Naked frame versus powdercoating - the race bike dilemma

[madbikeboy]

So, I have a K5 600 that has a powercoated frame.

Being that this bike is an ex race bike, the frame is scratched and pretty second had looking. The black powdercoating is thin at best, so hard miles have worn badly.

I'm old school, meaning riding ratty looking shit isn't an option; so I have two choices -
1. Sandblast / bead-blast the frame and swingarm, and leave it
2. Sandblast then powder coat.

The bike is completely apart (because I'm an anal retentive moron who can't help himself), so the labour isn't the issue.

Anyone know any sandblasters/powder coaters - how long and how much are the obvious questions.

Can a naked alloy frame be left alone, or does it need to be clear coated? Naked alloy has a lot of advantages for a race bike...

Thoughts?

MBB

[Cajun]

just leave it as and ride the bloody thing

guys state side have just polished there frames and what no with no issues

[madbikeboy]

just leave it as and ride the bloody thing

guys state side have just polished there frames and what no with no issues

Bloody hell, it's because of you that I started on this train of thought. Your bike is the dictionary definition of immaculate... I don't want to polish the frame, just remove the powder coat. I like alloy frames, this new black stuff is a fad... LOL!

[CookMySock]

If its alloy, by the time you have beadblasted it I wonder if it will still polish up ok. But yeah google some powdercoaters in aucks (theres one in whakatane too) I think you will be surprised how cheap it is and how good it looks when done.

Steve

[madbikeboy]

Been on the phone during the morning, and got a recommendation for Akro powdercoaters in the Wairau valley.

Just had a chat, and they're saying $180, job done, sand blasted and powder coated... (Actually, sand blasted and clear coated is the same price).

Dropping it off on Monday. I guess this is now a redundant thread...! Actually, the choice between powder coated and clear coated is still up for debate...

[Cajun]

blah its trackbike, leave it be, thats $180 could be two track days.

you could always go blue frame, or red frame or pink frame to go with ya Momron Few mates, or even something else. up to you.

But honstly i would worry about it, trackbike, more nice you make it looking more likey it gonna end up scraping down the tarmac

[nallac]

fuck thats a good price...

[FROSTY:Me]

Its a track bike. sand it and paint the frame with spray can black.
First crash and your $180 is a goneburgered -Spray can and you sand it again and repaint.
My opinion

[madbikeboy]

blah its trackbike, leave it be, thats $180 could be two track days.

you could always go blue frame, or red frame or pink frame to go with ya Momron Few mates, or even something else. up to you.

But honstly i would worry about it, trackbike, more nice you make it looking more likey it gonna end up scraping down the tarmac

If I went with Pink, would I also need to reduce the size of my dick, my balls, and my brain in line with the Moron Few?

[madbikeboy]

Its a track bike. sand it and paint the frame with spray can black.
First crash and your $180 is a goneburgered -Spray can and you sand it again and repaint.
My opinion

I considered that. I went and bought a rattle can of black paint a few weeks ago. Then, as the dawning realisation of how far my standards were about to slip, I put the can in the cupboard, and it's sat there ever since...

This is the logic for naked frame with clearcoat. Easier to repair...

[Crisis management]

Couple of points...
It's supposed to be a race bike? Why are you adding weight (paint?) unless its for corrosion protection?
Assuming this is an aluminium frame, sand blasting is very aggressive, check exactly what you are signing up for as bead blasting or walnut shell blasting may be a better result with less abrasion and base material loss.
Again, if you go with powder coating, check the pretreatment they are using and the baking temperature. Aluminium hardens in the baking oven and you will change the properties of the frame to a degree, for example, when I worked for Ford at their alloy wheel plant we could rework the wheels once through the powder coating process (twice thru the oven process) before we biffed them, the aluminium got too hard to use safely as a wheel.


Less weight means more speed, faster handling and better cornering and braking.

[madbikeboy]

Couple of points...
It's supposed to be a race bike? Why are you adding weight (paint?) unless its for corrosion protection?
Assuming this is an aluminium frame, sand blasting is very aggressive, check exactly what you are signing up for as bead blasting or walnut shell blasting may be a better result with less abrasion and base material loss.
Again, if you go with powder coating, check the pretreatment they are using and the baking temperature. Aluminium hardens in the baking oven and you will change the properties of the frame to a degree, for example, when I worked for Ford at their alloy wheel plant we could rework the wheels once through the powder coating process (twice thru the oven process) before we biffed them, the aluminium got too hard to use safely as a wheel.


Less weight means more speed, faster handling and better cornering and braking.

yeah, to go faster add lightness. I've dropped 13 kg of MBB ballast because I'm going from a litre to a pint. Hence why the original question of removing powder coat, then a layer of clear coat. I hadn't thought about the powder coating process in terms of heat...

All good, points, ta very muchly. Bling on its way.

[SARGE]

If I went with Pink, would I also need to reduce the size of my dick, my balls, and my brain in line with the Moron Few?

[Pussy]

If the frame is the standard finish, it's NOT powdercoated.
It's painted with "matt shadow black metallic", paint code "YAP".
The proper paint is available from Colorite in the States (www.colorite.com)
I powder coated a tubular steel frame on a bike I restored a few years ago, and wouldn't again. I should have used a good two pot paint.
Is it crazefox here on KB that is the paint gun? Give him a hoi

[Patch]

Why are you adding weight (paint?)

that's too funny

I'm surprised you didn't recommend him to take a dump before circling the track