Muc-Off (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit

If you’ve just got a shiny new bike, you’ll probably want to keep it looking good for as long as possible. However, we all know that over time that shiny finish will soon dull. Minute and not so minute scratches from washing and regular use will affect the surface. If only there was a way to protect the finish? Well the boffins at Muc-Off feel the same way, so they’ve launched the (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit.

The Muc-Off (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit sits at the top of Muc-Off’s Protection range. It’s also the first product in Muc-Off’s ‘Technical Series’, “which is predominantly targeted at enthusiasts“. I’m guessing that while all of us are cycling enthusiasts, perhaps not all of us are cleaning enthusiasts?

What’s in it?

So what is the in the (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit and how does it work? The star of the show is a small bottle of (Si) Ceramic Coating. This contains a liquid that “uses a hydrophobic chemically bonded defence system to drastically reduce surface tension.” This gives any surface it’s applied to water and dirt repelling properties. So as mud is sprayed onto your frame, it won’t stick.

Muc-Off say that it also provides “armour-like” protection against light surface scratches. These are the kind that you get when washing your bike with washing-up liquid. That’s apparently frowned upon by those in the car-detailing world! As well as preventing mud sticking to your frame and minimising scratches, the (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit will reduce paint-fade from UV rays.

Application is simple, only needing you to clean you bike, then apply a frame-prep which removes any grease or oil. Once your bike is clean and oil free, you can apply the (Si) Ceramic Coating with the supplied application pad. Once your bike is fully coated Muc-Off say it will carry on repelling dirt for up to two years. You can apply the coating to both gloss and matt finishes on various surfaces, from paintwork and carbon fibre to metal components and vinyl.

Lab and real world testing

Muc-Off put in some serious testing before releasing the (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit. They scratch-tested it to quantify the level of impact the coating could withstand. Then they subjected it to an “accelerated wash testing”, this was to see how long the coating would last. Lastly they gave it to their sponsored teams such as INEOS Grenadiers, EF Education-Easypost and Commencal//Muc-Off. These guys need their bikes to be looking good when race-day rolls around and they’re not gentle.

We’ll try out the (Si) Ceramic Protection Kit and let you know how easy it is to apply and if it does keep the muck off. Keep an eye out for more soon. You can buy the kit from the Muc-Off site for £55.