Custom paint cost

[desert1]

Anyone had a custom paint job done; thats sidecovers, tailpiece and tank with some airbrushing? What was your costs? estimates? Just curious....
Bruce
78XS1100

[Wildkat]

Just as a DIY project...

the paint for the FJ... which included a metallic black basecoat... gold... silver... and clearcoat... Was a skosh over $300...
Paint for the XS's... black metallic basecoat and clear coat was around $225...

Not quite what you were asking... but might help give you an idea...

[crazypainter]

If your parts are good shape wthout a lot of dents and scratches you can get it all painted for around 500 or less, the big variable is the air brushing. Time is money and some of the brush work takes considerable time. each color adds to the cost as well. There are some colors of paint that are aound 150 a pint, and thats just a factory car color, the exotics can go to well over 500 for just enough to do a bike.

[greyranch]

paint costs

When I painted my bike I already had the paint and clearcoat.I still probably had to spend 100 dollars in materials to finish the bike.If you do the hard work yourself,stripping the tank to metal,filling all the dents,primer it yourself.stripping the plastic stuff to bare plastic.etc,you will save a lot of money.Expect to spend the better part of a week doing these things.The plastic stuff you have to hand sand all the paint off,unless you find a good stripper to take the paint off.I didnt want to take that chance as side covers are hard to come by.Just my 4 cents.Brad

[desert1]

Thanks

Thanks Guys just trying to compare to what my costs came out to be....mine was painted in May of this year by Voodoo airbrushing, the tank has to go back to Ontario over the winter as it has some flaws in the base black coat thats under 7 layers of clearcoat, said they would redo it for free....never deal with a company 1000 miles away Guys, should have found someone closer to home to do the paint job....they have a good reputation but.

I have pics of the bike on my digital camera, once I get them on a disc and brought in to where I work I will be able to show you the newly engined, newly painted 78XS1100.

The bike used to be all metallic blue some of you may remember it from rallies of the past, "ride east"

[GtrMn]

Is it necessary to take it to bare metal? Was thinking about repainting mine this winter...have a great spray set up etc.

[greyranch]

painting

In my case ,I tried to shortcut the bodywork by spraying sealer after sanding old paint.My basecoat enamel for some reason lifted the old paint.What a mess.Stripped old paint off and found it had 3 different colors from previous owner plus a bit of bondo from previous repair jobs.Glad I stripped it and new paint job should last as long as bike,hopefully a long time!

[crazypainter]

Originally posted by GtrMn
Is it necessary to take it to bare metal? Was thinking about repainting mine this winter...have a great spray set up etc.

If its the original paint you don't have to strip it. If you don't know what was used on the repaint its best to strip because you can have a reaction depending on whats going over what.

[GtrMn]

Mine has the original New Yamaha Black....Would like to keep it close to the same color. What's the best way to "prep" it then?

[jimboreeno]

I found a kid who was in paint and auto body school. He did my tank, covers and fenders for the cost of the materials $150.
He did a pretty good job too. I would not have been as happy if I had paid the $500 I had been quoted.

[Pat Kelly]

I probably posted this already but......
When I originally got my E ($60 Gem) on the road I looked into having it painted. It has the full touring set-up:
-Pacifico fairing with lowers (plastic)
-hard saddlebags (fiberglass)
-trunk (fiberglass)
Add to this the tank (metal), side covers and tailpiece (different plastic than the fairing) I was looking to a proffessional to paint all these different surfaces.
I asked around at the popular bodyshops in the area and no one wanted to paint a motorcycle ( why ). So I looked to custom painters.
The first one I went to said he'd be happy to do it, but he then warned me that it would be pricey. He went on to explain that he only does show-quality work (looking at the vehicles in his shop I tended to agree) and when it's done it would be perfect. He then went out to my bike with his secrerary and started estimating time on the work. His total was $2500.00 dollars !!!!! Most of it was the prep work. I asked if it would lower the cost if I disassembled and sanded it first. He said he only covers his own prepwork. He would need the bike assembled so he could "feel the flow" of the bike. I was looking for a metallic dark blue with some kind of a graffic and maybe some stripeing.
It would have been nice but I did want to actually ride the bike in the real world so I passed on that deal.
The least expensive I have been quoted by individuals that would do it at their home is about $700.00.
I used rattle cans and did it myself for $30.00. Touch-up costs $3.00 a can so I'm not worried about scratches.
Now for my LG I may talk to Mr $ .

[desert1]

Pat

Thats the way I will go on my saddle bags Pat, do it myself or have some local painter do it.......my tank and side covers were pricey and tailpiece....way up there.
Bruce