78 Z1-R Paint

Have decided to go with Honda (yeah I know!) Havasu Blue Metallic paint for my bike - pretty close match to the original Metallic Stardust Silver and is recommended in the Z1-R book as an alternative. One thing though, I dropped the parts off to my painter and when i gave him the paint code ( BG50M) for this colour he came back with "Is that BG50M-4 or BG50M-H or BG50M-B?" Also he said that that there are 2 shades with each of the -4, -H and -B paints. Anyone able to confirm which is the best match for the original Metallic Stardust Silver please?

I to am interested on what you find. Paintwork sells the original paint. His a member here or you can find him on eBay .

Thanks for the info - not sure if shipping paint to Oz may be possible. Perhaps Paintwork could confirm which of the Havasu Blue Metallic paint codes/variants is closest to OEM paint?

Bring a sample part, side cover, tank, etc, to a good automotive paint supply house and they should be able to match the paint. They use a computer to get the match close then do the final tinting by eye. I'd go this way over trying to match the paint to some OEM color from a different manufacturer.

I have no idea what the Havasu Blue looks like, but I doubt a modern car color has the same metallic in it that Kawasaki used in the 70's. The Z1R color match I did 10 years ago with the help of the PPG store was a long process, maybe it is a little better now. The computer just gives you what it thinks is the closest car color match. I sprayed it out and it was a little too green, then I take the spray out card back to the store and they guess at what to do to get a better match. After about 10 spray outs and adjustments, you have a mixing formula for a decent match. Silvers are always hard to match, just the way you spray it effects the color. Your paint store can adjust a non metallic by eye, but metallic colors have to be sprayed out to adjust. I only sell it in lacquer, but after the stripes are on you can do the final clear in catalyzed urethane.