H-D Transparent Paint Guard

[hARLEY jOE]

I thought I'd warn you guys so you won't have to do what I'm going to have to do.

First off, I purchased H-D part number 83989-10 - transparent paint guard.

I was understanding that this was a 3-M product. It definitely is not. I was going to install it myself, but thought otherwise and had a professional install it who does this stuff all the time.

He did the install, and before I even looked at it he said I wasn't gonna like it. He says he only installs 3-M product. He showed me the difference. 3-M is at least twice as thick and very clear.

What this is boiling down to be is the product he installed for me from Harley is absolute crap. I sincerely hope nobody else tries to put this stuff on. It is full of lines and bubbles, pieces of dust, even a sliver of wood in between the backing and the protector (before they installed).

I though maybe he didn't know what he was doing, so I asked him to install a piece of his 3-M on the bike, and there is a huge difference between the two.

With the 3-M you can't see the edges and it is crystal clear.

Yes, it cost quite a bit more to get the 3-M put on professionally, but in my opinion it is worth is.

I will try to post some pictures of the H-D later if I can.

Thanks for listening all.

[RdKnB]

Thanks for the warning, I contacted a 3 m guy my son knows, he is in the car business, and am getting him to do it. This just confirms that for me.

[msocko3]

Hmm... I had it on the 2010 Triglide I used to own, never had any of the symptoms yours exhibited. I wonder if Harley switched to a different supplier, they have this nasty habit of getting items from the cheapest supplier.

[Sloufoot]

I thought I'd warn you guys so you won't have to do what I'm going to have to do.

First off, I purchased H-D part number 83989-10 - transparent paint guard.

I was understanding that this was a 3-M product. It definitely is not. I was going to install it myself, but thought otherwise and had a professional install it who does this stuff all the time.

He did the install, and before I even looked at it he said I wasn't gonna like it. He says he only installs 3-M product. He showed me the difference. 3-M is at least twice as thick and very clear.

What this is boiling down to be is the product he installed for me from Harley is absolute crap. I sincerely hope nobody else tries to put this stuff on.

It is full of lines and bubbles, pieces of dust, even a sliver of wood in between the backing and the protector (before they installed).

I though maybe he didn't know what he was doing, so I asked him to install a piece of his 3-M on the bike, and there is a huge difference between the two.

With the 3-M you can't see the edges and it is crystal clear.

Yes, it cost quite a bit more to get the 3-M put on professionally, but in my opinion it is worth is.

I will try to post some pictures of the H-D later if I can.

Thanks for listening all.

I put on the Harley film kit last year with no problems. True the 3M is a better product, but all that crap behind the film, & air bubbles & lines is the fault of the installer.

A professional doesn't do that kind of work.

If there was anything on the film a good installer would have removed it, or not put it on. You have to have your s_it together when you are doing compound curves.

I agree that the 3M is a very clear film, but after the Harley film dries out is isn't bad. Be sure he didn't just do a crappy job just trying to sell his film.

[hARLEY jOE]

no compound curves in the HD product, just small straight pieces. Biggest piece is on the fender, still just one straight piece, does not go over the side curve.

I checked out his work before hand, and had recommendations from other customers. He does high end cars, and the work I saw was excellent. No bubbles, no lines.

[Mr.Wizard]

I put on the same kit as Joe this winter. It was a fresh kit purchased a few weeks before installing.

I prepared the trike surfaces.. clean as a whistle and removed any wax that might interfere. Followed the directions for the HD kit and prepared my alcohol water and baby shampoo. I installed all the pieces under bright room light and used a 3M squeegee to remove all water bubbles.

Edge lines would not lay and stay down. Now they are very visible. Bubbles were nearly impossible to get out. I used a diabetic needle to puncture and remove the air/water bubbles and squeegee again.

It was worse than leaving the bubble.

Rub lines in the film look like a checkerboard effect even after drying.

Film is not very clear at all.

Bottom line. The HD kit sucks and I will be removing it and will be going 3M.

btw... this is not my first Rodeo laying film but was the worst crap product I've ever used. More good money wasted buying cheap HD stuff that doesn't work. .02

[Buddy WMC]

Try MOTORCYCLE ARMOR guys. Lifetime transferrable replacement warranty on all the pieces. I purchased the 13 piece kit and the owner sent me larger tank side pieces at N/C to accomodate my prosthetic leg. Excellent product with great customer service and was installed easily by my local window tinter. www.motorcycle-armor.com.

[screwball]

I wash and wax our trikes a lot. Every trike I've seen with that protective film, don't know the brand, looked worse than a paint chip or two after a couple of years.

[Sloufoot]

I guess I must have gotten a good kit. It did take a lot of squeegee to work out the bubbles. Also some stretching on the film with it being quite warm.

It was abut 85* out when I did the job. The edges aren't as invisible as I would like, but when cleaned right they are mostly gone.

By the way I would call a fender that wraps around the wheel front to rear, and also curves around the tire inside to outside at the same time ,,,,, a compound curve.....

My point is if there was crap on the film or on the fender & it ended up still under with the finished product........ amateur work. You can even wash off the glue if you try. If you're pissed at the product,,, it won't come out right most of the time, & you can always blame the product.

I wouldn't even try to apply film with curves under 80*.

That being said, 3M film is a much superior film with more elasticity, & being clearer is much better. When mine goes bad, It will probably be 3M & larger pieces to do a better cover.

The size is the only real gripe I have with it right now.

I have a rock chip about a 1/4" off the top side of the film.

But then again it's just my opinion............

Have a nice day !

[Rick Kay]

3M has a spray-on product called "Paint Defender". Does anyone have any experience with this stuff? It looks very easy to apply - just my style!

[Trent]

I wash and wax our trikes a lot. Every trike I've seen with that protective film, don't know the brand, looked worse than a paint chip or two after a couple of years.

I have no protective film on my TG, and after 23k miles, I do not have one single paint chip on my fenders. Is that stuff really needed?

[GARYD]

I have no protective film on my TG, and after 23k miles, I do not have one single paint chip on my fenders. Is that stuff really needed?

Absolutely, but it all depends on where you live or travel to. If you live in a rural area with lots of unpaved roads you most likely will need it. Probably as a rule - no, but if it protects against just ONE chip - it's paid for itself. I will never buy a precut set - Harleys or aftermarket. I paid $58 for 8' x 2' (more then enough to make mistakes and many replacement sections) of 3M double thick film (they have different thicknesses). I made my own stencils and cut them out myself. I keep the stencils in case I need to replace a section.
Unless I show you the section you would never know it's there - even around the edges(use a toothbrush to clean there). I do not do any compound curves, all my pieces are for somewhat flat surfaces.
When I put on this last set, I was in a hurry, I didn't use baby shampoo and I did leave a couple little/tiny air bubbles. That said, you still can't see the pieces unless I point them out and it was very easy to install.
This summer I may redo them and do them the correct way - then again maybe not and just go riding instead and not give a rats azz on if anyone might see the bubbles.

[Trent]

I never ride on gravel roads but I do travel all over the NW states, Utah, and California.
Hmmmm... But not a single rock chip.

[Mr.Wizard]

Really don't have to travel gravel roads to get a chip. While on a hwy run a car in front of me slung a pebble that about went all the way through my right fender. Transparent film won't help much in cases like that but it sure helps the everyday driving around dinks.

[Sloufoot]

I have no protective film on my TG, and after 23k miles, I do not have one single paint chip on my fenders. Is that stuff really needed?

Where the film comes in real handy is for the scuffs that happen when someone happens to drag a foot across the paint when mounting/dismounting . Or anything that might brush against the paint rough enough to cause slight damage.
Some films are heavy enough to actually hide some paint damage.

[Trent]

I have the rubber scuff guards on the front of my fenders,,,so,,,no scuff marks either. I guess I will pass on the film. Thnx!!!!!!!!

[Smitty Werben Manjensen]

I had 3M on the front of my truck, and got 2 rock chips THROUGH the film. They even peeled the film back a bit. So, it protects against most small rocks, but not the big ones.

After many years of using the stuff, I'm getting tired of messing with it, and my last vehicle and probablyu future vehicles will go filmless, I suppose.

[FRR]

Expel makes a great product. I have it on my car and they make it for Harley's

[GARYD]

On all my Ultras I put it on the top of the saddlebag lids. I can't coun't the number of times I or a passenger have hit the top with our feet.
A couple dollars - less then a cup of coffee - will protect the lids. I use to say things like "I have 10000 miles on my bike and not one paint chip, flat tire etc". Watch out - the next day - that's when it's going to happen.

Now I agree that I wouldn't pay a couple hundred dollars to do it, but you don't have to. Just buy some bulk material and cut your own. Even a 5 year old can install it. It's only rocket science when you have to do compound curves.
I do not have the stuff on my fairing and I only have one small chip - almost unnoticeable. I have it on the front lower portions of the bike where most of the crap happens.

Why even bring up huge rocks that almost went through the body? That's not what the 3M is for and of course won't do any good in that situation anyway.

If you buy the good stuff you won't have to keep messing with it.

Bottom line is = You DON'T have to buy it if you don't want to. Isn't America great?