PAINT TYPE

[wharrah]

I have done searches on the webpage here and can't find the answer. Here is the bullet:

I am about to repaint an undented tank I have for my GS650L. I have gotten a lot of "general" advice and links for "how to" info, but, now for the beginning of "the rubber meeting the road" on my journey.

What is the stock paint on our bikes? Is it LACQUER, or ENAMEL? I know "most" automotive applications (of which motorcycles are considered part of) are LACQUER. But, I don't want to screw up. I would like to hear a definitive (and correct) answer if I can get one.

I'm asking mainly because I dont' want to have to strip my tank down to bare metal unless I"m forced to, but I also don't want to mix one type of paint with another if I can help it. Rumor has it that 'bad things happen' if you put lacquer over enamel, but not necessarily enamel over lacquer.

Fun huh?

Any specific info appreciated.

 

[Doze]

Wayne, you probably have lacquer paint on the bike. However most automotive paints today are acrylic urethane or acrylic enamel, neither of which it is a good idea to put on top of lacquer. Too much chance of your new paint reacting with the lacquer and giving you a wrinkle finish. For the safest bet and the best results, strip the tank to bare metal and then prime it with a epoxy primer like PPG's DP line then topcoat it with an acrylic urethane.
Doze.

 

[wharrah]

paint reply

paint reply

Thanks for the reply on paint... I suppose it makes the most sense to just strip it anyway... may not save on sanding, just get to be a 'different kind' of sanding!

I decided (my wife and I did, actually) to buy some of the chameleon type paints made by Plasti-Kote, found at the local parts place. Gonna see how that turns out... If I end up not too ashamed of it, I'll post some pictures on my website along with the rest of what's there.

News as it develops...

Oh, I just ordered some POR15 and corresponding metal prep stuff to make sure when I'm done this tank will live longer than I do! We'll see how that works, too... I could have bought KREEM right from a local motorcycle parts dealer, but I heard enough about it to try and go with the better product (or so I'd heard from more than one person/place).

So, next Spring I'll have a new bike color.

http://showcase.netins.net/web/waynespage/bikes/

 

[argonsagas]

If you visit the different parts of this site you will find a large article on painting your bike. It covers pretty well all you need to do.

Highly recommend you strip the tank. What seems to be a good sand job over old paint often shows up under the new paint as depressions or other imperfections.

On a stripped tank, you can do it right.


That is also the very best time to clean and line the tank...no danger or worry about damaging the paint.

 

[HiSPL]

I've always thought those color changing paints were pretty hokey. But, the other day I saw a Maxim with the fly-eye green and it looked great! The trick is to use it sparingly. The Maxim had tank, side panels, and rear fender painted and had lots of chrome and polish every where else. It made a nice highlight to the overall bike. Almost like the bike wasn't painted any one color but was a sum of many different finishes that made a pleasing picture in the end....

 

[Anonymous]

... Almost like the bike wasn't painted any one color but was a sum of many different finishes that made a pleasing picture in the end....

Impressionist motorcycles?

Putting my art degree to work. Oh, yeah!

Michael

 

[Anonymous]

Impressionist motorcycles?

Putting my art degree to work. Oh, yeah!

Michael

Ok, Artsy Fartsy boy, help me out with this.
I'm thinking of stripping my bike down this winter for something a little different. I want to paint *every* part of the bike a different color. I'm talking down to the battery box and engine mounts. Nuts and bolts will probably stay uncoated.
I'll probably go with no more than 5 colors, maybe 6. Any suggestions? I want bright and outstanding, but not, how should I say this..... gay [seinfeld]not that there's anything wrong with that[/seinfeld].
Oh yea, it'll be out of rattle cans.

Ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for a color scheme suggestion or are you loooking for a number of ways you could do it? For the former, I'd need a photo of the bike such that I can see all concerned areas and one overview photo. For the latter, I'd suggest graph theory and a distrubuted-parallel vector computer, probably an IBM SP or maybe a Beowulf-style cluster. See http://citeseer.nj.nec.com/context/2258154/0.

Computer Science and Math minor (almost) at work. Oh, yeah!

Michael

 

[Anonymous]

Impressionist motorcycles?

Putting my art degree to work. Oh, yeah!

Michael

Ok, Artsy Fartsy boy, help me out with this.

Seriously, I think you should start a new thread in Appearance Mods. And get us some pictures.

Michael

 

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for a color scheme suggestion or are you loooking for a number of ways you could do it? For the former, I'd need a photo of the bike such that I can see all concerned areas and one overview photo.

All concerned areas is every piece of the bike. I'm talking down to the stuff you don't see on a day to day basis. For instance, there's a plate under the airbox that the Reg/Rec bolts to. You can't even see this part unless you remove a side cover, or the battery.
I think mostly what I'm looking for is what 4-6 (5 probably, so each body panel could be different; tank, front fender, rear fender and each side panel)colors would go good together. I guess with that many colors, it'd be hard to muck it up, but I'd hate to be wrong. Matching pieces would each have a different color (the front motor mounts, for instance). The tank would be one color, one side panel another, the other another, front fender yet another, you get the idea. A total harlequin scheme.

For the latter, I'd suggest graph theory and a distrubuted-parallel vector computer, probably an IBM SP or maybe a Beowulf-style cluster. See http://citeseer.nj.nec.com/context/2258154/0.

Computer Science and Math minor (almost) at work. Oh, yeah!

Michael

My head's gonna explode.

Seriously, I think you should start a new thread in Appearance Mods. And get us some pictures.

Michael

I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[HiSPL]

Ya know Andy, you could learn something from my wife....Every time we go to Lowe's she picks out about 300 different color samples from the paint department. I don't know why.... But maybe you could look at Little color groups to determine what you like best.

I dunno, it could work.... :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

300 is a bit much.
I'm thinking 5 colors. 1 for each body panel (front fender, tank, each side panel and tailpiece). The frame will be a different color than the tank or side panels, for good contrast. So far I've come up with blue, green, orange and red. Not sure of the 5th color. Yellow is the logical choice, but I don't want it to be to bright. Black's to blah.