I caught criticism a while back for having spray painted my bike. Last weekend, I finally got it together and did it right, with satisfactory, professional looking results. I never did it before because I thought it would be expensive or it wouldnt turn out like I wanted it to, and I think many people think the same. I took many pictures along the way, and could share my personal experience and advice. Would it be a good idea to do a simple write-up of a basic, low-budget paint job?
I would like to atleast see some pics :thumb:
Yes, please do the write up and post some pics. Winter is coming up and we all need something to do whilst the snow is on the ground. So, if it's cheap and easy to paint a bike with your write up to guide us, maybe others will try painting their bikes. 8)
Quote from: lamahug on October 01, 2009, 12:13:50 PM
Yes, please do the write up and post some pics. Winter is coming up and we all need something to do whilst the snow is on the ground. So, if it's cheap and easy to paint a bike with your write up to guide us, maybe others will try painting their bikes. 8)
Alright, I will get it together before long. Until then, here are some pics:
before (rattle-canned):
(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb144/redhen2/SSPX0629.jpg)
after:
(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb144/redhen2/2.jpg)
Seems like a pretty good upgrade for $50 if you ask me.
Looks much better and please post the write up.
Tony
Me likey green....... More pics please.
larger pics please...then we can be the judge of quality
You did the whole thing for 50 dollar paint? not bad..
oh btw i liked ur bike in black color better but thats just me...... black is HOT
I'm intersted to see these pics when I get home from work. I was also considering painting my GS all black this winter, haha.
Quote from: redhenracing2 on October 01, 2009, 12:19:33 PM
Seems like a pretty good upgrade for $50 if you ask me.
...assuming you have access to a few hundred/thousand dollars of equipment, perhaps? Awaiting write-up, but content with my $10 rattlecan job for now. Toss it on the wiki, too (it could use it) but I'd appreciate it if it was an add on rather than total replace of the rattlecan instructions there last time I looked, which I suspect are still going to be of use to some folks.
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 06:06:34 PM
Right now mine is orange and black....dunno...maybe i should leave it as it is? but there are some scratches so if i paint it then it will look better?
The orange/black GS looks good the way it is, but nicer paintjobs have been painted black, and it's your bike... But a few scratches that don't show up in pictures is a terrible reason to repaint a bike with a factory paintjob, especially when you're likely to add a few more. And just how rusty is that chain, inexplicable? Looks like a good canidate for replace chain and sprockets - at bare minimum, grease the poor thing, but usually when they have been neglected for long enough to look like that, it's time to get a new set. Check the splines on the drive sprocket and grease that too.
Quote from: DoD#i on October 01, 2009, 07:19:21 PM
Quote from: redhenracing2 on October 01, 2009, 12:19:33 PM
Seems like a pretty good upgrade for $50 if you ask me.
...assuming you have access to a few hundred/thousand dollars of equipment, perhaps? Awaiting write-up, but content with my $10 rattlecan job for now. Toss it on the wiki, too (it could use it) but I'd appreciate it if it was an add on rather than total replace of the rattlecan instructions there last time I looked, which I suspect are still going to be of use to some folks.
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 06:06:34 PM
Right now mine is orange and black....dunno...maybe i should leave it as it is? but there are some scratches so if i paint it then it will look better?
The orange/black GS looks good the way it is, but nicer paintjobs have been painted black, and it's your bike... But a few scratches that don't show up in pictures is a terrible reason to repaint a bike with a factory paintjob, especially when you're likely to add a few more. And just how rusty is that chain, inexplicable? Looks like a good canidate for replace chain and sprockets - at bare minimum, grease the poor thing, but usually when they have been neglected for long enough to look like that, it's time to get a new set. Check the splines on the drive sprocket and grease that too.
Yeah thats why i am not sure. i guess i will just leave it as it is since its already BAD AZZ... haha
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 07:27:34 PM
But i dont think i will change it unless it breaks on me. If it is working why change it, right?
...
How long do you think a rusty chain/sprockets is bound to last?
It's not a bicycle.
When you break a motorcycle chain, it can get ugly - the chain is a heavy chunk of metal, it's often moving at a good clip, and it almost always is going to break while you are accellerating. Sometimes the broken chain jams up under the front sprocket cover and causes additional damage.
Could last 10000 miles. Could break tomorrow. No way to know in advance.
Full write up of a paint job for about 300 dollars worth of materials, equipment and 4-5 days of work. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=49919.0
Quote from: eralor on October 02, 2009, 09:17:27 AM
Full write up of a paint job for about 300 dollars worth of materials, equipment and 4-5 days of work. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=49919.0
i love your paint....can you do that to just my tank? (as i have no other plastics on the bike) :p
if you ship it back and forth i can do it. i have purple dye, red dye and a bit of green left still. message me and we can talk about it.
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 06:06:34 PM
You did the whole thing for 50 dollar paint? not bad.. i also want to change the color to black. Right now mine is orange and black....dunno...maybe i should leave it as it is? but there are some scratches so if i paint it then it will look better? no idea
here is a pic
*removed for sake of space*
tell me what u guys think? would u leave it orange or color it black?
I'd leave it orange. It is quite unique, besides I do NOT like black bikes - they're invisible.
And rattle can black simply looks wrong, I know that there are fans of this type of paint here, but I am definitely not one of them.
But it's your bike and your decision - do whatever pleases YOU and not the others :thumb:
Quote from: DoD#i on October 01, 2009, 07:19:21 PM
...assuming you have access to a few hundred/thousand dollars of equipment, perhaps? Awaiting write-up, but content with my $10 rattlecan job for now. Toss it on the wiki, too (it could use it) but I'd appreciate it if it was an add on rather than total replace of the rattlecan instructions there last time I looked, which I suspect are still going to be of use to some folks.
The only things I already had on hand were a drill with a wire wheel attachment, some sandpaper, and the actual paint sprayer. I borrowed a compressor from a friend. Everything else was covered as such:
one quart of acrylic urethane paint= $30
urethane activator= $8
masking tape, sandpaper= ~$10
To go and buy a compressor specifically for this, I would find a bit excessive. Surely you know someone that has one you can borrow. As far as the actual gun, mine is a Husky that was about $40 so if you don't own one, know that Husky guarantees their stuff for life and this is a very good sprayer.
Here is a bigger, better picture. More close-ups and detailed pics will be in the write-up, I may have time to do it tonight.
(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb144/redhen2/img1254508155176.jpg)
Quote from: eralor on October 02, 2009, 09:17:27 AM
Full write up of a paint job for about 300 dollars worth of materials, equipment and 4-5 days of work. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=49919.0
As is stated in your thread, you are a professional and have been doing this for years. This was my first time using a spray gun, and I just thought it would be handy to see a budget paint job (that looks pretty darn good, if I may add) from an amateur's point of view.
I did the write up so people who arent professionals could get the dirty details without all the guess work. And that was my first automotive paint job. I paint cabinets as a side job so "professional" is a VERY loosely used term when it comes to my painting skills. But I do have years of experience laying paint. Yours turned out very nicely and I do love green as you can tell. I say the two of us make a good example of first time auto paint done right.
Quote from: DoD#i on October 01, 2009, 08:07:52 PM
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 07:27:34 PM
But i dont think i will change it unless it breaks on me. If it is working why change it, right?
...
How long do you think a rusty chain/sprockets is bound to last?
It's not a bicycle.
When you break a motorcycle chain, it can get ugly - the chain is a heavy chunk of metal, it's often moving at a good clip, and it almost always is going to break while you are accellerating. Sometimes the broken chain jams up under the front sprocket cover and causes additional damage.
Could last 10000 miles. Could break tomorrow. No way to know in advance.
Imagine, your riding down the highway at highway speed. The chain BREAKS and as a result your back wheel suddenly locks.
Sure, it's more likely to go under acceleration, so change the situation to Hammering it to get onto a highway. Maybe on ramp has slight curve as they so often do. So now you are going fast and leaning when back wheel locks up. Short result - you WILL come off. Or maybe you're real lucky and chain just unwinds onto the road without damaging anything and you coast to a stop. Stranded with no way to ride the bike anywhere from where it is. Tow truck time. Hope you're an auto club member.
Having said all this. We cannot see the chain as it is in real life. It looks rusted as to me. But that could be made to look worse in pics due to camera flash and the way the different colors work with contrast on your camera (looks worse than it really is).
*I* would Not ride with a chain that was like that. But I am a chain and tire pressure nazi - lubing and checking pressure every day that I tank up. After all, what's a couple of extra minutes at the tire station while getting gas? What's a few minutes at the end of that day to lube the chain?
BUT, You do what you feel comfortable doing. And if you keep that chain for a little while longer, at the least, lube, lube and lube it. No once a week stuff. Lube THAT chain daily. Ride it, lube it when you come home. Repeat the next day, even if you don't Need to go out, ride it for a bit just to warm the chain so you can lube it. You might get a little more life out of it. But in all seriousness, the o-rings on that chain are probably shot so you have no internal lube and it's just like the old days before o-rings and we Had to really lube chains.
If money is tight and you don't want a shop to do your chain, Now is a good time to learn to do it yourself.
Michael
Center stand and a can of chain lube ftw. Pop it up on the center stand put it in first gear and spry that chain like you mean it bro. And do it often. I lube mine every 400-500 miles but my bike is only a year old. The more often the better when your baby starts to show wear and tear.
Quote from: mister on October 03, 2009, 12:57:38 AM
Quote from: DoD#i on October 01, 2009, 08:07:52 PM
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 07:27:34 PM
But i dont think i will change it unless it breaks on me. If it is working why change it, right?
...
How long do you think a rusty chain/sprockets is bound to last?
It's not a bicycle.
When you break a motorcycle chain, it can get ugly - the chain is a heavy chunk of metal, it's often moving at a good clip, and it almost always is going to break while you are accellerating. Sometimes the broken chain jams up under the front sprocket cover and causes additional damage.
Could last 10000 miles. Could break tomorrow. No way to know in advance.
Imagine, your riding down the highway at highway speed. The chain BREAKS and as a result your back wheel suddenly locks.
Sure, it's more likely to go under acceleration, so change the situation to Hammering it to get onto a highway. Maybe on ramp has slight curve as they so often do. So now you are going fast and leaning when back wheel locks up. Short result - you WILL come off. Or maybe you're real lucky and chain just unwinds onto the road without damaging anything and you coast to a stop. Stranded with no way to ride the bike anywhere from where it is. Tow truck time. Hope you're an auto club member.
Having said all this. We cannot see the chain as it is in real life. It looks rusted as to me. But that could be made to look worse in pics due to camera flash and the way the different colors work with contrast on your camera (looks worse than it really is).
*I* would Not ride with a chain that was like that. But I am a chain and tire pressure nazi - lubing and checking pressure every day that I tank up. After all, what's a couple of extra minutes at the tire station while getting gas? What's a few minutes at the end of that day to lube the chain?
BUT, You do what you feel comfortable doing. And if you keep that chain for a little while longer, at the least, lube, lube and lube it. No once a week stuff. Lube THAT chain daily. Ride it, lube it when you come home. Repeat the next day, even if you don't Need to go out, ride it for a bit just to warm the chain so you can lube it. You might get a little more life out of it. But in all seriousness, the o-rings on that chain are probably shot so you have no internal lube and it's just like the old days before o-rings and we Had to really lube chains.
If money is tight and you don't want a shop to do your chain, Now is a good time to learn to do it yourself.
Michael
Yeah but the chain cost same amount of money as to what the bike shop will charge me and that is around 100 bucks..
I dont know. i just dont feel like doing it because its already winter time and even if i do get a new one it will eventually get rusty because i store my motorcycle outdoors. (Am waiting till next summer)
I think the pic is making it look more rusty than it is. I will take more pix and post it here.
let me know what you think after you see other pix of it.
Thanks again man.
and about cleaning it. Yeah i cleaned it like a week or two ago with spray and after 2-3 days i also used wd40.