Finally finished the xs400 - PICS

[res1uqtp]

This project is finally done after finishing the paint on the engine, carbs, and body work. A quick tune job and she's running fantastic. Thought I'd share a few pics of the finished product:

[DGXSER]

Nicely done. Looks very very good!

[cywelchjr]

Nice job. Were the fenders originally chrome or were they painted to start with? I've thought about painting mine, but I'm leery about trying to paint the chrome parts (worried about the paint peeling off). If they were chrome, what did you do to make sure the paint stayed on properly?

[madmax-im]

Indeed you have done a great job with this bike...I had one as well it was a '78 ...and it was red...I got close to 70 mpg on it! Have fun ridin that around!

[lee_dutcher]

Nice job. Were the fenders originally chrome or were they painted to start with? I've thought about painting mine, but I'm leery about trying to paint the chrome parts (worried about the paint peeling off). If they were chrome, what did you do to make sure the paint stayed on properly?

scuff up the crome with high grit sand paper,,, then the paint has somthing to adher to.

[John]

That's a handsome little devil.

[res1uqtp]

Nice job. Were the fenders originally chrome or were they painted to start with? I've thought about painting mine, but I'm leery about trying to paint the chrome parts (worried about the paint peeling off). If they were chrome, what did you do to make sure the paint stayed on properly?

They were black originally but everything was taken down to the bare metal, body work done to smooth out dents and then I did several coats of etching primer followed by a lacquer primer (wet sanding after each phase of course), then 8 light coats of base coat lacquer (black), and 5 light coats of clear. I used supplies from Walmart .... Rust-O-Leum lacquer in a spray can.

Lots of wet sanding and polishing. If I had it to do over I would probably have used my spray gun but i think I still would have stuck with lacquer. I'm by no means a pro and this was my first body work and paint job. I just read a lot, was careful, and practiced lots of patience.

Thanks for all the compliments guys .... it is a BLAST to ride .....

[furious4]

Thats a real clean looking bike. Great job

[cywelchjr]

They were black originally but everything was taken down to the bare metal, body work done to smooth out dents and then I did several coats of etching primer followed by a lacquer primer (wet sanding after each phase of course), then 8 light coats of base coat lacquer (black), and 5 light coats of clear. I used supplies from Walmart .... Rust-O-Leum lacquer in a spray can.

Lots of wet sanding and polishing. If I had it to do over I would probably have used my spray gun but i think I still would have stuck with lacquer. I'm by no means a pro and this was my first body work and paint job. I just read a lot, was careful, and practiced lots of patience.

Thanks for all the compliments guys .... it is a BLAST to ride .....

Be careful, the lacquers are generally not gas proof/resistant and it's very hard not to get some gas splash onto the tank when filling on those tanks (believe me I know). I know that duplicolor recomends using a two part clear on top of lacquer to protect from gas.

[Trainzz]

Passing Grade

SWMBO has no cycle knowledge, but when she saw this one.....OMG!

It was buy me one now!!!!

Thanks, pal

It is a wonderful looking machine...A+.