My neighbor and I were talking...

[Tiggerfoot]

I'm going to help out as much as I can and offer beer and pizza for AFTER

[Roadstergal]

Sounds fun, but beware - good paint ain't cheap, and cheap paint ain't good!

(Unless you're a megacorp and can buy in bulk.)

[Tiggerfoot]

I understand that..  The thing is..  Won't it be cheaper if I did it this way anyway?

[luke1645]

sounds like helluva deal if you ask me. even if it costs more, think about how much more fun you could have versus taking it in to get painted.

[70 Cam Guy]

sounds like helluva deal if you ask me. even if it costs more, think about how much more fun you could have versus taking it in to get painted.

You'd also probably get quote a good lesson in painting too

Good paint is expensive but you'll be paying for it either way right?

[Adam R]

I found out when painting my bike last year that the cost of paint varies with the color.  Black is the most inexpensive, then grays and browns, then blues and greens, and then reds and yellows are the priciest.  Make sure that you buy real automotive paint from a reputable source.

I chose black for mine, but that bike was headed for the track. I still liked the look, though.


Oh, BTW,  if you want to add a little kick to the post painting beer and pizza, hang out in the booth without a mask ... man is that stuff potent!


Adam

[TR]

Past year I had my TCP fairing painted, matched with the custom paint on tank and side covers and fender, and a clear coat; the full job costed around $200, but the paint itself, DuPont automotive, would have costed only $30 a pint, don't remember very precisely, so matched paint pint and clear for less than $50...

I guess prices aren't the same here and there but info might help.

[MarkusN]

Re Helmet: Don't do it unless it's a fiberglass job. Thermoplastics are affectet by solvents in most paints.

[TR]

Re Helmet: Don't do it unless it's a fiberglass job. Thermoplastics are affectet by solvents in most paints.

Better pick a nice helmet and paint the bike according to it...

[Tiggerfoot]

Thanks for the point on the Helmet MarkusN...  I would have never thought of that.  

It would have sucked if I messed that one up....

[Tiggerfoot]

Speaking of Helmets...  I have seen the ones that the whole chin and face mask come up.  What are some good brands of those?  Or should I not even go to that style?

I was thinking it would be good because I have to show my face and ID going to work.  Which is about 4-10 times a day.  Then drive another 5 mins to get to my office..  Plus, I like the idea of having the front come down and have the added protection for my chin.  Ya know... Just incase something were to happen...

[TR]

I have a pale gold N100 Nolan helmet, flip flop, and works OK, specially when you need to talk to other people with the helmet on, newer models allow you to flip the chin guard with only 1 hand, mine requires both hands. The strap is locked with a clasp to easily lock or unlock, but mine had no ring to hang the helmet on the bike. Later found the clasp can be safely inserted in the GS's helmet holder, but I'd rather like a ring for that. Also newer Nolans have dettachable liner. Due to the flip flop mechanism, I guess, the shield doesn't seal completely and driving fast you'll have wind noise and leaks, it's not that bad, bur never comparable to a full face helmet sealing, like the HJC I had. There's also a flip flop HJC and a SHOEI, but don't know about them. Nolans cost around $190.

[MarkusN]

Yeah, if you have to show your face, definitely go for a flip up style. Also if you wear glasses. I have a Caberg, and I'd never go back to anything else (not flip up I mean.)

[fettcols]

I have flip up helmet and love it... Here's a link to a local store where I bought mine... They have a big store in Columbus and I guess a couple smaller stores around central Ohio...

http://ironpony.com/ironponydirect/ProductPage.asp?brand=VEGA&Class3=Modular%20Helmets&Class2=Helmets&Class1=STREET%20PRODUCTS

I have a blue 500f and didn't see anything that matched the color so I bought the black one. I figured my jacket is matching blue and black so it works... Wow that sounds kind of vain doesn't it...

fett

[se7enty7]

seems like there's some website somewhere where a flipup helmet like that really badly hurt someone in a crash... somehow..


dont remember where i saw it though

[Dom]

I heard about that guy with the flip up helmet...very dangerous...I think he was decapitated or something...wasn't even riding at the time...I think he was sitting in his living room watching Monday night football...

I painted my bike with a rattle can and a laquer...definitely not recommended...I would a two part acrylic or something with a hardener...being careful spilling gas just isn't worth it, to me at least...just not practical...plus, two part acrylics are way harder and more durable than anything you can buy in a rattle can...

My two cents.

[TR]

I've got my Nolan N100 from //www.helmetshop.com, they also have HJCs and SHOEIs...

[MarkusN]

seems like there's some website somewhere where a flipup helmet like that really badly hurt someone in a crash... somehow..


dont remember where i saw it though

The beef some folks have with them is that the chin piece is not subject to the same testing as the rest of the helmet, as no standards exist for that type of helmet yet. (If memory serves, that is.)

Considering that jet helmets are legal I wouldn't be too concerned. It is certainly better than one of these. It is certainly worse than a full integral. Comes with the chin piece being a separate, movable piece.


But, come on, that visor is pretty dnagerous, too! Imagine hitting a fencepst head-on! that post'd go right through and kill you. Let's make helmets with a massive faceplate mandatory! </irony>

[jason_S]

seems like there's some website somewhere where a flipup helmet like that really badly hurt someone in a crash... somehow..


dont remember where i saw it though

Maybe beginnerbikes.com.  There was a guy there that wrecked with a HJC Symax helmet.  It flipped the chin bar all the way around to the back of the helmet.  I have a Nolan N100 flip up and I like it.  I think it's built better than the Symax.  The Nolan has 2 latches for the chinbar, one on each side, where the Symax only has one in the middle.  The latches on the Nolan have to be rotated up also to open the helmet, and the Symax latch seems to be just a clip that holds the chinbar shut..