Has anyone had they're frame powder coated?

[HiSPL]

If so how much did it cost, and what kind of prep work did you have to do to it?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Can't answer your questions but thought I'd pass along a warning a friend of mine got when he powdered coated a truck frame.
He was told to put an old bolt in any exposed threads to avoid getting the coating in there. Guess this stuff is pretty tough and you'd need to use a tap to clean it out.

Good Luck.

[HiSPL]

Yeah the stuff is incredibly tough. The things around work that are powdercoated still have yet to chip.

[Anonymous]

I'm planning on having my frame powder coated on my '83 750E. Having not done it yet I don't have any personal experiences to relate, but I've done some research. Make sure you check out the powder coater you're going to work with and confirm that he knows what he's doing. There are problems if the metal isn't preped right and espically if the cureing isn't hot or long enough. Ideally you should find a guy who has done motorcycle frames before so he'll know how to plug up the bolt holes and on some bikes the engine mounts need to be bare in some places for proper grounding of the engine to the frame (don't know if that applies to GSs or not.) If you find a guy who wants you to put bolts in the holes then I'd find someone else who knows how to do a frame. As far as prep goes I think the usual fashion is to media blast the frame prior to coating, most shops that do the coating do the blasting as well. It is in the interest of a good shop to do the prep because it makes such a difference in the finished job, if you come to them with poor prep work then their coating doesn't hold up because of it then it reflects poorly on them.

I've heard prices from about $150 for a whole frame and a pile of other little pieces, to about $250 for a Harley frame from a nationaly known coater who specializes in Harleys. When I get my frame done I'm doing just about every other piece of steel on the bike and will be looking for a price somewhere in the middle of those two. What I've heard is a lot of places don't mind doing additional little pieces because the coating is cheap, but the electricity to power the big ovens needed to do whole frames costs a bunch, so throwing in a few little pieces doesn't really add that much to the cost as long as he is running the oven anyways.

Once powder coating is on it's not coming off, so make sure you like the color I'm thinking of going with white myself.

David

[HiSPL]

Thanks David,
Are you going to pull your head bearing races or just let the coater plug them? 200 bucks is about what I thought it would cost, that seems reasonable. I'm thinking of a satin gold/champagne color. I have a bicycle that is a color called titanium matte and it would be perfect. I'll have it matched to that. This will be for my 83 1100E and I'll paint the body work a bright red to contrast. I'm also thinking about matching the wheels to the frame, which may add to the cost....

[streetfighters]

Has anyone had they're frame powder coated?

I've had two frames powder coated as well as assorted brackets. Nice results! Weld areas are smoothed due to thickness of the medium and the electrostatic nature of the method. Cost was $250.00 for frame, braced arm,sidestand and battery box. Turn around time was 2 days. A good shop will bead blast the frame and use silicon plugs in all tapped holes, masking off the bigger holes. They should carefully examine the item asking you ( the consumer) what you want and where. You need to be aware of what you want and tell them! Leave the bearing races in and have the shop mask the things.
Way better than painting as the result is a tough coating. It will chip, scratch, paint remover will hurt it, etc. so it's not perfect. I
I used Spectrum Powdercoating in /Redwood City, Ca. and B,R,&F Spray Inc. in Santa Clara, Ca. Both shops cycle-savvy and No-BS business people.

[SqDancerLynn1]

You need to check on available colors, it's not like just mixing up a can of paint. It is in powdered form not liquid.