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View Full Version : Powder coat or paint swingarm on a KDX200



quallman1234
29th July 2011, 15:30
Tossing up between painting or powder coating my dirt bike swing arm (alloy).

I know powder coating is way? cheaper and has a nicer finish, however you can't repair chips/mushrooms and apparently it doesn't stop corrosion/rust (not valid in this case because its alloy) as well as paint would.

Any one had experiences with powder coating? Its a dirt bike so its going to get a bit of a beating. But should be cleaned after each ride (cough cough).

Getting a mate to bead blast it for 10$ and then probably 40$ for the powder coat. How much would paint be, any ideas?

Cheers for any advice!

Grumph
29th July 2011, 17:54
The problem I have with powdercoat is the susceptibility for it to admit water through cracks caused by stone impacts....the coating is strong enough to stay in one piece but moisture spreads under it.
Some of the speedway car frames I've seen after the powdercoat is stripped are very revealing...I wouldn't use it off road.
Your arm should be clear anodised as it came...this is about as good a protective coating as you'll get.

DEATH_INC.
29th July 2011, 21:41
What he ^ said, powdercoating makes a nice finish, but it doesn't adhere very well. A good etch primer and a nice coat of 2k enamel will hold up the best. (apart from the original anodising...)

actungbaby
29th July 2011, 22:18
i was and still planing on geting xr 200 frame painted its mess rust oh and swing arms worse
was told by company here paint handles stone chips better , i was kinda thinking power coating myself , but they did snad blasting painting being a off road bike maybe paint whould be better esp on swing arm gets lots mud grit


Tossing up between painting or powder coating my dirt bike swing arm (alloy).

I know powder coating is way? cheaper and has a nicer finish, however you can't repair chips/mushrooms and apparently it doesn't stop corrosion/rust (not valid in this case because its alloy) as well as paint would.

Any one had experiences with powder coating? Its a dirt bike so its going to get a bit of a beating. But should be cleaned after each ride (cough cough).

Getting a mate to bead blast it for 10$ and then probably 40$ for the powder coat. How much would paint be, any ideas?

Cheers for any advice!

quallman1234
5th August 2011, 12:18
Alright, i've done my research and looks like i'll be painting it instead of powder coating.

Powder coating would be nice on a road bike but isn't really applicable to a dirt bike. Wouldn't take long to get a bit damaged.

Cheers guys will take a before/after