Motorcycle paint progress report

Like any good project the Suzuki's repaint is taking longer than one might wish. It is progressing nicely and there's no magic to getting a good result, so it is taking a little time. I'm just painting the gas tank and the tail section to match the front fender and side covers that were already painted a metallic, gun-metal dark gray that turned out to be a Truck & SUV color.

So far, the tail section has been sanded and primed. I used sandpaper to remove the pinstripe decal on this portion and that took quite a long time to get through the clearcoat and then to remove the pinstripes. For the gas tank I used a miniature wood plane to remove the decals and it was much quicker than sanding all of the decals. I did have to sand everything to remove the edges on the clearcoat and some edges on the bottom required quite a bit of sanding to remove some loose clearcoat that would flake off when I hit it with the air gun. I did get the underside of the gas tank primed last night before I quit. Hopefully this weekend I'll get the topcoat grey color sprayed.

I'm still working on how I will add some white scallops to the sides of the gas tank, front fender and tail section. I did find something very interesting that I believe I am going to add to whatever white trim I use. Its called Dupli-Color Nite Lites and it supposedly lights up like traffic signs and road name signs when hit with headlights. This seems like a pretty good idea for a dark motorcycle if I want to keep from being run over or into by less attentive car drivers.

Anyway, the project is still under $50 including the sandpaper I've purchased just for this job. Buying the Nite Lites reflective paint will drive the price over the $50 mark, but not by much.

Buddy Loc wants me to go for a ride next Saturday to Jackson, Wyoming! If I'm going with him, I've got lots to do in a week's time, not the least which would be putting a few local miles on the bike to ensure its up to extended rides. I may have to miss Jackson this time...