My Fourth Winter Mod: Complete

First of all, thank you CitizenOfDreams for your quick photoshop reply in my other thread. That convinced me to go ahead with this little project.

I put five coats of black paint on the lower fairing.

I've done quite a bit of rattle can painting between bikes, atv's, motorycycles, helmets, etc. I think current paint is pretty durable and will work well in this application.

The "color" is very similar to the metal flake finish of the Wing decal on the tank. By using a technique of "shower spraying" the final coat, I ended up with a slightly matte finish as opposed to the glossier finish that is possible. I thought for this section of the bike, a matte finish would look good, especially since I originally planned to use flat black until I saw this metal flake paint. Over time, I'm sure road debris, etc will put some scratches in it, but I already had several on the stock paint from that anyway.

I masked the line just under the word "racing". I then put a white kitchen trash bag over the top of the fairing and taped it's edge to the original masking tape. I sealed up the edges and lightly sanded the area to be painted. After sanding, I rinsed and dried the lower fairing and painted away.

After I was done painting and started unmasking it, and even before I reassembled the bike, I already knew I was going to like it.

I also installed Lobsters Mirror extendors. You can see them in the frontal shot. Great product; fast delivery.

How do you like it?

BEFORE:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1046-1.jpg

AFTER:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1057.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1058.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1059.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1060.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1061.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1062.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1063.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1066.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1067.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Honda%20VFR/DSCN1065.jpg

Looks pretty good. I wonder how it will hold up?

The bike looks sharp! I really also like your decals

Can you please tell me what you do to prepare the surface for paint? I just picked up a 93 in Pearl White with some minor cosmetic blemishes and I hope to restore the bike to mint condition eventually. This would involve re-painting alot of the bike and I hope to be able to do some of the work myself. I figure the majority of the work will be sanding and priming but I'm not sure what grit sandpaper and filler material to use.

Regards,
Rollin

Your just all about the black paint these days. :biggrin:


Looks nice.

Damn it, Alien........I can't keep up!! Are you on a mod-a-day schedule??

I painted the lower cowl of my ninjette with rattle can too but i put a coat of clear over the top and its held up great.Its had 3k miles on it since but the roads here in KS have alot of crap on them and i have to ride on a couple blocks of dirt to get to work as well. :dry: I think a couple coats of clear would make it shinier though cant really tell from pics so it might match better or not thats up to you.
You painted this stuff away from the bike i hope.Overspray can be a real PITA to get off. :happy:

[image: View Post]RollinAgain, on Jan 3 2009, 07:11 AM, said:

The bike looks sharp! I really also like your decals

Can you please tell me what you do to prepare the surface for paint? I just picked up a 93 in Pearl White with some minor cosmetic blemishes and I hope to restore the bike to mint condition eventually. This would involve re-painting alot of the bike and I hope to be able to do some of the work myself. I figure the majority of the work will be sanding and priming but I'm not sure what grit sandpaper and filler material to use.

Regards,
Rollin

I use 320 grit sandpaper to remove some paint and debris. You don't have to remove all the paint, you just need to scour the surface a bit. Then wash the parts with warm soap and water and let dry. Then get paintin'. You only need to use primer if you're painting over metal surfaces.

[image: View Post]VFR02abs, on Jan 3 2009, 10:37 AM, said:

You painted this stuff away from the bike i hope.Overspray can be a real PITA to get off. :happy:

Yes, of course. I removed the fairings, brought them to my basement and got to work.

I still say you should do the frame and forks...

But that's pretty sweet.

[image: View Post]magicman, on Jan 3 2009, 04:25 PM, said:

I still say you should do the frame and forks...

But that's pretty sweet.

All in due time my friend...