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@fledermaus avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (running like a charm!) 2017 BV 350
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Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@fledermaus avatar
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (running like a charm!) 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12258
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
UTC quote
It's always on one of those days....when every niggling thing that can go wrong does....you know, spill coffee on my to do list at breakfast kind of things. Decided to remove my shiny new black topbox as I had a couple of bulky things to transport today. Took it off, and set it on top of some things on my workbench-at an angle....

As I'm strapping on a large box to the scooter, I hear some noises (which turned out to be the hardware in the box shifting) followed by the sound of the box rolling off and falling on the concrete.

Surprisingly little damage...as far as I can tell for now, most of it is a scuff (with pockmarks from the cement) in a quarter-sized area. I wouldn't feel so bad if it wasn't brand spanking new. Crying or Very sad emoticon

I know there are plastic polishes, but wondering what is recommendable, and what I could expect as an end result. I assume I can't bring it back totally, but want to try. While I'm at it, the box on my LX is starting to show it's wear... Nerd emoticon
@froggieposition avatar
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Thunder Thief
2010 GTS 300 Super & 2015 Kawasaki Concours 1400 ABS
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Location: in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia... on the trail of the lonesome pine..."
 
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@froggieposition avatar
2010 GTS 300 Super & 2015 Kawasaki Concours 1400 ABS
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Location: in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia... on the trail of the lonesome pine..."
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If it is a stock vespa color, You could use touch up paint? The one with the top coat. I had some good scuffs, and i used a fine sand paper and smoothed the edges first, then did the touch up paint. It blended it pretty well. Unless you get up close and look, it isn't noticeable.
@pepy27 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2021 White Racing Sixties, 1959 Vespa 150 VBA, 1959 Lambretta Series 2 LI125, 1999 PX200E, 2012 BMW R1200R
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Location: Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
 
Ossessionato
@pepy27 avatar
2021 White Racing Sixties, 1959 Vespa 150 VBA, 1959 Lambretta Series 2 LI125, 1999 PX200E, 2012 BMW R1200R
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Location: Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
UTC quote
Sticker bomb!!!!!
@vincenzo604 avatar
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Member
Vespa LX 50, BMW F650, Honda Super Cub, and Hodakas
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Posts: 26
Location: Oregon
 
Member
@vincenzo604 avatar
Vespa LX 50, BMW F650, Honda Super Cub, and Hodakas
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Location: Oregon
UTC quote
Re: Topcase trauma
fledermaus wrote:
It's always on one of those days....when every niggling thing that can go wrong does....you know, spill coffee on my to do list at breakfast kind of things. Decided to remove my shiny new black topbox as I had a couple of bulky things to transport today. Took it off, and set it on top of some things on my workbench-at an angle....

As I'm strapping on a large box to the scooter, I hear some noises (which turned out to be the hardware in the box shifting) followed by the sound of the box rolling off and falling on the concrete.

Surprisingly little damage...as far as I can tell for now, most of it is a scuff (with pockmarks from the cement) in a quarter-sized area. I wouldn't feel so bad if it wasn't brand spanking new. Crying or Very sad emoticon

I know there are plastic polishes, but wondering what is recommendable, and what I could expect as an end result. I assume I can't bring it back totally, but want to try. While I'm at it, the box on my LX is starting to show it's wear... Nerd emoticon
You might try Meguiars Motorcycle Plastic Cleaner / Polish. It's gentle. If you have a piece of Scotch Brite synthetic steel wool you might try that followed by the polish. Neither should hurt the paint. On a side note the polish easily removed every bit of the haze from the headlight covers on a 2001 Honda CR-V, but, surprisingly had no effect on a 2006 model. Must be a different plastic. Anyway, here's a photo:
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
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Addicted
SilverWing 600-- 4nprevious Vespa
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Location: chattanooga tn
 
Addicted
SilverWing 600-- 4nprevious Vespa
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UTC quote
stickers!
@crazycarl avatar
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Ossessionato
2007 250 GTS, 1980 P200E, 2010 ThunderFly 190 (SOLD) 2015 Yamaha SMax (SOLD)
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Location: Springboro, OH
 
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@crazycarl avatar
2007 250 GTS, 1980 P200E, 2010 ThunderFly 190 (SOLD) 2015 Yamaha SMax (SOLD)
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You can also try Novus Plastic polishes. Not readily available like Meguiars or Mothers, but it's an excellent product line the will likely give you the results you are looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-7100-Plastic-Polish-Kit/dp/B002UCYRZU
@mlpearson79 avatar
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Hooked
Lucia: 2006 LX150
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Location: Sun City Center, FL
 
Hooked
@mlpearson79 avatar
Lucia: 2006 LX150
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If your top case is a Vespa one, then it is painted plastic. If you can see white, you've scratched down to the plastic. You can use plastic polish as mentioned above to flatten it out, but the white scratches will still be there, and you will need touch-up paint to cover them.

How do I know this? I did the very same thing within a week of ownership.
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Addicted
Vespa GTS Super ABS
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Posts: 861
Location: Oceanside
 
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Vespa GTS Super ABS
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The trouble with the products you get at the local auto parts store is they are not designed to actually rub out a scratch in the paint. The orbital buffers are designed not to do this, since it is easy, if inexperienced, to burn all the way thru the paint with a professional high speed buffer.

I have had similar issues in the past, but when it was really important (garage door closed on my my new 911, I went to a professional painter and had him buff it out with a high speed buffer. (this after I tried all the do it yourself products). It was perfect after he was done, cost $75 as I recall.

I have a similar rub/scratch mark on my GTS topcase, have used a new to me product, The Scratch Doctor, plus rubbing compound and another product I had. On a scale of 1-10, the result is maybe a 4 at best. It's not all that important to me, but when I find time I will get it done right.
(if I'm lucky maybe I will get another couple scratches, and then won't notice the topcase).

Keep in mind, if the scratch is thru the paint, you can't buff it out.

Best of luck
OP
@fledermaus avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (running like a charm!) 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12258
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@fledermaus avatar
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (running like a charm!) 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12258
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
UTC quote
Pepy27 wrote:
Sticker bomb!!!!!
Great idea, but of course it's at the most convex point on the case.

FWIW, no real scratches, more of a direct impact. I think polishing will get fairly close......thanks for the product tips....if not, I'll start looking for tiny roundels.
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
'Bullet-hole' stickers perhaps?
OP
@fledermaus avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (running like a charm!) 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12258
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@fledermaus avatar
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (running like a charm!) 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12258
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
UTC quote
jimc wrote:
'Bullet-hole' stickers perhaps?
Now yer talkin'!

I'll have to take a closer look tonight. I saw more than I wanted to this morning. Headache emoticon I think that was the worst of it anyway.

Really breaking this new machine in....dropped it (from a stop) in July, (fortunately barely a scratch on the plastic leg trim) and now the topcase. Luckily I'm not OCD about keeping things pristine. Sigh emoticon
@troutbum avatar
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2012 Kymco Like 200i (Sold), 2018 FLSL
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Location: San Jose, CA
 
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@troutbum avatar
2012 Kymco Like 200i (Sold), 2018 FLSL
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UTC quote
Just a thought, but talk to a Dent Pro specialist. I've used their service and they did excellent work for very little $. They are mobile so they can meet and do the work where its best for you.
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Addicted
Vespa GTS Super ABS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 861
Location: Oceanside
 
Addicted
Vespa GTS Super ABS
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Location: Oceanside
UTC quote
TroutBum wrote:
Just a thought, but talk to a Dent Pro specialist. I've used their service and they did excellent work for very little $. They are mobile so they can meet and do the work where its best for you.
I didn't realize Dent Pro did scratches as well as dents? I googled it and got this (in San Diego). Great idea. (Not sure if this is a different company from "Dent pro" or not?)

http://www.dentandscratchpro.com
@troutbum avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2012 Kymco Like 200i (Sold), 2018 FLSL
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Posts: 2757
Location: San Jose, CA
 
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@troutbum avatar
2012 Kymco Like 200i (Sold), 2018 FLSL
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Posts: 2757
Location: San Jose, CA
UTC quote
gregbenner wrote:
TroutBum wrote:
Just a thought, but talk to a Dent Pro specialist. I've used their service and they did excellent work for very little $. They are mobile so they can meet and do the work where its best for you.
I didn't realize Dent Pro did scratches as well as dents? I googled it and got this (in San Diego). Great idea. (Not sure if this is a different company from "Dent pro" or not?)

http://www.dentandscratchpro.com
I didn't realize it either until they came to fix a few door dings on my wife van. He saw scratches and said he can repair those as well. An hour later and the side sliding door looked brand new.
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