Anyone painted their curvey a flat (non-gloss) plain color?

Hey all. I'm getting tired of looking at my cracked right upper fairing, and various swirls and scratches in the paint everywhere else... However, I'm way too frugal (fine... I'm cheap!) to pay for a proper paint job, and don't feel up for the sanding required to do proper prep-work for a high-gloss job.

Anyone out there redone their SV with a flat, non-gloss paint? Got pictures? Recommendations? Regrets??

Cheers!
-Troy

*Edit: It's a faded red 2001 650s currently.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Troy

Hey all. I'm getting tired of looking at my cracked right upper fairing, and various swirls and scratches in the paint everywhere else... However, I'm way too frugal (fine... I'm cheap!) to pay for a proper paint job, and don't feel up for the sanding required to do proper prep-work for a high-gloss job.

Anyone out there redone their SV with a flat, non-gloss paint? Got pictures? Recommendations? Regrets??

Cheers!
-Troy

*Edit: It's a faded red 2001 650s currently.

Ask Yorkie Chris...his bikes painted with matt black, on a stick!!

[jambo]

Jester666 has done this:
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=112023

I'm sure he'd be the first to admit it's not got the appearance of a pro job, but it does mean everything matches. Hopefully he'll be along with pearls of wisdom!

Either way from what little spray work I've done, it appears the prep is crucial for a good finish.

Originally Posted by jambo

Jester666 has done this:
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=112023
...
Either way from what little spray work I've done, it appears the prep is crucial for a good finish.

Yeah, same here... Haven't painted a whole vehicle myself before, but have helped, and have painted smaller bits and pieces. The prep work was always about 90% of the work!!!

I think that flat black looks pretty good, in tough/hard/bad-ass kind of way. Any more? My search skills are sucking today.

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah mine was done with a bit of filler and a couple of rattle cans of satin black. Just used some fine wet and dry to roughen it up, filled the big dent in the tank and sprayed it.

The finish is pretty weak, but it looks better than shiny.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Yeah mine was done with a lot of filler and a couple of rattle cans of satin black. Just used some fine wet and dry to roughen it up, filled the mahoooosive dent in the tank and sprayed it.

The finish is pretty weak, but it looks better than shiny.

edited for you

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

edited for you

I get the nagging suspicion that yorkie_chris' dent was slightly larger than he lets on...

Preparation is the key.

And a word of warning. If your not going to coat the paint in lacquer, you are going to have to be extra specially careful when filling up with petrol. The petrol will lift that paint in an instant. If you are going to put lacquer on, wait a couple of days to allow the paint to properly dry. Otherwise you risk a reaction and you'll end up with a crackled worn leather look.

I ruined a perfect paint job on the Dullsville by not waiting long enough between last coat of paint and the lacquer.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Troy

I get the nagging suspicion that yorkie_chris' dent was slightly larger than he lets on...

I got a picture of it somewhere

[northwind]

Mine's not very shiny... It's supposed to be, but I can't be bothered to keep it bright, and the laquer I used fades. Does that count?