Howdy all!

Been looking at some custom paint threads, and the handful of paint-it-yourself threads I can find. I have a question of sorts.

My bike's an 05 EGCU, used when I got it. The coloring is something called Peace Officer Blue. Now, not that it's not a good-looking bike (it is, although it needs a bath right now), but blue's not my color (I picked it up because it was more affordable than a new one). Given my druthers, I'd have black, or silver, or even that metallic copper sort-of orange that I've seen. Like dark brownish colors.

When I thought of changing the bike's color scheme, I went to see what new tour packs (and fenders and such) would run me. Sticker shock didn't take long to settle in. And I'm confident that it'd be cheaper to paint the gas tank than try and replace it.

(If there were any motorcycle salvage yards in Virginia, or even within a few hours' drive of here, I'd shop there for parts of the desired color. Alas, Virginia bites as far as that stuff goes.)

So the question would be: given that I'd like to change my bike's color, would I be better off completely replacing the colored pieces, or doing (or getting) a paint job? If the former, well, it'll take a while. If the latter, are there any books, videos, websites or threads hereabouts that would show me things to look out for while repainting? (I'm already an artist, including with airbrush. If I got carried away I could always do my own design. But I've never painted a vehicle, or vehicle parts, before, particularly not the fiberglass ones.)

Thanks for any advice either way.

Davey

05 FLHTCU Peace Officer Blue
1st customization! 18" Clearview smoky windshield
Next customization: going to be Heat Deflectors and a oil cooler to deal with the HDV-Twin Toaster Oven that powers the bike

 

Check Ebay tons of color matched sets available. I seen complete sets go in the neigborhood of $1200 plus shipping. Many colors available. I know people that have spent in the neighbor hood of $4k to have their bike painted.

 

Ebay +1

 

Try ELOHSSA777 on E-Bay he is FLA. He has about 200 items listed, he buys out old stock and damaged bikes and sells them. We've bought from him --nice guy. His phone number is 1-800-841-6771. He has lots of parts that are not listed. It should be worth the phone call.

 

If you are going with a 1 color basic paint you can come out ok but if you are going to a custom paint you amy not. I paid $3,800 for my paint but it does have 7 murals and a little custom one off work. I agree check out ebay and with a local painter that does bikes. Auto body shops that never do bikes may not be able to please you. A basic plain one color here is around $800-1,000 and you have to remove the parts and reinstall
jim

 

Paint it yourself.You will beWAY more proud if it, and yourself, When you do the paintAND art work. If you are already an artist and can use a airbrush, what are ya waiting on? Go for it man!

 

re-paint all day.

 

I've painted a few bikes. I'd say you could paint it yourself for about $200 in materials for a base coat, clear coat job. The rest is an inexpensive gun, compressor and elbow grease. Here's the last one I did:

 

Thanks, guys. The Replacement Parts = kilobuck$ is the major reason I was hoping to find that a simple repaint wouldn't be too much trouble (from the sound of things, it shouldn't be). As said, I should be way prouder of it if I do it myself.

Generic question then follows: I know for metal my Dad taught me to get as much of the old paint off as possible, and prime and sand until I've got it cleanly smooth. That's easy. What would be my procedure for the tour packs and fairing, though (non-metal)? Is it safe to sand off the existing clear coat? Will it accept (or interfere with) a new coat of paint and another clear coat to hold it?

And $200 bucks in materials beats all heck out of $1200 for matched sets.

Now to start deciding if I'm going to stick with the simple plain color, or try something fancy...

Thanks

Davey

 

You don't need to strip all of the old paint off if you use a good epoxy primer.
You should try to spray automotive paint through your air brush before you try it on the bike.
I have painted 3 show bikes, and more cars than I can remeber, make sure you sand that primer very well,I like to scuff all of the tins with 120 grit to feather out nicks,then prime block out the primer with 220 grit,then 320 grit all dry ,then wet soft block with 400,and finally wet block with 600 grit.
With base clear you can spray almost anywhere if you tack rag it before clear,and wet the floor down.Almost any dirt in the clear can be sanded out ,and buffed.
I would say that you could do a bagger for around 450.00 if you do 2 colors,sand paper,and a paint gun is included in that price.
I would use either PPG Acrilic Urathane(Easy To Use,and color sands very well) or DuPont ChromaBase (Reasonable Price and Also ease of use).
Don't buy a cheapo $29.00 pait gun for paint,I would also not shoot eching primer with a gun you are going to paint with.


Sorry for the long post.