Jason,
It's starting to bug the shit out of me to be honest. I love to keep a mint bike, it's part of the enjoyment I get, so it's a bit pish this paint thing.
I got a tank pad pretty quick, but at the edges of the tank pad and also a fair amount on the sides it's wearing. I have been trying to clean and polishing it with safe cut and autoglym, but I am concerned it will get to point where I cannot make it acceptable to me. Hence getting stomp pronto, but I am sure that won't completely isolate the odd contact spot on the rear of tank.
Sorry this sounds all a bit anal, but my eye goes to it all the time now.
I know some guys complained about the paint on the 06 or 07. Don't no if it stems from the change of colour to more solid ebony. Mine has flakes in it, but it's not as metalic as the 05 ebony.
Of course what is making things worse I think is that I am continually slipping down the seat and making far more contact with the tank than previous bike. The shape of the new tank certainly has more contact points than 05. In some ways this is good as it makes you feel more part of the bike, but downside is more contact with the paint !!.
My old bike, the tank was almost mint after nearly 3 years and had no stomp or tank pads on the sides at all.
this one I only got just over 600 miles on it and it has more wear already.
Anyway this should have been put in the whinging and Victor Meldrew section probably.
Cheers
John