First Full Bike...Mne

[Vettra]

Hey guys,
I am about to paint my first full bike- mine. You can't call yourself a custom painter if your bike is all black. Since this will be something that will showcase my skills I want to do it right. I may have a few questions along the way so I really apreciate you input now more than ever:

I will be painting my inner fairing:
1. Do I need any special prep with this as opposed to any other peice- adhesion promoter, Special primer, flex agent?
2. Does anyone have an image of a 2-tone inner fairing. I see in my head what I want , was just wondering if anyone else has done one.

THX,
C

 

[TAZ]

I've never done a 2-tone inner fairing. I have put some minor graphics on it though.
Assuming you are using the stock inner fairing, it should already be painted...possibly in a matte finish. If this is the case, you can treat it like any other painted part. Same with the bags and lids.

Black is the easiest color to "spray", but the hardest to wetsand and buff so it has a perfect finish.

 

[Vettra]

Thanks Taz- The colors I have chosen for the bike are black with candy tangerine over silver metallic. I haven't determined whick color I want on top so I am doing some workups.
Q: With all the contours on the inner fairing do you still wet sand and buff ot just try to shoot the clear as smooth as possible and let it be. At This point I may shoot thew IF the tangerine/metallic.

C

 

[Vettra]

One common issue with some Harleys is the clear coat coming of the lower forks. Once they are polish with Flitz or Never Dull, can they just be clear coated?

 

[TAZ]

No problem ...We normally just 'spot' buff the inner fairing. So yes, slick out the clear as good as you can.

Candy tangerine and black are a very nice combo!!!

As far as the forks (and other alum/stainless parts), yes, you can clearcoat these. Must be perfect along with clean before clearing.

 

[Maylar]

I've yet to find a clear that does polished aluminum justice and lasts any length of time. Highly polished metal doesn't stick to paint. and anything you use for adhesion promoter dulls the shine. On my bike I've just resigned to polishing it once in a while.