Reviving old plastics

[Paint munky]

Not a paint question i know but thought this would be the best place to ask. I have these old motorbike plastics that have a few scratches, the worse panel ive pictured below,


What would be the best way to tackle these scratches and polish the panels? I know the scratches on this panel would have to be cut back a bit but will it still polish up ok?
I was thinking of doing it with a 1500 abralon discs stepping up to 2000,4000 then G6, sound ok?

 

[bc30se]

LEave it as it is, it really doesn't look bad. You may end up worse if you do it the first time...

 

[the snooper]

you wont be able to flat those scratches out and polish the panel because by the time you have flatted the scratches out there wont be any paint left to polish.
if you are hoping to just tidy the appearance up and not a mint job then you will need some fine line masking tape not the normal stuff mask up the blue flat the area of the scratches if any are deep use some top stop filler on it finish off with 800, get a good paint match but use a gun not aerosols.

it is repairable depending on your ability

 

[Paint munky]

Sorry i should have said theres no paint on these panels its just white plastic with decals on top.

 

[the snooper]

are you 100% sure ? if so flat a small unseen are and try some polish

 

[the snooper]

also can you feel sharp edges on the decals if not its laquered

 

[Paint munky]

100% no paint ive had these bikes for aslong as i can remember, no lacquer either. I did buy a complete new decal for the bike and intended to repaint then clear over the decals but apart from this panel the rest are in good original condition so id like to try and keep em that way if possible.

 

[711jrp]

Honda Road bikes are normally painted in the factory with just the MX bikes and quads with naked plastic, which is a right pain to maintain if you care how it looks, That panel looks painted to me.....

 

[the snooper]

Honda Road bikes are normally painted in the factory with just the MX bikes and quads with naked plastic, which is a right pain to maintain if you care how it looks, That panel looks painted to me.....

yeah it looks painted to me aswell the naked plastic panels ive seen lose the shine over time and look nothing like those

 

[pedrobedro]

If that's an original fairing it's definitely painted. The other side will have a rough painted finish in the same colour.

 

[norlander]

Its most likely painted -its where the rising sun bikes keep costs down -I had a CBR600 and and 916 at the same time and crash tested them both in the interests of a question like this coming up -the duke had colour impregnated plastics, the CBR had gnats 4skin paint on its plastic.
From memory (needs confirming) you may need to replace the panel or get it sorted out by a specialist-but check that out.
Call me old fashioned- but why are the first two letters absent

 

[Robotstar5]

Call me old fashioned- but why are the first two letters absent

Stolen by Santa Claus? ho ho ho

 

[norlander]

Stolen by Santa Claus? ho ho ho

 

[fixerupper]

I'd gently try a bit of T cut on a out of the way place ,then polish....jeff...

 

[Paint munky]

I will go and have a closer look at the panels later but in all the years ive owned and worked on these bikes ive never once seen chipped or pealing paint from any of the panels ive assumed are colored plastic