opinions on original paint

Getting restoration going on my black 80 model A4.
Trying to decide on the gold pinstripe or not.
It's not completely original. Superbike bars and Kerker header main difference.

I like the look of the pinstripe, but also think it would look good plain black.

Thoughts?

hard to beat the classic lines of the pinstripe.

coming from someone who recently repainted his black z1r and has not replaced the stripes yet :pinch: .

leon

Replacing the stripes as factory is mandatory. Having a repaint with no stripes is just so "not right" looking on a KZ. Look though the gallerys and see for yourself. There are a lot that just repaint and the very few that do it right.

RonKZ650 wrote: Replacing the stripes as factory is mandatory. Having a repaint with no stripes is just so "not right" looking on a KZ. Look though the gallerys and see for yourself. There are a lot that just repaint and the very few that do it right.

I second Ron and Leon...the gold accents 'make' the bike...like icing on a cake.

I love a total restore or original bike. In most cases it's just not feasible. Either not deep enough pockets or the stuff is just not available. Above all else I believe you bought it, you own it and you get to tickle your self silly adding and subtracting things to your masterpiece. Will others have different opinions of your work? Damn tootin' they will! And you will get a lot of pats on the back and kicks in the nuts over what you have done. So what. Dish out some claps and smacks yourself. They are free. Never forget you are the one planting your butt on that cracked weatherworn seat and firing up that ticking, rapping, smoking, loud, obnoxious, can't get a magnet to stick anywhere on the thing eyesore. But to you ? To you it is your midnight stallion, your Pegasus, your beautiful space trucking super bike. I get to see a 1976 KZ900 LTD that was painted by a paint brush at least 5 times and pinstripe taped by an unsteady hand all 5 times by the original owner over 35 years. I gotta tell you that he loves his bike as much now as when he went to pick it up 35 years ago. Sure it makes YOUR stomach turn just looking at it but it runs like a swiss watch. He is done riding. But he still can't sell it. He's had a lot of good offers by me and a lot of people. Maybe next year. I'll keep checking.

Take a few good pics of your bike. Use photoshop and explore your options. You will find what you want. But if you want total restore or 100%original you have answered your own question already. If you want put up a couple of pictures and ask and I will attempt to show you how it would look. Got to be good pictures for good results tho.

Get the stripes made up in cut vinyl, then you can decide without having to ruin your paint.

Like Ron & Leon, feel that the gold pinstripe is the icing on the cake... 3M offers a pinstripe tape labled as 3M Scotchcal (TM) in 25 & 50 ft rolls which is avail in Gold (love it) red, blue & silver. & possibly variations..... it's 2 stripes ( a major @ 2mm & a minor @ 1mm ) side by side with a common peel off base, and a clear (peel-off) top strip... The last time I purchaced the 50' roll was @ 23 bucks. This allows you to "mess up" or toy with whatever suits your' fancy, repeatedly.. just do your playing on "cured" paint.. I settled on a pretty close copy of stock. You might give it a try... After I've decided, I clear coat over stripes to keep "em intact" & from crawling.. Like most endevours it requires some practice to achieve 1, consistancy, & 2 smooth lines in tight radius bends. I've used "activated" Polyeurathane clears over a variety of bases, & (knock wood) have yet to have em fight. If you try, play w/ samples 1st, you never know, "paint"s pricy, & prep work sucks. luck g

Click

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> Black & Gold The Build

The pin stripes help define the lines. They give the eye some focal information. They add shinizzel. Of course black and gold don't hurt. Details make many statements about the bike and the owner. IMHO

is that your bike gane?
wowzers :woohoo: !

that thing is perfect,i really like this bike.





leon

Thank-you Leon, Yes, this is a pic before the Ohlines & GS swingarm. asside from your' spacers & the boring of cyls it's all my work. nothing special, but everything works well & gives me a lot of pleasure. G

gane,it makes me very happy to have a small part in helping you get that bike the way that you want it.
i would like to see a pic with the shocks and swinger on it.
very well done,you should be proud.

leon