GSXR 250 getting a paint job

[wildpudding]

Just starting a thread about giving my bike a bit of a paint job. I brought this off a mate on the cheap who had already sanded back the front fairing, so I thought I might as well do the whole bloody thing.

Didn't realise what I was getting myself into. So far I've sanded back the side fairings, one side right back to primer the other I figured it wasn't really necerssary so just took off the blue overcoat and the some of the white base coat. Same for back fairings. Probabaly taken a month of on and off work so far, and a bloody sore arm!

To go I need to finish the right hand back fairing, plus do all the fiddly bits, sort the tank out, and the front mud guard. Then its boging and sanding, then priming(I think).

Colour will be metallic blue i've decided, probably similiar to the colour of the ZXR pic attached. I've got a mate who reckons he can do the painting, so well see what happens there.

I'll keep it updated as I (hopefully) make some progress

Stefan

[DUBDUB]

How much are you looking at spending? Im going to give my gsxr a repaint soon.

[degrom]

I am almost done with repainting my GN...

This is one of side-covers. This is only paint just before the clear coat and it is really a brilliant color!!!

The color's name is Shockwave(PPG paint) and is used on the current Ford Ute's. It's a metallic/pearl blue. What makes this paint nice is that when it's in the sun it's really bright and when it gets a bit later in the day it turns to a darker navy blue...

Not the cheapest paint at just under $80 a liter but then again some candies go for over $400... After the clear coat is on it looks even more impressive with the metallic particles standing out.

I don't want to include a picture of the same panel after the clear coat because I am still waiting for it to dry and then want to buff it before I show off my masterpiece... LOL

[degrom]

How much are you looking at spending? Im going to give my gsxr a repaint soon.

This is my first proper paint job I do my self and I can understand why people pay good money for a perfect paint job.

I payed $80 for the color coat paint, $55 for the clear coat , $50 for AAA thinners... Can't remember what the prime cost but it's about $50+ and then there is all the sanding paper and things to prepare the metal and restore it...

Hope this figures could help a bit.
Cheers

[wildpudding]

Wow degrom thats looking pretty good, and your right the colour is pretty mint. When it comes to paint for fairings, I read/heard somewhere that you need a special type of paint that flexes, otherwise cracks appear? Is that true?

As far as cost is involved, at this stage it will probably only cost me materials, ie paint/thinners/clearcoat plus sanding materials. Not too sure how much paint I'll need for the whole lot, but I'll find out I spose!

Stefan

[degrom]

Wow degrom thats looking pretty good, and your right the colour is pretty mint. When it comes to paint for fairings, I read/heard somewhere that you need a special type of paint that flexes, otherwise cracks appear? Is that true?

As far as cost is involved, at this stage it will probably only cost me materials, ie paint/thinners/clearcoat plus sanding materials. Not too sure how much paint I'll need for the whole lot, but I'll find out I spose!

Stefan

Thanks for the complements...

I am not sure about the stretching paint but I can find out for you. The people I bought the paint from are really on the ball with this stuff and they will know.

It might just be that you need a special prime that will stick to the plastics.

I would say you will make it on about a liter color,clear coat and a big can of thinners. You should remember that you double+ your paint with the thinners.

I also start my clear coat out as one part paint one part thinners. Then as the layer get going I go thinner and thinner till it is almost just thinners.

The thinner layers tend to fill up all the bumps in in the clear coat.

It's also help to let your clear coat dry for a week or so before you buff it.(it really starts to shine after a few days) You can also use a bit of 2000 grid sanding paper to smooth out your clear coat before you buff it...

And don't for get!!! Temperature determines a lot!!! If it's to cold the paint will turn milk'ish... (okay,temperature comes after preparation!!!)

WOW... I have said a lot!!!

But go for it!!! I have only started in the last few months, but I am totally addicted to it now!!!
(I am almost at the stage where I would go out to people with old paint-jobs and ask them if I can help them with a new kick-ass paint job... LOL)

[degrom]

Wow degrom thats looking pretty good, and your right the colour is pretty mint. When it comes to paint for fairings, I read/heard somewhere that you need a special type of paint that flexes, otherwise cracks appear? Is that true?

As far as cost is involved, at this stage it will probably only cost me materials, ie paint/thinners/clearcoat plus sanding materials. Not too sure how much paint I'll need for the whole lot, but I'll find out I spose!

Stefan

Hi WildPudding,

Any news on your project?
I have a few more pic's for you... (At last she is done!!!)

Cheers.

[Korea]

That looks absolutely MINT! All that time and effort paid-off, yeah?
It looks really smooth and glossy - top job

Now, how about some decals on the side? Looks naked without "Suzuki" somewhere.

[wildpudding]

Mate that paint job came up really well, you must be pretty happy with that. I'm liking the colour too, that more or less what I want my bike to look like once its done. I agree with Korea, get a suzuki decal on the side, will complete the look.

This week I'll make a start on sanding back the tank. Mate told me to use 120 grit sandpaper, dont think I'll need to bother going back to bare metal.

Stefan

[apteryx_haasti]

Hey, nice job degorm! That is an awesome colour! Look forward to seeing it in person next week at the Oct 1 ride (are you bringing it??)

CHeers,

A_H

[degrom]

That looks absolutely MINT! All that time and effort paid-off, yeah?
It looks really smooth and glossy - top job

Now, how about some decals on the side? Looks naked without "Suzuki" somewhere.

Thanks Korea!!!

I still thinking about the decals?!? The blue stands out very nice and don't want to mess it up,I will go and have a look at what decals the bike shop has...

Thanks again.

[degrom]

Mate that paint job came up really well, you must be pretty happy with that. I'm liking the colour too, that more or less what I want my bike to look like once its done. I agree with Korea, get a suzuki decal on the side, will complete the look.

This week I'll make a start on sanding back the tank. Mate told me to use 120 grit sandpaper, dont think I'll need to bother going back to bare metal.

Stefan

Thanks,Wildpudding!

I like it,but there are lots of room for improvements. The next one is going to be even more shiny!!! The color was a bit tricky. I am not use to the pearl stuff... Confusing but nice. (Can't really say what color it is.. To light, to dark)

120 sounds good... I tend to go from 80grid,200grid and then 600grid+ (and wet). This finishes it of nicely. Good luck with all of the sanding.

[degrom]

Hey, nice job degorm! That is an awesome colour! Look forward to seeing it in person next week at the Oct 1 ride (are you bringing it??)

CHeers,

A_H

Mmmm... You are making me a bit shy now!!! I will be riding the rust-bucket with the nice paint job... LOL

[degrom]

Wow degrom thats looking pretty good, and your right the colour is pretty mint. When it comes to paint for fairings, I read/heard somewhere that you need a special type of paint that flexes, otherwise cracks appear? Is that true?

As far as cost is involved, at this stage it will probably only cost me materials, ie paint/thinners/clearcoat plus sanding materials. Not too sure how much paint I'll need for the whole lot, but I'll find out I spose!

Stefan

Hi Stefan,

I talked to the friendly owner from Union Hardware and he gave me more advice on the paint and preparation for your bike. He said that if the faring was undamaged it will be really easy to repaint. Just scotchbrite the old paint and paint over the old paint. If not the case he said it's better fix the faring then give it a shot of "PLASPAK UNIVERSAL PRIMER", normal prime and then paint. The universal primer is required to cope with the flexing of the plastic. A plasticizer additive is also need for the top coat. (Just to make the paint cope with fairing flex...)

Hope this could help.
Cheers.

[wildpudding]

Cheers thanks degrom, some good information there. The fairings on my bike arn't damaged, some places have been plastic welded in the past though by the looks of it.

One other thing, after I've finsihed sanding it back, I'll need to use some sort of filler on some areas as there as a few small holes/chips in places, would you happen to know a product which is suitable?

Cheers,

Stefan