DIY or professional Paint

[labbatom90]

So i need to get some color for my bike and i dont want to spend a lot of money obviously. is it better to just paint it myself? or is taking it to a body shop to have it professionally done better. im not looking for anything fancy, really just a color or two to add some character.

i've been shopping around and i've gotten a range from $700 - $2000 from various shops. these are just email estimates so i knew it would be a big range, i havent brought it anywhere yet.

there are small cracks in the fairings. so what exactly is the fairing made of, is it fiberglass, plastic or what?

any feedback would be great,

Thanks

[Kreylyn]

So i need to get some color for my bike and i dont want to spend a lot of money obviously. is it better to just paint it myself? or is taking it to a body shop to have it professionally done better. im not looking for anything fancy, really just a color or two to add some character.

i've been shopping around and i've gotten a range from $700 - $2000 from various shops. these are just email estimates so i knew it would be a big range, i havent brought it anywhere yet.

there are small cracks in the fairings. so what exactly is the fairing made of, is it fiberglass, plastic or what?

any feedback would be great,

Thanks

ABS plastic. Check the paints section for lots of info on how to repair and paint them.

You can find places that will do it for as low as $500. Do it yourself for less... alot less. Rattle can (spray can) paint job can look good enough to get you by, and be less than $50 all told with repairs, sandpaper, paint, and odds and ends like tape if you wanted to get fancy and paint in designs.

But it's going to be work. Not a 30 min job for it to look right. It's the prep that makes the paint job look good mostly.

Krey

[JZ67]

I am sure there are tons of shops in Cinci that you can check out. If you buy the paint first you can save a few buck and if you do the prep work yourself that will add up to some savings to, then just pay a shop to hit it for you.

[Chris007911]

IF you want to invest the time then some spray paint looks GREAT.

Check out some related posts that I've posted in:

http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=92206&page=3

http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=77439&page=3

[labbatom90]

thanks guys,

still early, probably waiting till summer when i get home to actually get it done. so ill keep you updated.

[Chris007911]

[soulpatch]

Those are some high quotes. I spent like 1400 to get mine done BUT it also included a matching helmet paint job: http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=93431&page=2

[JTstyle]

If i didn't have a crack in the fairing from the previous owner I would be doing mine myself. I'm pretty good with a rattlecan but I'm not a body work person. Luckily the shop I'm having paint it mainly does crazy custom paintjobs so their only charging me $500.

[sharpie6]

No matter what you spend, when it comes to bike paint jobs, you definitely get what you pay for.

[labbatom90]

yeah, i think i have someone liked up,
im workin on photoshop to put something together that i like, and is relatively simple.
something that looks like this :
http://www.optimusprime.eu/Website%2...-tricolore.jpg
but with black instead of green, i might post some to see what people think haha, just to get an idea, i will pick what i want regardless, but its cool to hear opinions

[mezalaja]

If it were me, and time was not a factor, I'd take a shot at painting it myself. There's lots of great information out here on how to do so many things that it's usually just a matter of getting up enough courage to try it yourself.

I figure that as long as there is no chance for me to ruin the mechanical function of the motorcycle or my safety on the machine, I'm willing to try it myself.

i.e. I would never try to extend the swing arm myself because I have no welding experience (I'm pretty sure soldering doesn't count...) but I am willing to try making and painting my own solo cowl.

Besides,... what's the worst that could happen,...? You paint it yourself,... it looks like crap,... and then you take it to a professional painter. If you paint it and it looks great to you then you've saved a few $.

[labbatom90]

+1 on that.

yeah thats why im designing and getting the idea so maybe it wont be as bad as i originally thought. and the guy is a fried of a friend of my family. so ill hopefully be getting a deal