I have to decide if I want to repaint in the same color or change the scheme entirely.
Either way, she needs paint as the tank is chipped and rusting and both rear fenders are cracked and have chips too.

On a side note, the SealMate tool appears to have been $6 very well spent. Took 5 min to use and so far no more leaky from my right fork. I'll keep an eye on it, but I gave the front suspension a beating afterwards and not a drop of leakage.

From a guy 20+ hours into the process currently, think long and hard about that decision, lol. Do you want shnazzy new paint, or do you want to be able to ride your bike? This weekend the temps here are in the mid 60's and I reeeeally wish I had my bike put together.

I'm glad I'm painting mine, but it's killing me to not be able to actually ride my new toy!

Downtime with the bike while prepping for paint does kill you, but if you're happy with the end result it was all worth it. Besides, there is still plenty enough time to finish the bike before most peoples riding season starts. I think a dark blue would look pretty nice with those gun metal grey rims you got melen. I would definitely suggest you get some of those decals that you slap on and then pull the clear wrap off that say Suzuki.

Happy fishing!

Quote from: IAmSpartacus on February 16, 2013, 12:32:23 AM
From a guy 20+ hours into the process currently, think long and hard about that decision, lol. Do you want shnazzy new paint, or do you want to be able to ride your bike? This weekend the temps here are in the mid 60's and I reeeeally wish I had my bike put together.

I'm glad I'm painting mine, but it's killing me to not be able to actually ride my new toy!

Solution:

1. Have more than one bike

2. Have duplicate sets of tank & plastics so you can paint the set then simply swap things out with minimal down time (like an hour at most)

I abide by both rules just to be on the safe side.

^^

He also has a couple hundred gs's in his bike cave... 

I saw an ad on Craigslist for $1500 for 2 90's GS's that I wanted to jump on so bad.
Anyways, I picked up a can of primer and a can of red metallic to test out when my eBay fender arrives for the front wheel.

Do y'all know if the 2k clear coat goes well on metal specks style paint?

Also, my right rear fender has a crack and chip along the edge. Any product recommendations to fix/fill? Or maybe a $30 eBay fender is in order.

Quote from: m_melen on February 21, 2013, 06:25:13 PM
I saw an ad on Craigslist for $1500 for 2 90's GS's that I wanted to jump on so bad.
Anyways, I picked up a can of primer and a can of red metallic to test out when my eBay fender arrives for the front wheel.

Do y'all know if the 2k clear coat goes well on metal specks style paint?

Also, my right rear fender has a crack and chip along the edge. Any product recommendations to fix/fill? Or maybe a $30 eBay fender is in order.

Ask Tombstone, he did it and it looked sexy. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=63160.0

2kMax is a great clear on anything. I use it on Candy Antares Red, Pearl Novelty Black and other stuff (Those are Suzuki paints from colorrite).
If you're going to paint stuff, I have un-broken tails that are destined for the dumpster because everyone forgets I have a pile of them and need space for other stuff so I am tired of having scratched tails around and really am going to just throw them in recycling. (tried for a longer run-on sentence but ran out of breath.)

(( So many parts I just have too many of, including plastics. 40 cents per pound for aluminum so all those old top plates, wheels and crap should fetch quite a but. I need 500 pounds of steel to get a nickle a pound. Under that, they will take it, though, for free. ))

So I'm guessing you'd be willing to part with a right rear tail piece? How much shipped to NC?
I don't suppose you have another belly pan lying around too, do you?

I'll figure postage.

I don't have spare belly pans but here is a nice one on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321065129727?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Quote from: PatheticPuma on February 21, 2013, 07:40:51 PM

Quote from: m_melen on February 21, 2013, 06:25:13 PM
I saw an ad on Craigslist for $1500 for 2 90's GS's that I wanted to jump on so bad.
Anyways, I picked up a can of primer and a can of red metallic to test out when my eBay fender arrives for the front wheel.

Do y'all know if the 2k clear coat goes well on metal specks style paint?

Also, my right rear fender has a crack and chip along the edge. Any product recommendations to fix/fill? Or maybe a $30 eBay fender is in order.

Ask Tombstone, he did it and it looked sexy. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=63160.0

Thanks for the praise! 

Heres my old build thread on my previous bike.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58225.0

and here is the cheapest site to get the 2K clear from.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

The red on the bike.

Duplicolor White regular Primer.
Duplicolor Retro Red Metal Specks.
2K Clear.

Until I had a little mishap from tilting the gas tank too much while working on the bike and gas leaked out of the top.
it leaked for a good 10 minutes and didnt eat through the clear, it actually seeped & ate the paint UNDER it! (from the lack of clear completely to the gas spout on top of the tank)

after that I used the duplicolor grey primer filler in the pic below to redo the tank instead of the white regular primer.
the white primer, the paint seemed a little lighter up close.
with the grey, a little darker.


Heres what I used on the headlight cowl.


here is the last Good pics I took of the bike before trading it.







If you plan to go the rattle can route.

The best advice I can give is Read and read some more! hahaha

Proper prep is KEY!

and painting.
You dont have to wait until the layers / steps dry and cure before moving onto the next step & then having to sand between them.
like going from primer to color, color to clear.

I read this first and then tried it and it worked for me just fine.

you can go from bare metal to fully 100% painted and done in one shot.

Just have to wait say 10 to 15 minutes between each coat.
depends on the thickness on how long to wait to spray more.
obviously the first very light coat you will wait less before spraying the 2nd.

you might already know this tho.
just trying to help 

Your bike was actually the reason I went for the metal specks paint. I bought grey primer since I want a little deeper/darker shade. How many cans of the 2k clear did you end up using?
My plan is tank and all plastics red, everything else on the bike black including wheels with a red lip.
I saw that belly pan on eBay, I just can't bring myself to spend another $150 right now, I'm on a lowly government pay lol

Adidasguy, you wouldn't have an unwarped rear brake rotor lying around too, would you?

Quote from: m_melen on February 22, 2013, 11:53:39 AM
Your bike was actually the reason I went for the metal specks paint. I bought grey primer since I want a little deeper/darker shade. How many cans of the 2k clear did you end up using?
My plan is tank and all plastics red, everything else on the bike black including wheels with a red lip.
I saw that belly pan on eBay, I just can't bring myself to spend another $150 right now, I'm on a lowly government pay lol

and thanks for even more praise!   

Honestly and being 100% serious.
I wouldnt touch the frame or the rims.
1. the gunmetal color is absolutely SWEEEEEET with the red!
2nd. Rattle can SUCKS on rims!
It chips so easily there its not funny!

I never took pics of mine up close, but yeah 

but its your bike.

IF you redo the rims black, I would go with powder coating.

The frame (if ur thinking about it but I personally wouldnt)
same as the rims.
I had to touch mine up with black enamel WAYYYY too many times from scratching it up while working on the bike.

and you wont get a good paint job on the frame unless its bare.

how many cans of clear?

I didnt use any on the black frame.
I tried to but it didnt look right on the black enamel.
it fogged it up quite a bit.
so the black enamel didnt get any clear at all.

If the clear is only for the red pieces & a belly pan possibly.

I would say 3 cans.
4 if your in doubt, just to cover ur ass incase of any mistakes.


(edit)
looking at your 2nd pic on the initial post.
if its only the front & rear fenders, & the tank going red.
I say 3 would be Plenty.

(edit again)
and since you dont have one on in the pics.
I would say get the custom made GS500 metal chain guard from adidas if he hasnt said to yet.
It looks MUCH better then the stock nasty plastic.
I Really enjoyed mine.

(edit yet Again!)
sry I always think of something else!

Yes I HIGHLY suggest the 2K clear!

I actually did the headlight cowl initially with Duplicolor clear.
Because I didnt feel like waiting for the 2K.

it came out lookin like absolute GARBAGE!!!
did nothing differently then I normally do either.

I have rotors.
A friend in Seattle did this, then sold it last year. Now being sold again I think for the second time. Was for sale if the fall. Not sure if same person selling or another person. (I helped with some parts for the original fix-up 2 years ago.) Rims are rattle can and holding up.
Eastwood and others do make tough wheel rim paints.
What red can look like:


[attachment deleted by admin]

Damn that's a lot of clear. How many coats did you do?

I'll be leaving the frame and wheels alone for the next couple months just for the sake of not tearing the bike down. Me likee riding instead of just staring at it.

Maybe I'll like the gunmetal after all. I'll probably tear the whole bike down next winter for a rebuild and restore. I'm probably going to experiment with using black on little silver bits like the headlamp bucket.

Whadya think of a thick white stripe on the tank with pinstripe on either side?

3 isnt much.
Yeah its more expensive then store bought crap, but trust me, its WELL worth it!
Its better to have more and not need it then it would be to have less and run out when you need more tho. 

I didnt count how many coats I did.

I started out VERY light and slowly worked my way up to where I thought it was nice and thick enough.
I just simply eyed it out.

Actually I did count on my headlight cowl.
Not intentionally, but just took pics between coats as I had to have something to do in between.

You'll notice as it starts out dull and gets shinier and shinier. (your spraying first hand, not the pics)
It will start to get a nice thickness and shiny, and then you'll be like, Okay, I like it there.
which is basically what I did.

First to last coat in order.









White stripe?
dunno, I actually like the white Suzuki logo on ur tank tho.

(edit)
its sad too, they dont sell that specific paint in anything but a rattle can
I emailed and asked Duplicolor.
I was actually going to have my current bike redone professionally with it if they did.

For the best tho.
Went with the stock Candy Red. (still not done)

That Suzuki logo is gonna get sanded off when I paint the tank. Up close the white is faded and creamy, little bits of the logo faded off, etc.

Quote from: adidasguy on February 22, 2013, 12:51:34 PM
I have rotors.
A friend in Seattle did this, then sold it last year. Now being sold again I think for the second time. Was for sale if the fall. Not sure if same person selling or another person. (I helped with some parts for the original fix-up 2 years ago.) Rims are rattle can and holding up.
Eastwood and others do make tough wheel rim paints.
What red can look like:

Awesome, let me know how much for one of your better rear rotors and that right rear fender shipped to 28540 when you find out

Quote from: adidasguy on February 16, 2013, 11:03:14 AM

Solution:

1. Have more than one bike

2. Have duplicate sets of tank & plastics so you can paint the set then simply swap things out with minimal down time (like an hour at most)

I abide by both rules just to be on the safe side.

Don't forget the extra set of wheels and tires as well as an indentured servant who will paint all those spare parts while you're out riding. Geeze, if only I were loaded like adidas...