Tri-coat questions

I'm using Spray Max rattle cans for painting the tank and fender on my KZ650. The instructions indicate that it's a tri-coat system, which I'm fine with. The problem is that I don't know what the first coat color is supposed to be. I've read on here that black and/or white is used, but not sure for the blue on my 1981 CSR. I got a kit from 66autocolor that's two cans, one says 1/2 and the other 2/2. I sprayed the first can directly on the beige primer not realizing that it's semi-transparent paint. When I stripped the tank, I didn't notice any particular color under the blue, so I'm at a loss as to what color the very first layer is supposed to have. I'm going to ask 66autocolor about this, but thought I could get some help here as well. I would think that a base coat of black would make the whole thing really dark. I guess I could go rogue and just go ahead and spray it on the beige epoxy primer since I already put a first color coat on the fender that way. This isn't a restoration so I don't need to be historically accurate. Any help is appreciated. 

Ideally you should have a coat of grey finish primer (don't lay the colour straight onto the "high build" filler coat) then you could try a couple of small test pieces one with white and one with black then decide which you prefer

Wookie58 wrote:

Ideally you should have a coat of grey finish primer (don't lay the colour straight onto the "high build" filler coat) then you could try a couple of small test pieces one with white and one with black then decide which you prefer

Ok, thanks. I've already started using beige epoxy primer. I found out that the color I'm using hides the color of the primer anyway, so it doesn't really matter. I did repaint the gas tank with epoxy, so it's all beige now also. I contacted the retailer for more details so I hope I have this handled. My only other question now is whether pin striping goes on top of, or under, the clear coat. I have to look that up. 

Under, just check with your decal supplier they can be clear coated over

Wookie58 wrote:

Under, just check with your decal supplier they can be clear coated over

Thanks but I'm painting the stripes myself using the Beuglar tool and House of Color urethane striping paint. I found the instructions online. So, no decals for me, anyway. I've already gone to the dark side on this bike... 

The Beugler is a handy tool but be advised - plan on a good bit of practice if you haven't used it before.  Just like brush striping, you'll have to develop a feel for getting uniform lines.