Pinstripes clearcoated?

[Surly]

Okay painters, here's one.

I gave up and took my 78 GS1000 gas tank to the radiator shop for a proper cleaning/sealing. The paint was history after, but was garbage anyway.

Now comes the repaint, but reproduction tank decals are $80-100 for a set. Factory stripe colors can't be matched close enough, so maybe I'll restripe the whole bike since removing stripes will show nice paint surrounded by faded paint. But I can't tell if the stripes on the tail and seat base are clearcoated, and I don't want to screw one up by fingernailing a corner. The tank stripes were clearcoated.

Anyone know for sure? Thanks.

[ifly85]

The stripes on my sidecovers were clearcoated as well as the tank. Since my bike is an 1100G it didn't have the tailpiece, but I would guess that they are all clearcoated. I had to scrape the stripes off and the sand the plastic get rid of the lines. I think I used like 400 grit at first and then smoothed it up before painting with something higher. Good luck.

[rphillips]

Always wondered why, even on the same bike, some GS panels had the pinstripes clearcoated & others didn't. Pro's & cons: without clearcoat the stripes can start to peel off & if you get a touch of wax near the stripe, it's a pain in the, you know, to get it off. With the clearcoat, you can wax right over the stripes, & the paint just looks better, till the clearcoat starts to flake off the stripes, as my "85" 1150 is doing right now

[GregM.]

HI, I can't add much to help you, but maybe this.

You asked about the stripes on the seat base -- I don't know if your bike is like my '80 850G... But on my stock seat, there is a plastic chrome trim piece that runs down the length of each side of the seat base. Running through the center, down the length of each trim piece is a tape stripe matching the color of the bike (in my case a burgandy/maroon color).

When I bought my bike it was missing this piece along the left side. I bought a new one from Bike Bandit, for my '80. I incorrectly assumed it would have the correct pin-stripe for my year. But it didn't have any color stripe. So I got some pin-striping tape from Wesco Auto Supply that matched and did my own stripe. Now it looks just like the trim piece on the right side.

Bottom line - along the chrome seat trim piece, the stripe is a piece of tape and not clear-coated.

[Surly]

Thanks

The stripes do look coated on further inspection. Guess I'll call the pinstriper and have him do the tank and just get as close as he can. More money to spend! YAY!