I'm very annoyed with myself but just about calmed down enough to ask: Does anyone have any handy hints for removing a f**ing great scratch from the matt black plastic on a Multistrada pannier? It's not very deep but about 6/8mm wide and 50mm long. And please don't say get a bike without bloody great panniers on it! Other advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
If it's not gone through to a base coat showing a different colour, could you try just some matt clear lacquer?
Thanks 1037sps. I've bottled it and got the local Chipsaway guy to have a look at it and he reckons he can do it, for a fee obviously. Basically I think he's going to do as you suggest, but hopefully with a degree of experience and skill!
I've just touched up my 'new' old 996, had a deep scratch on the tank and stone chips on front fairing. I used paint touch up from eBay where the paint was chipped away, then I used the Turtle Wax Scratch Repair Kit. It comes in a box containing a lacquer pen, 4 very fine sanding pads, lubricant for sanding, and a fine liquid polish to remove the resulting hairline scratches. You use the pen on the scratch and leave it to cure 24 hours. Then sand the lacquer down in stages. I'm very pleased with the result. Here's a video: YouTube You can buy the kit in Halfords: Halfords | Turtle Wax Scratch Repair Kit
I can report that the cowards way out of getting my local ChipsAway man on the job worked a treat. The very matt black finish on the majority surface of the panniers is very similar to the finish on many car door mirrors, so he knew what he was doing. Filled and re-finished like new.