I am, at last, transforming my commuter bike (he's basically a rat bike) to a purple beauty. I started stripping the ugly black paint today. It's a start....
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a146/pandyz/BabyG01.jpg)
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a146/pandyz/BabyG02.jpg)
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a146/pandyz/BabyG03.jpg)
:cheers:
:thumb: Did you know there was purple underneath when you got it? I am sure you sensed it :mrgreen:
When we bought him, the rider's dad said they'd spray painted him to cover up the "Pepto Bismol" colour....I guess his teen son didn't like riding on a purple bike! I've always considered myself to be riding a purple bike with an ugly black cloak! :lol:
I didn't realize I'd be able to uncover the purple beauty within until I noticed that some of the black paint was chipping off where the seat comes in contact. Now I'm trying to take off the black layer without damaging the purple layer too much. :?
My poor Baby G was crashed while he was purple...there are some scrapes and rashes down to the metal... hmm... I wonder if Suzuki still makes purple touch-up paint!? :mrgreen:
Quote from: pandy... I wonder if Suzuki still makes purple touch-up paint!? :mrgreen:
At that age, no offense intended, Color Rite doesn't list ANY paint if you believe their online listings. I believe your color code is 1HU - Deep Purple Metallic. It looks like you are doing a good job by taking it slow. The bike had a clear coat over the purple originally. So the worst case would be you might get into that a little.
Did the previous owners remove the tank graphics prior to the ugliness they imposed on it?
so who's going to give me gas money to go spray it black again? :mrgreen:
Eeeewww, a big purple grape! :lol:
:cheers:
Quote from: starwalt
At that age, no offense intended, Color Rite doesn't list ANY paint if you believe their online listings. I believe your color code is 1HU - Deep Purple Metallic.
No offense taken! :lol: I figured it was a long shot. Thanks for the colour code!!! :cheers:
Quote from: starwalt
It looks like you are doing a good job by taking it slow. The bike had a clear coat over the purple originally. So the worst case would be you might get into that a little.
I'm trying to take it nice and slow and neutralize the paint stripper often (my bf is providing supervising assistance and instruction, but I'm doing the work myself :mrgreen: ) I did get a little into the clear coat, but the purple seems to be standing up to the abuse pretty well! :cheers:
Quote from: starwalt
Did the previous owners remove the tank graphics prior to the ugliness they imposed on it?
I'm not sure if they did or not. They didn't seem to do any sort of prep at all, and the little S and suzuki graphics that are there now are...uhmm....pretty bad! :dunno:
Quote from: John BatesEeeewww, a big purple grape! :lol: :cheers:
Quote from: davipuso who's going to give me gas money to go spray it black again? :mrgreen:
A big, phat :nana: to you both!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Even if you could find touch-up, it won't match. Your paint will have weathered some. And metallics are notoriously a beeyotch to match in the first place.
Quote from: RoadstergalEven if you could find touch-up, it won't match. Your paint will have weathered some. And metallics are notoriously a beeyotch to match in the first place.
Well, I'm figuring that an ugly
PURPLE paint job (mis-matched, fixed, touched up, & faded out) is gonna be a HUGE improvement over the REALLY fugly black spray paint! :lol:
Heck, I'll find a purple Sharpee if I need to! :thumb:
Then wash it well post-strip, apply the touchup in many thin coats, and then wet-sand with some massively fine paper and polish it.
An auto body supply shop will be able to look up the paint code and mix you up some paint. They have a minimum batch size that will probably be in the $50-$100 range, but it'll be enough to last you years.
In fact, it will be enough to repaint the bike. Consider that - primer the bare bits, sand it all with 400 grit, and give it a couple of new coats of purple. It'll be uniform. Wesco will put factory-match paint into cans. It won't be as good as a pressure-sprayed urethane job, but most people won't notice the difference if you do the prep and spray well.
Quote from: RoadstergalIn fact, it will be enough to repaint the bike. Consider that - primer the bare bits, sand it all with 400 grit, and give it a couple of new coats of purple. It'll be uniform. Wesco will put factory-match paint into cans. It won't be as good as a pressure-sprayed urethane job, but most people won't notice the difference if you do the prep and spray well.
:kiss: You've given me some excellent options for my purple GS fetish. Thank you!!!!!! :cheers: :mrgreen:
Here's a good option for you:
Paint it blue. Get rid of that ugly purple color. Blue is where it's at. Blue blue blue blue blue.
Quote from: AlphaFire X5Here's a good option for you:
Paint it blue. Get rid of that ugly purple color. Blue is where it's at. Blue blue blue blue blue.
Hush, child! :P
:mrgreen:
Quote from: AlphaFire X5ugly purple
Calling GS purple "ugly" is a hangin' offense in some parts! :o
Actually, my future gixxer will be blue! :P
might want to find another cap for that battery
Quote from: Blueknytmight want to find another cap for that battery
HAHA! I wondered how long it would take someone to comment on that! It was like that when we purchased the bike. :P Actually, I have a new battery waiting to have acid added and be charged (I bought a new trickle charger just for the occasion!)... I'm going to put the old battery into the streetfighter (the cap isn't missing...it's just sorta....shortened...one can still get it on and off with a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry small screwdriver!) :mrgreen:
I guess I could have omitted the "ugly purple" comment. I'm sorry.
"Purple" would have been enough! The "ugly" is just given with that! :lol:!
Quote from: AlphaFire X5I guess I could have omitted the "ugly purple" comment. I'm sorry.
"Purple" would have been enough! The "ugly" is just given with that! :lol:!
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I mean.... :o :x :guns: :? :P
:lol: :lol: :lol: :nana: :lol:
while i do understand about it being broken, i was refering to the fact that the cap being broket will allow acid/fumes to spill out, being near the fuel tank this would help advance the rust (ask me how i know) this is why vent tubes are so long, to vent that stuff away.
Just pony up and repaint the whole damn thing...
Sissy! Wanna fight?!?
Remember guys, its a girl's bike.
Pandy-
I would recommend also shelling out to have the parts prefessionally done. Bike paintwork is a big PITA. But having it done right will really make the bike look great.
My wife found a color she really liked (actually she found a Shoei "Candy Red" helmet she really liked) and so I had the bodywork painted to match.
Looked very good.
If you can't shell out the several hundred $ for paint. then Scan ebay for GS parts, periodically purple parts wash up. Also look for Katana wheels as for several years the previous generation GSX600s wheels came in the same shade of purple, and they are interchangeable with the GS500s.
yeah, like my 94 katana 600, its got purple wheels (shameless plug whole bike for sale 1700 Firm)
Quote from: JamesGRemember guys, its a girl's bike.
Pandy-
I would recommend also shelling out to have the parts prefessionally done. Bike paintwork is a big PITA. But having it done right will really make the bike look great.
Well, he's pretty much a beater ratbike, so I'm not going to have him professionally done. I'll likely live with the purple as is for a while, and then figure out what I'm going to do.
I was going to get some more of the black off today, but I had a bit of a lowside mishap during today's ride, so I put the Baby G away and let him rest. :roll:
if i were you i'd definitely not use paint stripper if i intended to keep the finish under the black. the stripper can soften and deteriorate the purple, too, remember.
i'd wet sand with 400-800 grit to get the old black paint off (so you can control how much you are taking off and where) using a flexible foam pad, then wetsand with 1500-2000 grit to remove sanding scratches. at that point, you should preferably take it to a body shop and have them buff it out for you to get the gloss back, but if you go to a body supply store they can reccommend some rubbing compound and polish that may work for you by hand.
your results may vary, i'm not a pro, but i've painted a few cars and worked in a bodyshop.
lemme know if you have any questions.
Looks good so far Pandy. Oh and I thought Peptol was PINK.
I just spent some time on Saturday going over my '92 deep purple tank with 3M Medium Cut rubbing compound, then Megiuar's Scratch-X, then turtle wax. :thumb:
Part of the work was to prepare for winter, making sure all the flaking clear-coat is broken off and can't trap moisture and salt.
Quote from: Slowe30if i were you i'd definitely not use paint stripper if i intended to keep the finish under the black. the stripper can soften and deteriorate the purple, too, remember.
Yeah, I discovered how powerful the stripper is when it ate through my rubber gloves..ouch. :roll: It's possible I'll lose the purple, too, but if I do, I'll have a body shop mix up a batch for me (RG suggestion) and probably re-paint everything.
Quote from: Slowe30your results may vary, i'm not a pro, but i've painted a few cars and worked in a bodyshop. lemme know if you have any questions.
Thanks!!!!! :kiss:
Quote from: ajgs500Looks good so far Pandy. Oh and I thought Peptol was PINK.
What do boyz know about colour! :mrgreen: :lol:
Quote from: Rema1000Part of the work was to prepare for winter, making sure all the flaking clear-coat is broken off and can't trap moisture and salt.
Actually, you make a good point about preparing for winter. :thumb: I know this is going to be an ongoing project, so I'm going to have to think about protecting the exposed metal (cuz I'll probably strip the black off, but not re-paint for a while)....