Motorcycle owners tend to like personalizing their motorcycles. It can be as simple as adding a few decals or as extensive as converting a machine to a bobber, for example. One area that owners like to show their individual preference is with the color scheme.

First and foremost, an owner/rider must realize that changing the color of a classic motorcycle will almost certainly devalue it. But not all owners are looking to make a profit when they sell their bike, or even to maintain its market value.

If having a very individual looking bike is a priority, changing the color is one way to achieve it, but repainting an entire bike is very time consuming and can be expensive. Painting may seem like a good idea but it can soon turn into a major project, so this is something the owner must consider carefully before commencing.

Repainting a motorcycle is done in stages. Each stage must be planned to achieve the desired finished project.

A typical sequence for repainting a motorcycle is:

Thoroughly clean the bike

Photograph the bike in great detail from every angle

Remove all panels and fuel tank (see note below)

Fully disassemble the bike (only required if the frame and forks are to be painted too)

Remove badges stickers and emblems as required

Thoroughly clean and degrease all parts to be painted

Sand areas to be painted

Prepare work area for painting

Apply base coat (primer)

Lightly sand

Apply finish (top coat)

Polish with fine compound

Apply clear coat (lacquer)

Although the above list is self-explanatory, it is worth considering some of the points.

For example, the requirement for cleanliness is paramount with any painting job. Removing grease is particularly important–the painter should also wear latex gloves to eliminate grease transfer from his or her hands.

Photography

Photographing the bike is a must. If the owner is not a professional mechanic, or very experienced in mechanical work, disassembling and reassembling a motorcycle are quite complex tasks; in addition, safety is an issue during this process. Photographs will help considerably in positioning the various parts and locating items such as spacers and washers (photographing all the associated hardware will help with this).

Most motorcycles have badges, emblems or stickers applied somewhere on them. Unfortunately, many of these items are applied to the painted surface before the clear coat is applied (this is a typical situation with Japanese bikes). Before attempting to remove stickers that are covered in a clear coat, the owner must check the availability of replacements—assuming he intends to replace them. If the sticker is no longer available, the owner must cover the original to protect it during the sanding, priming, and painting stages (only revealing the sticker during the clear coat phase). Aluminum tape is ideal for masking stickers.

Sanding

Sanding of the various parts should be done with relatively smooth wet/dry paper (400 grit), depending on the condition of the component. If, for example, the fuel tank has a small dent, it should be repaired with filler then sanded to blend the repair into the surrounding area. (Note: It is important to use primer under the filler on metal tanks to protect the bare metal.)

The area where the painting/spraying will take place must be:

Clean (no dust)

Dry

Well ventilated (for safety)

Temperature controlled (check with the paint manufacturers for recommendations)

Holding Parts

Having the paint area well prepared is very important. One aspect that is often over looked by painters is how the various parts will be held during the painting process. Painters will find that making various wooden supports before starting the process will pay dividends as the project progresses.

Further reading:

Custom Helmet Painting

Restoration Photography

Reassembling a Classic Motorcycle