Good question, and the answer is that the paint issue started with the bikes being produced in Japan. I have had three GL-1800s prior to this one, and all three were either the Platinum or Titanium paint, and with a combined 325K miles on those 3 bikes....I "never" once had to wax my bikes...ever. I washed them occassionally...I would use Honda Spray Polish cleaner on the windshield and headlights/taillights, etc, but I "never"...ever...waxed or polished the painted surfaces of any of those three bikes, all made and painted in Marysville, OH.
Previous to that, I also owned two GL-1500s, and both of those were all Black bikes. Same story as above....washed them...and never had a need to wax them.
Okay, I am more into riding my bikes than into washing them. And it does not bother me to have the dirtiest bike at an F6B rally or gathering. Because I know I rode a lot of miles to get there, and people accept that. But to know that the paint on these bikes is NOT covered with a clear coat, and that the paint scratches so easily, and leaves marks, and that the bugs that strike the front of the fairing are imbedded for a millenium, does not make me happy.
I could easily afford to have this entire bike repainted....the cost is not the issue. To me, it is a matter of disrespect on the part of Honda to refuse to take care of their customers that buy these bikes, and yet they have actually admitted to some of us that...yes...there is a paint issue. They have even suggested that we might want to buy a special kind of polish, and a special kind of buffer, and just keep polishing and buffing the bike, for as long as it takes. Problem is...some of us want to actually ride the bikes.
I personally know of a 1000 GL-1800 riders that had NO problems with the paint on their 2001-2010 model Wings. But the bikes from 2012-2013 are the ones with paint problems. And I know, or have heard of....hundreds of F6B riders that have bad paint
Ultimately, if I have to deal with this myself, I will. I "never" planned or intended to have my bike re-painted in the first year. I would rather rub this in Hondas face, and see what they do about it. In the meantime, I can ride my bike, put miles on it, and after the first year...or two...after all accessories are completed, the bike is well broken in, and when there is not another NEED to take it all apart to install something else, or repair something...then come next Winter I may be in for a complete new paint job. I already have chosen the color scheme...the first week I owned the bike, so it is just a matter of timing, perseverence, and pushing Hondas buttons as far as I can, to see what they will or will not due.
In the long run...long run...Honda "will" pay for this. Either through bad press, or through a class action lawsuit, but it will cost Honda more in the long run than it would to simply take care of their loyal customers now.
Originally Posted by Scotrod
I'm going to encourage folks who are considering a 6 but just aren't sure about the paint to NOT buy one.
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Each bike has been waxed once since Sept of 13.
) and have them repaint it to any color you choose with clearcoat, probably for $600 to $1000, depending on the paint you choose and the shop. I had my Suzuki Burgman done up in a very nice yellow that has held up for years:
