Seriously thinking of painting my own motorcycle

[rabbgp]

I have never done any automotive paint before, do not have the paint gun although I do have a compressor. Paint scheme would be very simple, satin black with silver scallops.

Several reasons I want to do it myself; save a ton of money, satisfaction of doing it myself, learning a new skill. Would def practice on something before painting the bike.

On the other hand I do not want to end up with a disaster that I have to pay someone else to fix.


Any bro's who can offer up some advice would be appreciated.

 

[blooz4u]

Well, I had that idea 4 months ago, and I'm still trying to paint / get her back together.

I'm not sure about you, but I won't do this every again.

 

[rabbgp]

What went wrong?

 

[Volusianator]

I've painted several, including Linda's. If you've never done it before, I suggest you leave it to the professionals (God don't get me wrong, I'm no professional) but it's not just spraying paint. Lots of considerations go into prep, sanitation, chemical reaction, time frames from one coat to another to clear. Just saying, it's a lot of work.

 

[cigarguy71]

You will have to set your compressor up for painting. Cause it naturally creates condensation and you do not wont that going in your paint. And how fast your compressor recovers is very important. But maybe not being that it is such a small job.

 

[hdroadglide]

hell, they do it on american chopper in one episode!!!!:rolling:

 

[cigarguy71]

LOL very funny Bob.

hell, they do it on american chopper in one episode!!!!:rolling:

 

[blooz4u]

What went wrong?

Well, let me start by saying that I'm painting a sportbike. Many more pieces (plastic) involved.

The painting really wasn't the issue, it was the plastics themselves. They were painted over twice, so getting a "useable" surface took hours and hours of sanding, even with a DA.

Anyhow, had I had it to over again, I would let the professionals do it, or just buy a cheap set of plastics off of Ebay.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

My problem would be putting it back together "right" after taking it apart for sanding and paint!

 

[jwintosh]

i would never attempt it! but, if you have the time, go for it!!

 

[sascha]

that's an easy decision, get it done by a professional.
I'm all about doing it yourself, but for painting a bike you need awesome guns. I have a full spray setup, including 3 guns, 10 airbrushes, tons of paint, a 24" plotter to cut patterns and stencils if needed and I still wouldn't do it myself.

here is a great website to show you the tools needed and unless your compressor is at least 60-80 gallons, don't bother.

here is the best website out there for all your needs including guns, paint and clear coat, sanding and buffing.

http://www.coastairbrush.com/categories.asp?cat=12


if you're still not scared, go for it, it can all be sanded down again

 

[sportsmedjosh]

I have never done any automotive paint before, do not have the paint gun although I do have a compressor. Paint scheme would be very simple, satin black with silver scallops.

Several reasons I want to do it myself; save a ton of money, satisfaction of doing it myself, learning a new skill. Would def practice on something before painting the bike.

On the other hand I do not want to end up with a disaster that I have to pay someone else to fix.


Any bro's who can offer up some advice would be appreciated.

Depending on how far you are from Texas, I'll paint it for you for a a 5'er. =)

 

[rabbgp]

Depending on how far you are from Texas, I'll paint it for you for a a 5'er. =)

Thanks, Josh. Why don't you just zip over to Phoenix and take care of it for me? I will give you way more than a 5'er for your trouble! :thumbsup:

PLUS, I will give you all that insider Aggie info you will need in College Station!

 

[rabbgp]

that's an easy decision, get it done by a professional.
I'm all about doing it yourself, but for painting a bike you need awesome guns. I have a full spray setup, including 3 guns, 10 airbrushes, tons of paint, a 24" plotter to cut patterns and stencils if needed and I still wouldn't do it myself.

here is a great website to show you the tools needed and unless your compressor is at least 60-80 gallons, don't bother.

here is the best website out there for all your needs including guns, paint and clear coat, sanding and buffing.

http://www.coastairbrush.com/categories.asp?cat=12


if you're still not scared, go for it, it can all be sanded down again

Thanks, Sascha. I am still on the fence about this. But how do you ever learn if you don't jump in and try it?

 

[sportsmedjosh]

I love prep work, I'm so anal about crap. It for the best, when the apartment is dirty my girlfriend tells me to go do something because I'll spend ~ 2 hours cleaning the table tops getting scuffs out of the top. Never painted a bike before but done work on european cars.

 

[Volusianator]

Thanks, Sascha. I am still on the fence about this. But how do you ever learn if you don't jump in and try it?

Sounds like you more have your mind made up to do it, and I wish you all the luck in the world. I've seen a LOT of home sprayed paint jobs, only one I've liked. If it were my bike and I cared about it, no way in hell I'd do it myself, just to have to have it redone at an additional cost, in addition to what I spent on paint myself, and paint ain't cheap man, not by a longshot.

 

[gibbleguts]

Done work on sport bikes before. If you are looking for perfect wouldn't do it myself. We so the bike about once a month and it is never perfect. But track bikes need a few scars.

 

[daniyal]

Good luck bro! that is if you do decide to paint it yourself I can't remember ever having undertaken a project that should've been left in the hands of a professional and coming out satisfied on the other end. Hopefully you're not as challenged as I am when it comes to DIY.

 

[blooz4u]

Don't do it! You'll never feel quite rewarded for all of that hard work, like you think you'll feel.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Don't do it! You'll never feel quite rewarded for all of that hard work, like you think you'll feel.

That would be my biggest fear also!