Painting forks
 

Hi I wanted to have a go at painting my forks and wondered if any one has a guide of some sort or any guidance that might be useful. Now I've used the search function on the forum and looked at a few threads about cleaning forks up etc and some mention painting and what not, but it hasn't really given me a clear course of action if I were to do it myself. If anyone could help me out it would be appreciated :)

Re: Painting forks
 

Just take them off, clean them up, maybe rub them down with some Garrflex blocks (you can get them at M&P). Then spray them, yourself or someone paid to.

Re: Painting forks
 

I painted the ones on my K3 naked with Simoniz 5 Wheel Silver paint (available from any decent car parts emporium) and then lacquered them. Once it had hardened off I polished them down with MER car polish. Unless you had one with original paint sitting next to mine you'd never know the difference.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/...8c77cab8_b.jpg

For touching in the paint on the the silver subframe of that bike I used an aerosol can of Smoothrite silver, it was a perfect match for the original. I didn't paint the whole subframe, only where rust had appeared round the pillion footrest mounts.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/...ed99f83e_b.jpg

Re: Painting forks
 

...and a good job you did there Lozzo!

Re: Painting forks
 

Looks good that, might pick some of that up myself.

Chicken strips!

Re: Painting forks
 

Same principal as polishing up the forks, only when you get to the polishing stage start the painting stage.

If thats your black Pointy in your avatar then I say paint them black to match the rest of the chassis, never understood why Suzuki never did this as standard.

Lozzo seems to be the man to guide you through this...

Re: Painting forks
 

Yes it is Dave and I plan on painting them black. What paint would be best? Ive seen some people mention hammerite etc

Re: Painting forks
 

I would wait (or PM) for Lozzo on that one, there are a lot of experts on here but Lozzo has done it and posted the pictures, he has done a fantastic job.

Re: Painting forks
 

I may be corrected on this but cant see why some smooth hammerite wouldnt suffice! Of course as with all painting, the key is in the preparation!!

Re: Painting forks
 

Smooth Hammerite will work very well - as long as you use the correct primer! Hammerite doesn't stick very well to aluminium, you need to apply a coat of their "Special Metals Primer" first.

I've used smooth Hammerite on the subframe and luggage rack, and when properly applied you get a really smooth, shiny finish.