Repainting a bike

[baffa]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has done this, and the time and cost involved.

I'm thinking I'll have the little VTR for awhile, and wouldnt mind giving it a paint job, maybe black on the chassis, and possibly black or red on the body. Wondering the cost involved getting professionally, and how much drama it is to dissasemble and repaint the tank and bits yourself.

Also looking at getting some rim tape, would most bike shops stock it?

[wanpo]

I imagine chassis painting is a lot more involved and expensive then just doing tank/fairings, as everything, engine included, would have to be removed [citation required]

I'm sure I've seen some nice pink rim stickers at cycletreads that would go beautiful with your bright purple bike (after painting)

[Metastable]

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...for-race-glass

Some good reading for you there. It is a bit long, but you can see the results various guys had. Some get fairly technical on how to do what and how to do the plastic different form the gas tank and what paints not to use etc. I know a few of those guys personally. The Red/White R6 turned out really good.

BTW on the Chassis paint.... not so sure you want to go there.

[baffa]

Thanks for the input guys, time to do some reading.

In terms of the chassis, this picture should show what I mean. The silvery trellis that you see:

[TIBLE_90]

I got my wheel stripes for the bikes I've owned from Ebay. You get em for cheap and the ones I have gotten have lasted well.

[Metastable]

Well, painting metal is usually easier than painting plastic... but that is A LOT OF WORK.... I'm too lazy.

[bogan]

For the frame, get it powder coated (wheels too, why not!). Way less work as they acid dip it first. Just have to cover any bearing surfaces etc first. Fairly cheap too I think. For the rest, do the prep work yourself, then get a painter to do the painting. Not sure of cost, but that is likely the cheapest while still getting a really good finish.

[Sable]

Don't do it yourself with rattlecans. No matter how hard you try it's still gonna look nasty. If you really insist at least get the tank painted professionally in 2 pack. Petrol eats enamel paints and a lot of lacquers too.

[baffa]

The trellis may end up being more trouble than it's worth, but now I'm thinking of painting the tank, rear body, exhaust and mudgaurd in black, and maybe off setting it with red wheels or something.

Too crazy? Gonna need to sort some photoshopping.

[Sable]

The other thing is that it fucks the resale value of your bike as soon as you put a different coat of paint on. As well as a good stock finish being more desirable it makes people think it's been crashed and you're hiding the damage.

[quattro]

I brought my BB from this:



To this:



It cost double what I budgeted. It cost me maybe €1,000 / $1,600 for a good, cost effective job. Still, the graphics were cheap reproductions. It took me an absolute age to clean up the bike while the plastics were away and you end up encountering a thousand little jobs to do.

I loved doing the bike up as a project and I was delirious with the results. What I realised is that there's no point in draping lovely clean new plastics over a weather torn frame so I kept going further and further.

(then I did this to it about four months later )

[quattro]

In other words, 'incidentals' are what you should really be worried about...

[dickie]

i just finished painting my cb1000r and it cost me $2000 then the cost of decals that were custom made on top of that

[Metastable]

http://s1213.photobucket.com/albums/...20and%20Paint/

I'd say that looks pretty good.... you can see before and after. BTW, he was one of the guys on that thread I posted. (Mobius)

[Grubber]

I brought my BB from this:



To this:



It cost double what I budgeted. It cost me maybe €1,000 / $1,600 for a good, cost effective job. Still, the graphics were cheap reproductions. It took me an absolute age to clean up the bike while the plastics were away and you end up encountering a thousand little jobs to do.

I loved doing the bike up as a project and I was delirious with the results. What I realised is that there's no point in draping lovely clean new plastics over a weather torn frame so I kept going further and further.

(then I did this to it about four months later )

Now, that would suck!

Anywho, just make sure you got some clues about paint and prep, cause if ya don't, it's gonna turn out shit.
Theres a lot more to painting than one thinks.
I stripped a Harley down to frame and custom painted that. Did the base coat myself and got a mate to do frilly bits. It is a huge job but pretty rewarding when ya all done.