Anyone repainted their bike?
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,946
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From: Boston, Mass
Anyone repainted their bike?
Just bought a 2001 Roadking from a co worker. Great clean bike, good price and knew the history of the bike. BUT..... the color combination wouldnt be my first choice, or my second choice... Anyone have any comments on re painting a bike? Did it look as good as a factory paint job? Any and all comments appreciated. Thanks
Joe
Joe
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 2
From: somewhere
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
I had mine repainted this past winter.
The bike was originally white, then painted black by the previous owner. I had it painted black again.
As long as you get a bike painter to do it you should be OK. DO NOT get an auto painter. It is not the same.
I have a auto boy guy that i use all the time. I figured I would give him some more business...he flatly refused to paint a bike. He said that he could not get the quality finish on a bike that he can on a car and I would not be satisfied. I trust this guy. So I found a pro bike painter.
It took twice as long a he siad it would..nature of the profession. There were a couple spots that i wasnt happy with, but he repained them no problem. I talked to him last week about touching up a few spots that were not good enough for me. Again, no problem.
Basically,
make sure you use a pro bike painter that has some experience
Make sure the guy will stand behind the job
make sure the paint has a warranty (labor included) on everything. I had two spots of clear coat that cracked.
See some of his work first.
Shop around...the price will be about the same from painter to painter, but its the reputation and end results that will get the sale.
The bike was originally white, then painted black by the previous owner. I had it painted black again.
As long as you get a bike painter to do it you should be OK. DO NOT get an auto painter. It is not the same.
I have a auto boy guy that i use all the time. I figured I would give him some more business...he flatly refused to paint a bike. He said that he could not get the quality finish on a bike that he can on a car and I would not be satisfied. I trust this guy. So I found a pro bike painter.
It took twice as long a he siad it would..nature of the profession. There were a couple spots that i wasnt happy with, but he repained them no problem. I talked to him last week about touching up a few spots that were not good enough for me. Again, no problem.
Basically,
make sure you use a pro bike painter that has some experience
Make sure the guy will stand behind the job
make sure the paint has a warranty (labor included) on everything. I had two spots of clear coat that cracked.
See some of his work first.
Shop around...the price will be about the same from painter to painter, but its the reputation and end results that will get the sale.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, GA
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
ORIGINAL: jbhawley
As long as you get a bike painter to do it you should be OK. DO NOT get an auto painter. It is not the same.
As long as you get a bike painter to do it you should be OK. DO NOT get an auto painter. It is not the same.
If you go into this looking for the cheapest guy, you will be disappointed with the finished product. Remember, you ride a Harley, people expect them to look perfect, and you won't be happy with a car paint job on your Harley.
Go in the garage and look close at your cars paint job........can you clearly see your reflection? if you can, are the edges of the images clear or fuzzy? How about the orange peel? is there a texture to the paint? Now go look at a new Harley the same way. Which paint job do you want on your bike?
In my town there are 62 paint and body shops in the yellow pages that paint cars, only 3 that claim to paint bikes. If you visit those 3, only 1 actually does the painting right there in-house. Just do your homework, and you'll get a good job.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 3
From: Sevierville, TN
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
I have to agree with the above statement. But remember you get what you pay for. I had my vulcan painted by a man that builds custom street rods and one heck of a painter. After looking at the process he went through to get a top quality paint job I understand why it costs as much as it does. My advice would be to go to local bike shows or bike nights and check out some of the custom paint there and find out who did the work for them.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
Well Guys I disagree with auto and bike paint being different!!! If you go with a stock color or a color choice of your own it wont make a diference. Say you go to a paint store and say I like the SE orange on the new bikes (by the way it is like 400 dollars a pint) they mix it using the same process and same chemicals used for cars. The reason auto painters dont like to paint bikes is there is much more work to do on them!! But the process is basicly the same just more pieces and curves. The Trick is to wet sand the final seal coat of primer and then wet sand and polish clear when finished! Good auto painters will do this as well but many dont!!If you add costom stripes it is even more work. I paint my own bikes and used PPG paint and I am pleased with the results. Just use a good quality clear coat and let the paint cure before filling up as if the paint is to fresh you well wreck a good paint job in seconds. Here are some before and after shots of latest job. Done in my garage as my painter (brother) didnt ahve time and I couldnt use his shop!!!!
[IMG]local://upfiles/26403/A128375C58F14398B69C25C486331FFB.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/26403/F43B4102288C43C298351AC3FBC53943.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/26403/A128375C58F14398B69C25C486331FFB.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/26403/F43B4102288C43C298351AC3FBC53943.jpg[/IMG]
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 10
From: TX
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
I am having mine doen now, but it is being done by a Bike Custom shop.
Father and son team that does motor work and custom paint.
I agree ALLOT of prep goes into a Bike taking all the parts off the bike, sanding, wet sanding over and over again and then the coats of clear and the buffing and polishing
Father and son team that does motor work and custom paint.
I agree ALLOT of prep goes into a Bike taking all the parts off the bike, sanding, wet sanding over and over again and then the coats of clear and the buffing and polishing
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
Just had mine done a week ago. Pic attached.
[IMG]local://upfiles/9502/4237C27B96004B9081136649380256AD.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/9502/4237C27B96004B9081136649380256AD.jpg[/IMG]
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 257
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From:
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
Had mine done a year and half ago. It was done by an automoble repair facility that does motorcycle painting also. Well satisfied wit the work.
[IMG]local://upfiles/3217/191EA438D8F54A5DACEB290D1FE07CED.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/3217/191EA438D8F54A5DACEB290D1FE07CED.jpg[/IMG]
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Joe Kucinski
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 154
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From:
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
The best advice is check out the work ,they have done before. I had mine done last month . And had a local artistair brushsome flames and a skull on the bike. Then took it to the best bodyshop for about 6 coats of clear . The job came out better than factory.
Not a bad idea to ask at bike night in your area. Or if you see a paint job you like on something at a car or bike show! If the guy (or gal) can paint then they can paint ,and has pictures of there work ,with referance . I do agree bike are not E-Z to paint so you will want to do alot of leg work before putting your bike on the line. Remember it is going to cost twice as much if you get some low cost joker to screw it up ,and then pay a pro to make it right ! At a lot of auto body shops cars are there bread and butter. But it dosn't mean they can;t do costom work. Just take your time! And check them out !
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Not a bad idea to ask at bike night in your area. Or if you see a paint job you like on something at a car or bike show! If the guy (or gal) can paint then they can paint ,and has pictures of there work ,with referance . I do agree bike are not E-Z to paint so you will want to do alot of leg work before putting your bike on the line. Remember it is going to cost twice as much if you get some low cost joker to screw it up ,and then pay a pro to make it right ! At a lot of auto body shops cars are there bread and butter. But it dosn't mean they can;t do costom work. Just take your time! And check them out !
.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
RE: Anyone repainted their bike?
Rick 547...
This might sound like a stupid question but ive never seen them before, what is the blue things beside your sparkplugs? Is that a compression release?, if so does it work good and why do you have them, easier to start??
This might sound like a stupid question but ive never seen them before, what is the blue things beside your sparkplugs? Is that a compression release?, if so does it work good and why do you have them, easier to start??