I have a couple of scuffs on my batwing fairing, and I'm weighing my options. Vivid black with silver pinstripes. Not knowing any painters, I googled a pinstriper that lives across town (a long way in Houston). He'd stripe it, but wouldn't paint the fairing. He suggested that a genuine HD color matched fairing would be my best bet. I called the closest HD shop and was quoted $605. For anyone that's repainted the fairing WITH the pinstripes, what's a ball park number I can expect to pay? I know it would be cheaper/easier to leave the stripes off, but I want them replaced with the factory method of the stripes under the clear. Anyone?

 

It's your money, do what makes you feel best. I couldn't justify a new fairing to fix scratches especially if just going back to factory paint. Perhaps you haven't considered something custom? Many options exist for repairing the damage you describe and if the damage is so severe it needs a full repaint then change color or add a design do your own thing? Unless that's not your thing, factory bikes are a rare find. Just didn't know if you considered all options.

 

That's just it....I'm researching my options. Option 1 is a color matched replacement at $605. That gives me a benchmark. I'm going to start calling around tomorrow and see what's up. The local HD shop that quoted the price on the fairing uses an independent painter, and they quoted $400 via the service department, but couldn't confirm that included striping.

 

I am going through the same thing, I have decided what I am going to do, just waiting for more money.

I dropped my bike going backwards down a long driveway in gravel. I have more that just a few scuffs.

I don't like it, so I looked on ebay and found a take off fairing with the pin strips (a bit different as it was from a 2010 and I have a 2012) same color just stripped differently. Asking if I remember correctly 225.00. Was only on the bike on the ride home he took it off for custom work and was selling it. ... Check ebay.

I looked at an OEM, too much.

I wanted something different. I went to Amazon. I found a vivid black fairing without any pin strips as after market, with a ABS reinforced fiberglass for $189.00 shipped, made here in the USA with good reviews. Then to be different I have created a custom graphic and I will have it printed in vinyl and have it wrapped. The pin strip would be in the way now.

Cost for the wrap is $125.00. So for less than the OEM fairing, and to have something different and one of a kind and a better fairing that is route I am going.

I got the fairing, looks good, and looks like it will fit. After Christmas I am taking it and the graphic file down to get it wrapped.

If you don't want to go custom, then check out Amazon and Ebay for some aftermarket or used ones, or take offs much cheaper.

I would guess you can have it pinstripe over the existing clear, then have it cleared again to smooth out the pin strip, much cheaper than a paint ready fairing and have the whole thing done. I would guess about $250.00 to have it done.

Suggestion is to look at some small body shops, the quote I got was from an individual that repairs RV's and campers, that is all fiberglass stuff and he does the bodywork and paints and pinstripes.

Also consider someone that does tattoos, they have a very steady hand, often times have slow times and could paint those 2 strips while waiting for the next patch of skin to ink. They do great work, and then you could take it to a body shop and have them spray clear on it the next car they paint, shouldn't be too much.

In the mean time do what I did, black sharpie to hid the scratches until I can get it completed.

 

When shopping painters, my suggestion is to not necessarily shop price...you might consider a 'mid-bid'...using quality materials is imperative to a good result, and good materials are expensive. To me, after all the running around you're gonna do, and the uncertainty of getting a good job that will last a long time, the $605 you were quoted by your HD dealer really isn't too bad, if it also contains a new fairing! You didn't clarify if that was just a repaint of your current fairing or a new outer fairing ready to go. If the latter, I'm thinking that's a pretty good deal. You're up and running in the time it takes to change it out, and you have a spare outer fairing for later that you can have painted as a spare.


That said, the wrap concept doesn't sound bad, but I don't have any experience with that. I've seen some pretty good wraps, though.

 

I'm guessing the scuffs won't buff out?


If not, are they down to the primer/gel coat? If not, consider just re-clearing...


Otherwise I'd look at take-offs if all you want is stock. You can sell your scuffed one to make up the price.

 

Find a shop you can take your bike/batwing to so they can offer suggestions for restoring it. It seems you have been asking about repainting it, but it may be possible to match and repair it, for a darn sight less. Cars get scratches very often (and there are a lot more of them) so there are shops making them good who may do bikes as well.

 

If those scuffs are small enough, you might be able to wet sand them out. I had a scratch on my front fender that I was able to sand out. If you are interested, I can post a link to a great U-Tube video I used as a guide

 

There's no buffing out the damage, it's too deep. I called a guy last night who gave me a price over the phone of $300-350. I'm taking a few pics tonight to send him and we will go from there. I checked eBay with no luck.

 

You could use OEM or equivalent touch up paint to fill the scratches, and then shave/buff it down level. Done well the repair is all but invisible.

The dr colorchip paint putty stuff is another option. The repair won't be invisible though.

Colored waxes to fill the scratch can give an ok temporary reduction in visibility.