Renovating black plastic parts

[Laverda Dave]

Does anyone have any tips of suitable products to renovate black plastic parts such as rear inner mudguards, air box casings etc? I've used Halfords Back to Black in the past but the finish wears off very quickly. I don't want to paint the parts as it tends to flake and crack and looks awful.

[Orcade-Ian]

I use AutoGlym bumper care for plastic parts on the bikes and cars.  It’s a green coloured gel which just spreads on and wipes off.  It won’t remove scratches and scuffs but makes them less noticeable.
It works well on any coloured plastic bits too, like the fading handlebar switchgear on BM’s
It takes quite a few months before needing doing again.

Ian

[SteveD CB500K0]

I use AutoGlym too.

It even works on my old faded Givi topbox!

[Green1]

I have used Owatrol Polytrol on black plastics that have gone a bit grey and swirly looking overtime.
I also used it on the red faded paintwork on my truck, Faded GRP wood affect doors and it even brightened the dull chrome and frame paint a little on my 750. Also did my faded Givi luggage on my Aprillia.

[Sgt.Pinback]

I use olive oil.

Before and after 4 drops

[70sHonda]

Autoglym for me too. Recently did mine; it’s not a great picture especially as it’s damp out there and it needs another polish, but hopefully it gives you an idea.

[alfiembra]

Smooth peanut butter apparently does the trick. The oil in it probably similar to the olive oil post above.

[Laverda Dave]

Thanks for the tips from the green and organic to the technical and modern. I'll give both a try and report back with some photos.

[kettle738]

Years ago I read about a method for renovating faded black plastic (might have been in the VJMC mag) which involved heating it with a hot air gun until the surface colour just starts to visibly alter......and before it starts to melt.

I remember trying it on an old greyed out Givi top box and it worked.....however, the margin between renovate and ruin was quite small so it paid to try it out on something worthless......and it occurred to me at the time that it was much better suited to small items as the likelihood of getting a uniform finish over a large surface area seemed small....always keep the heat gun moving.

That said......grey became black again and stayed black.

Here is a bloke refurbing a greyed out plastic bumper on youtube.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9tDq1oRy9U

Mick.