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Posted:  07 Feb 2007 23:49	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jan 2007	Posts:  12 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
Anyone have any experience painting the stock plastic bodywork? I need some tips. Whats the secret?

Posted:  08 Feb 2007 04:28	[?]
Administrator Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2006	Posts:  585 Reputation:  27 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
Maybe BPG can answer this question. I met a fellow Buell rider here in Indy that tried to paint the factory plastic three times. Each time the paint would bubble up. He took it to a professional body shop that painted motorcycles. They called House of Colors and even the paint they recommended bubbled. I have the ability to have the parts replicated in carbon fiber and fiberglass so that they could be easily painted. I need some feedback from members so I know if it's worth the effort. I could sell a complete, ready to paint fiberglass body kit for about $300. I will add these parts to the store if anyone out there responds to this and wants a body kit. Full development would take about 2-3 months.

Posted:  08 Feb 2007 05:34	[?]
Moderator Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2006	Posts:  1760 Reputation:  32 [?] User Rank: Four-Star General
I have a bike in the shop right now that has painted bodywork.  I will ask the customer who painted it and find out the proper procedure.  Ill do my best to hunt down the right info.

Posted:  09 Feb 2007 18:09	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jan 2007	Posts:  12 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
Cool, I look forward to hearing your answer. Reason I'm trying to figure it out is I ordered a full body kit from Hal's and would like to repaint everything the same color so it all matches. I snagged my bike for a great deal, but the color was not really what I wanted. Now I have an opportunity to change it.

Posted:  09 Feb 2007 20:34	[?]
Moderator Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2006	Posts:  1760 Reputation:  32 [?] User Rank: Four-Star General
Well Hals bodywork is a different type of material than stock buell stuff.  Hals is basically a fiberglass.

Posted:  10 Feb 2007 02:02   Last Edited By: TerribleTim	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jan 2007	Posts:  12 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
Yea, I know. Thats why I need to know a good way to repaint the plastic parts to match. Anyone had success getting paint to stick to the plastics? What type of paint? What procedure. I run a fiberglass racecar, I got that part handled, it's the plastics that I need help with.

Posted:  11 Feb 2007 06:25	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Feb 2007	Posts:  1 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
brand new in the forum here, I'm a custom painter/ airbrush artist and just got an XB12, painted it just like anything else that's plastic, you have to scuff and clean, then spray adhesion promoter then base coat then clear, adhesion promoter is key, if you don't use it the paint won't stick hope this helps....

Posted:  11 Feb 2007 19:21	[?]
Moderator Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2006	Posts:  1760 Reputation:  32 [?] User Rank: Four-Star General
Thats what I was thinking was a lot of adhesion promoter and not skimp on the prep.  The one that comes in the shop all the time has been painted since 04 and it still looks great.

Posted:  13 Feb 2007 20:32   Last Edited By: TerribleTim	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jan 2007	Posts:  12 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
Hmm, thanks for the tips. Will give it a go and see what happens. I have a friend who works in the paint dept. at Boeing, I think he has some stuff they use on plastic parts. Any reccomendations on prep? What grit sandpaper, or something else, etc.?

Posted:  12 Dec 2007 00:46	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2006	Posts:  4 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
when i painted my xb it was a hurry up job i took it apart prepped it using red scotchbrite pad and a sanding paste like scuff it.then used standox plastic primer in spray bomb(kinda pricey) jet black dupont base freehand truefire then ppg soft touch clear.let dry put back together in morning. looks great holds up fine no waxing just hose it off.i would normally use an epoxy primer such as ppg dp line, but i was in a hurry. also any clear would do i just wanted to see how this new clear would do i use it as a showcase for my customers. ps i dont baby my bikes either ride rain or shine rarely wash them it still does fine.

Posted:  12 Dec 2007 03:58	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Nov 2007	Posts:  70 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: First Lieutenant
I haven't used any of the soft touch yet how is it and does it holed up to fuel?

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