Help with pin striping

[jfmerk]

Does anyone know or would someone be willing to measure the width of the pin stripes on a '78 standard? The striping on mine was not original and I want to get as close to factory spec as I can.

In some pictures the tank stiping looks wider than the side cover striping. I believe I have the double stripe on the cowl and seat trim figured out, but it would be nice to double-check that too.

Thanks a million!

[natemoen]

Well the only stripe I can measure is the Pacifico fairing stripe and that is 1/8 inch wide before they merge together.

[crazy steve]

No two places are the same....

The tank has two stripes outlining the sides; both stripes are .08" wide, separated by .1", about .2" in from the 'edge'.

The seat/cowling has two stripes also, but here the lower stripe is .125" wide. The upper stripe is .1", same separation between them, and located about .125" from the top of the seat rail.

The side covers have a single stripe, .125" wide and located about .230" in from the edge.

I'll also note that these are all 'decals'; the interesting part is the tank striping is under a clear-coat, while the rest isn't.

[jfmerk]

No two places are the same....

The tank has two stripes outlining the sides; both stripes are .08" wide, separated by .1", about .2" in from the 'edge'.

The seat/cowling has two stripes also, but here the lower stripe is .125" wide. The upper stripe is .1", same separation between them, and located about .125" from the top of the seat rail.

The side covers have a single stripe, .125" wide and located about .230" in from the edge.

I'll also note that these are all 'decals'; the interesting part is the tank striping is under a clear-coat, while the rest isn't.

Thanks Steve, this is great info! I just finished mounting my tank, installed the headlight and turn signals. Now all thats left is refurbing the tank and side cover badges (hoping Santa will bring new ones!) and apply the pin striping. Oh and tires too. Then.... its road test time!

I just have to ask again, your dimensions are from an un-altered 78 standard right? Thanks again!

[crazy steve]

...I just have to ask again, your dimensions are from an un-altered 78 standard right? Thanks again!

Look at my sig line....

Although I'll admit I no longer have the '78 tank, as I mashed it with my knee (I think) in an endo. But I still have the rest of the OEM trim, as well as notes/pics detailing the tank paint so if I ever get enough money for a pro paint job, I can restore the bike to totally stock.

If you're trying to get it dead-nuts 'correct', I'll add that the tank striping was clear-coated over (the only year that was; I guess the decal glue couldn't take gasoline exposure?) and isn't a one-piece decal; there's a 'joint' in the rearmost lower corner. And while the seat rail/tailpiece location I gave you is spot-on, the 'about' distances I gave for the tank/sidecovers are just that; the tank striping is mostly that distance, but 'tapers' to less as it goes to the 'joint'. I have detailed pics, but SWMBO hides... er, 'stores' the pics and it would be multi-hour hunt to track them down. ( me, her). The sidecover decal is one piece, but it's 'sides' are 'straighter' than the sidecover, so that number is more of an average.

An interesting bit of trivia... if you ordered replacement 'Macho Maroon' painted trim from Yammy after 1980, it came sans striping. And the spray/touch-up paint that they sold back then wasn't even close. Out of curiosity, did you have the paint custom-mixed, or did you find a close-enough, off-the-shelf color? This color had a bunch of pearl in it, and I never saw anything that 'popped' like this did in the sun.

[jfmerk]

Steve
Today, I did notice your signature line. It was a long day and a late night when I posted my "just have to ask" question.

I am most interested in just getting as close as I can to the dimensions of the stripes and their locations. I've never applied pin-striping before but I have several friends who I can call on for help if needed and I have an extra seat cowl and a side cover to practice on. It's those tight turns that concern me, trying not to get wrinkles where the radius is so tight. I assume thats why a decal made more sense.

I painted all my parts with a custom mixed PPG Omni MTK, which is a single stage acrylic urethane product. Here is an area where I probably rushed to much in my excitement to finish this bike. I had bought a side cover off ebay that was macho maroon and in nice shape, no fading detected by removing the emblem to verify. I took this to Carquest so they could use their special camera/paint scanner thing to see if they could match it. The counter person said if it can't match it it will not offer up a formula. It did come up with a formula so at that point I decided I have a match and I'm good to go. So rather than order the paint and mix a small batch (reducer and catalyst) to compare and double check the color... I went ahead and wet sanded all my parts, picked up my paint, went down to work and sealed everything and painted everything. Then thought as I looked at my finished product... I wonder if the color really is right

I can tell you this after the first two coats it wasn't even close! But I knew that I had not achieved full coverage yet so I kept going. The first coats looked like violet... but I kept going and the third coat really darkened it and again with the fourth. Once I had full coverage I gave it one more coat so a total of five coats. Had to run back for another pint to get the 5th coat!

It's an interesting color, the PPG match picked up the pearl and I would say it does pop in the sun. Whats interesting is how much it can look like a different color based on the light. In a darker light condition it looks much more maroon while in the sun it looks more red. Is that the way the original color appeared? The bike on the XS11 home page looks like red to me and maybe that bike is not original paint??? Under bright fluorescent light, my paint looks more red also. So I hate the saying; but it is what it is at this point, at least until I get more feedback or comparisons. I really like the color itself I'm just not sure how close it matches.

I drove the bike out of the basement to get a picture and I get the sense that I missed with getting a good match. This picture is with an overcast sky. I also called Carquest and spoke to a different paint mixer who said the Omni line is very limited in it's ability to get a good match. Especially with metalics and pearls! So I may be re-painting this winter. What does the color look like to you? Anybody can chime in here since I don't have anything to compare to now. I may need to find an NOS side cover perhaps to get a match again. The extra covers I have been re-painted black so I can't use those.

[crazy steve]

Sent you a PM....

[bikerphil]

In that photo of the whole bike, the color looks more like the carmine red paint of the '79 special. Nice job, looks good.

[slow mo]

good job

hi merk! you did a wonderful job ,,i,m impressed as i am going to have my tank painted this winter ,i can only hope for similar results ,,ride safe ,,slow mo!

[petejw]

beautiful work on the paint,
the bike looks really good.

nice work.

[jfmerk]

Thanks!

petejw, slow mo, bikerphil
I appreciate the comments! I've got it to the point where I can finally ride it and enjoy it for another month, maybe two before the season is over for this year. What a fun ride it is! I have several things I will work on over the winter like: re-chroming the headers and perhaps the entire exhaust, re-chroming the grab handle for using the center stand, looking for NOS or replica badges and a few other odds and ends.

I will likely repaint it this winter too just to get better match to macho maroon. I love how the paint came out, but my goal has been to make it as close to factory as possible and it's not too big a deal to scuff the surface and give it two more coats to get the color right. I had a friend coach me with the paint job and he borrowed me his SATAjet HVLP spray gun. I'm no expert but I am told it's a very good gun and can say it did a very nice job for me.

[natemoen]

petejw, slow mo, bikerphil
I appreciate the comments! I've got it to the point where I can finally ride it and enjoy it for another month, maybe two before the season is over for this year. What a fun ride it is! I have several things I will work on over the winter like: re-chroming the headers and perhaps the entire exhaust, re-chroming the grab handle for using the center stand, looking for NOS or replica badges and a few other odds and ends.

I will likely repaint it this winter too just to get better match to macho maroon. I love how the paint came out, but my goal has been to make it as close to factory as possible and it's not too big a deal to scuff the surface and give it two more coats to get the color right. I had a friend coach me with the paint job and he borrowed me his SATAjet HVLP spray gun. I'm no expert but I am told it's a very good gun and can say it did a very nice job for me.

Well if your going to repaint it this winter you have quite a bit more time to practice up on your pin striping skills!!

[79XS11F]

No two places are the same....

The tank has two stripes outlining the sides; both stripes are .08" wide, separated by .1", about .2" in from the 'edge'.

The seat/cowling has two stripes also, but here the lower stripe is .125" wide. The upper stripe is .1", same separation between them, and located about .125" from the top of the seat rail.

The side covers have a single stripe, .125" wide and located about .230" in from the edge.

I'll also note that these are all 'decals'; the interesting part is the tank striping is under a clear-coat, while the rest isn't.

The pin stripping on the fuel tank is under clear coat because the fuel tank is the only part that is painted. The other parts have the color build in at the point of molding. So those strips must be on the surface. When you do the stripping you will most likely have to apply the strips one at a time. You will find that the double strip is very very difficult to wrap around the tight corners. The outside strip is OK but the inside one bunches up. If you over stretch the stuff to account for this effect the stripping will pop off as it returns to its original shape. Best bet is to per strip with 1/8 inch green painters tape as a guide. Follow that with the first strip. Then green tape the space and apply the second strip to that tapes edge. Then pull the green tape. This will give you smooth lines and very even spacing. Painters tape can be found in a few very narrow widths at paint supply shops.
Rob

[crazy steve]

The pin stripping on the fuel tank is under clear coat because the fuel tank is the only part that is painted. The other parts have the color build in at the point of molding....

ALL the parts on the '78-79 bikes are painted; the sidecovers and tail cone are off-white plastic, the seat trim is metal.

[79XS11F]

ALL the parts on the '78-79 bikes are painted; the sidecovers and tail cone are off-white plastic, the seat trim is metal.

If your plastic parts are painted then they have ether been repainted or Yamaha was sourcing their parts from different suppliers who were finishing them in different ways. The seat cowl and side covers on my bike are Grey plastic with the color ending right at the inside back edge of the parts. It is part of the plastic in the same fashion that gel coat is to fiberglass. The fuel tank, and yes, the steel seat rails are painted with pin stripping sealed under a clear coat on both the rails and fuel tank.
Rob