powdercoating frame

G'day, as I plan my winter project it is looking more and more likely that I am going to sandblast and paint/powdercoat my frame. Would a quality paint be too soft to properly protect my frame and look good? What colours other than black look good and not too flashy...I don't want a bright red or anything, would silver look weird?

i prefer paint myself :laugh:

hey, that looks good! Maybe I could consider a blue or red...interesting

i shot my drag bike with a hammered silver or grey finish it really look's good. also my street ride was powdercoated bright red and it has held awesome for over 12 years would recommend it highly ona street bike the only problem that i can see with powder is is very tough to remove if you want to change colors one day.also you have to be more carefull with frame prep (removing all bearins and covering all threaded holes or running taps thru after you get it back also engine mount holes have to be cleaned out after as well.

I may just paint it, I like painting and I could do it myself instead of someone else having all the fun. I figure if I am taking the motor out I may as well remove everything else and restore the old girl...it's weird but bikes seem to turn men into little schoolgirls, I just want to make her happy and impress her so I spend all my time and money on her! my girlfriend only wishes I would buy her a new woredrobe!

I'd carefully mask off the places for the ground or Earth cable from the battery to the frame. Powder coated parts are usually non conductive so keep this in mind if an electrical problem come up after re-assembly.

I have a powder-coated frame that I will need to do some work on but it will mess that up. Powdercoat lasts a long time and really looks great but once done, you can't change it without a big hassle. I paint mine now just for that reason as I know me and I know sooner or later, I'm going to want to change color, weld on a tab or something. If you don't plan on changing anything...like on a restore and leave...then powder-coating makes sense. If you are not changing anything on the bike, think about the durability of powder-coating but otherwise...paint may be the answer. On any project where you are changing anything...side-cover mounting tabs, swingarm change, etc. I suggest before you paint or powder-coat, finalize fitment and actually put bike together to be sure everything fits and works the way you want, take it apart and then paint or powder-coat. That way you won't need to mess up all your hard work by messing up your paint job or powder-coating by having to add a bracket, etc. you didn't think of earlier.

When i re-did my z1 last winter, i painted the frame with a duplicolor aluminum. It's holding up really well.

That looks great - are you talking Rattle-Can Duplicolor aluminum ?
I did a BMW R 75/5 frame in 1975 with Rattle Can Silver and a friend of mine is still riding it.
oldkaws4ever wrote:

When i re-did my z1 last winter, i painted the frame with a duplicolor aluminum. It's holding up really well.

Dark silver grows on you. At first maybe you wouldn't like it but then after awhile it really grows on you.
Personally I would do black as it seems the logical choice if you decide to paint your bike different colors. But any color is good that you like after all it is your ride to personalize.
You have to look through the posts. I heard some of the members who painted with gun cote and say that the results are very close to the durability of powder-coating only it's easier to remove if you want to change color or to add stuff later.

i just did one with rustolium hammered finish, 1 part silver 3 parts black and find it chips kind of easy
when i did the engine i used eastwoods engine enamel
and should have used that on the frame too, nice paint, live and learn i guess

They make a chassie black thats made for frames . It's used on off frame restos. If you are even interested in black. 15.00 a can they make a black epoxy primer for bare metal.Made by eastwood.. It come in satin black too..