildup. Then rinse the scooter and dry it thoroughly.

2.

Apply masking tape - Apply to chrome, rubber, and plastic areas, leaving only the painted areas exposed.

3.

Use a rubbing compound - This is a liquid abrasive applied with a wool pad attached to a polisher. This heats up the paint and removes hairline scratches.

4.

Polish - Compounding, followed by polishing, will give your scooter's paint a glossy finish. The compounding process will leave swirlmarks. Polishing will remove them. Use a good polishing foam attached to a polisher.

5.

Wax - Apply a thin coat of wax to your glossy paint finish. Remove excess with a cloth.

As for repainting your scooter, this is a job that is best left to professionals. Individual owners should not attempt this on their own unless they have some actual experience in applying paint. This task not only requires skill, but also investment in the proper tools. Once you purchase the equipment and supplies you need, what yo will have spent will be close to what it would cost you to have the scooter painted by a professional shop.

But whether you buy a professional paint job or do it yourself, here are some tips for protecting that new paint finish:

1.

Have your scooter clearcoat sanded - another job best left to a professional.

2.

Compounding and polishing, as described above. Compounding will remove any sanding marks.

3.

Protect the paint with a finishing glaze - Do not use wax on new paint. Fresh paint dries quickly, but can take about a month to cure, meaning that all solvents will have evaporated. Using wax too early will block the solvents from evaporating and cause moisture to build up.

It goes without saying, of course, that regular washing will keep your scooter looking sharp and shiny throughout the year.