Custom Paint Bikes

How To Paint Your Motorcycle

Getting Started

You will need several tools and other supplies before starting this project. Gather everything ahead of time, and make sure you don't need the bike for at least two weeks. Depending on the type of paint you use, it may take that long for the paint to completely harden. Paint hardening also depends on how you mix the hardener into the paint, the temperature and the amount of humidity in the air when you paint. If you use a paint booth, you can control some aspect of that, but the bike would need to be in the paint booth until it hardens. That is nearly impossible - chances are, the paint booth will need to be used for the owner's next project, and the average person doesn't have a paint booth in his backyard.

You will need to gather the following tools and supplies before you begin this DIY project.

• Set of sockets
• Set of wrenches
• Flat head screwdriver
• Pliers
• Drain pan
• Paint thinner or paint remover
• Scraper
• Shop rags
• Newspaper
• Rolling table or trash can
• Piece of plywood to cover rolling item
• Bondo-Glass
• Scratch filler
• Prep-Sol
• Primer
• Paint brushes
• Paint
• Paint hardener
• Any other requirement for the type and brand of paint you purchase
• Paint gun
• Fine sandpaper
• Ultra fine sandpaper
• Wet-dry sandpaper
• Mask
• Air tank
• Roll of plastic

Paint is fussy - very fussy. When you order the paint, let the salesperson know where you live and what the weather is going to be like when you paint. The chemicals you mix into the paint - mainly the hardener - may change based on temperature and humidity. If the temperature is too hot or cold for the mixture, the paint may orange peel, fisheye (small moon-type craters) or simply bubble off your bike.

Remove the seat from your motorcycle. Slide the drain pan or a gas can next to the bike - you will need it to remove the fuel. Remove the tank and fenders, using the appropriate tools. If a socket doesn't fit, try a wrench to access the bolts.

Be ready to block off the fuel line, if the tank contains the gas tank (some bikes have a metal or fiberglass "tank, " but it doesn't contain the gas tank). You can use your finger. Move the tank over the gas can or drain pan and allow the fuel to drain. Remove the gas cap to facilitate drainage.

Set up the painting location. Choose an area that is open. Even with the mask, the fumes from the paint, thinner and other chemicals can become overwhelming. If you do not have a paint booth, working in the garage with the door open is a good option. Just ensure that the floor is swept clean, so that any breeze doesn't blow the dust up onto the new paint job.

Cover anything that you do not want overspray to settle on, including the floor. Usually, the overspray dries before it hits the floor and just leaves a coating of power, but it could still stain the floor.

Cover the rolling stand with the piece of plywood. Cover the plywood with newspaper - unless you don't care that the plywood will be the same color as your bike. An industrial trash can on wheels is the perfect height for painting.

Part of learning how to paint a motorcycle is knowing that you should read all the instructions on the paint and chemicals first. The instructions for the brand of paint you purchase - whether one stage or two stage - will tell you how to mix the paint for the best coverage.

Paint the paint remover onto the tank and fenders. Allow it to set for a few minutes, then scrape it off with a scraper. If the paint is still thick, repeat the process. To get the small bits of paint off, soak a shop rag with the paint remover and rub the part until all the paint has been removed. Fill in any dents with Bondo-Glass (do not use regular Bondo - the pink stuff - it just pops out over time). If you have small scratches in the metal or fiberglass, fill the scratches in with scratch filler. Sand the areas smooth with fine grit sandpaper, then ultra fine grit sandpaper. Wet sand the entire piece.

Dry each piece thoroughly. Pour some Prep-Sol onto a very clean shop rag. Wipe one of the pieces down completely to remove all dust and fingerprints. Spray with a thick coat of primer. Repeat the process for the rest of the pieces. Allow the primer to dry - this usually takes about 20 minutes.

Wet sand the coat of primer until it is perfectly smooth. Allow it to dry overnight. Coat the pieces with another coat of primer. If you are using thin primer, you will need to repeat this process three times. If you are using scratch-filler primer, you should only need two coats. Wet sand the last coat until it is smooth as glass. Allow it to dry overnight after each round of wet sanding.

Turn on the air tank and let it build pressure.

Position one piece at a time on the makeshift table. Fill the paint gun with the proper mixture of paint and hardener. If the brand of paint calls for paint thinner, also add the proper amount of paint thinner. Put the mask on.

Attach the paint gun to the air hose. Hold the gun 12 to 14 inches away from the tank. Working from left to right, then right to left, spray the piece with the paint. Keep the gun the same distance from the part - a tank and fenders have curves in them, so be sure to follow the curves. If the gun is too far away from the part you are painting, the paint won't lay right. If it is too close, the paint will run. Either way, you'll have to remove the paint and start all over again.

Roll the table into a protected area if you are painting outside. Allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Paint with a second coat. If you are working with a two-stage paint, which means the paint needs clear coat, allow the paint to thoroughly dry. Check it for fisheye or orange peel. If everything looks good, mix the clear coat. Spray the clear coat on in the same manner you sprayed the paint on.

Once all the pieces have dried and you are happy with their appearance, reassemble the bike.

Before you paint a motorcycle, look at different types of paints for different effects.

For a deep look, use gold for the base coat, then tint the clear coat with candy-apple red or another color. Spray on one coat of base coat. Spray on several coats of the tinted clear coat. The more coats you put on, the deeper the paint looks - it will look like you can swim in it if you put 10 to 15 coats on. You use very little color in the clear coat - you should barely be able to see it in the paint.