Any know-how on restoring the shine to sun-faded plastics?

The person who sold my bike to me replaced the side radiator shrouds, as I think the person he bought the bike from took a bit of a spill... Funny, because he said they "weren't that expensive." But everyone who's ever mentioned them says they're $$$.

So the front headlight area is far more faded in comparison to the rest of the bike.

I've heard that peanut butter (wax on, wax off) works on car trimmings, but for smooth bike plastic, I don't count on it. I may give it a go, anyhow.

Edit: I have an SF, so I don't use mine for dirt, if you're wondering.

 

They are $$$

If I recall they are ~ $100 a side

I cant help with the fading issue. I got a used set from a guy and they had some fading. I tried a few different armor all types of things, but got no real appreciable results.

 

Wet sand, careful time with a heat gun and some plastic renew yield decent results. If you have decals on the plastics you are S.O.L. The heat gun and sanding will ruin them. They are never gonna look new again.

 

I've used 3M Plastic Cleaner and Polish before on faded plastics:

This stuff will take the fading off, so long as it is not too awful bad, or caused by a crease in the plastic. I have some 3" buffing pads that I chuck up into a hand drill, and that's how I apply both the cleaner and the polish.


With some types of plastic, the polish will buff right up to perfect shine, while with others, the best you'll get is a semi-gloss look. I only ever used this on the KLX's front fender, and that plastic buffed right up.

 

^^^ great ideas

Then I've used this stuff to make the surface look way better