To paint or not to paint?

[foreda]

I am debating whether or not to repaint my 78E. Presently my bike is completely original except for the exhaust. Although the paint is still in good condition, there are cracks deep in the paint that I assume is from 30 yrs of expansion and contraction?? My question is if this were you're bike, would you repaint?
If I do paint, I would want it to be as close to original as possible and where could I get the paint and where could I find someone that could replicate the pinstriping?Anybody out there know of someone that could do this?
Thanks

[CatatonicBug]

I guess it depends on how motivated you are and how much money you have to put into your bike. I know a lot of people here say that powdercoating is the best way to re-"paint" the frame. It's a lot more durable than paint, but you'll most likely need to find a place that will do it for you. lots of threads on here about that option. Just do a search in the forums for paint or powdercoat.

[Dsxs11]

If your talking tank and side covers a good body shop will be able to color match your paint and replicate the pinstripes. I'll go out on a limb and say it won't be cheap. A pint of the vintage copper on my bike is 600.00 the Pearl Black is 800 a quart.

[foreda]

Powdercoat and Paint

My plan is to strip down and powder coat the frame and paint the tank and side covers. Heck, I was thinking about buying a V-Max, that's about 17k. I decided not to do that so I am probably going to go for a complete restoration. My wife say's it's only money.. Like to fell out of my chair on that one!

[CatatonicBug]

My wife say's it's only money..

Wow... You've got a keeper there!

[Dsxs11]

No she's got an ulterior motive. Let us know how the bathroom or kitchen remodel goes. or those new floors. She will spring it on you right after you strip it and send it out for paint.

[dbeardslee]

Foreda - If you do paint, don't use any chemical stripper on the side covers or the tail piece behind the seat. It'll eat right into the plastic. DAMHIK

[skids]

Good point. You should also be aware that some paints are actually harder than the plastic. It can make sanding interesting.

Foreda - If you do paint, don't use any chemical stripper on the side covers or the tail piece behind the seat. It'll eat right into the plastic. DAMHIK

[boyat68]

foreda:

It is nothing wrong with having a nice looking bike. However at my age, I need to get all of the riding in possible before the big one. Therefore I would say that if you put all of that dinero into having a nice looking bike then you would be very careful not do do any crazy riding thus defeating the purpose of having a really really fast tractor. I say keep it clean and serviceable and ride, ride, ride.

[melbxs]

foreda:

It is nothing wrong with having a nice looking bike. However at my age, I need to get all of the riding in possible before the big one. Therefore I would say that if you put all of that dinero into having a nice looking bike then you would be very careful not do do any crazy riding thus defeating the purpose of having a really really fast tractor. I say keep it clean and serviceable and ride, ride, ride.

I like the cut of your jib fella.

Shiny just makes nasty people want to steal it.

[Dragonrider]

No she's got an ulterior motive. Let us know how the bathroom or kitchen remodel goes. or those new floors. She will spring it on you right after you strip it and send it out for paint.

Muhahahahaha! You got that right!

I'd go for paint!

Original and ugly is still ugly. There's little value in that.

[Del Tysdal]

Painting 78E

I stripped the tank and then sanded it down with up to 600 wet/dry. Then used Duplicolor Self Etching Primer (greenish) in several coats and more sandpapering. The color I used was also Duplicolor T 199 Cherry Red, MCC and two -three coats (and as instructed on the can, absolutely). Finally Duplicolor Ceramic 500 degree DE 1636 Clear Coat and more than one coat. Used this on 2 tanks , the side covers and a helmet. I have gotten gas 'spots' on the tank so more coats of ceramic would have been better. Looks good enuf. Takes about 2-3 weeks with all of the required drying time between coats. If you do a second coat to soon the undercoat will ripple up by the next day and you will need to start all over. I think a 7 day wait period was suggested when I called Duplicolor.

[Del Tysdal]

Re paint

Also did the Vetter trunk top and sides, the left and right hard Vetter hard bags. I could have used gold pin stripping from 1/8 inch at Checkers Auto but did not. It all matches up good enuf for me. I did not do the full fairing on the front as it was to much to take off. Then I bought a second tank on ebay for $60 shipped and did that one just for practice.