TOPIC:

Just went thru the archives....there was a thread about this in there from awhile back. Was just wondering if anybody evercame up with a modern day color code/paint brand/etc. for that killer color???

Anyone who owns one of those bikes, if they would send me a piece from it, I could get a code for you. It's not that complicated to match paints.(well, for me it isn't)

Do you have a picture of the bike color? Maybe I can match it up with something by eye. I have painted so much crap, I am pretty well equipped to examine colors.

There's a picture in this thread....
kzrider.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=28953
Thanks

Here's another pic of my '78 in original color, Metallic Sardust Silver, same as the '78 Z1R. It looked more like a very light Blue to me than Silver.
.

I'd take a hard look at 2003 Mitsubishi Steel Blue pearl as found on an Eclipse.

That one photo almost shows an irradescent quality to the paint. I could reccomend a lot of colors that fit that vague description, but it that is pearl I am seeing in the top edge of the tank, you couldn't do it in single or 2 stage. it would almost have to be 3 stage, to get that effect. I can see how it appears blue, but at the same time, if I am seeing the correct shimmer, I'd say it's a silver basecoat, with a pearled clear ontop. That's how I would imagine kawasaki painted it. blue pearl in large quantity, but with regular pearl also, to give it the other colors. If anyone has a piece they are willing to send, I am sure I could get an exact formulation. If you want something played by "ear," I'd say 1 oz of blue and 1/2 oz of pearl per quart of clearcoat, sprayed over a silver metallic basecoat, and then finished with a couple coats of non-pearled clearcoat to seal it in.

close-ups, or an actual piece would make it easier to get an exact match. I can fool around with it the next time I get a chance, but without something to compare it to, it's a bit of a waste.

Gotta say that the pic Rob posted looks more bluish than what I remember the Z1R to be... I think it is the fact that the picture is a bit light maybe... I recall it to have sort of a grayish type blue to it.

Here's another pic, a little darker.
.

I have been searching for this colour match to re-do my KZ650C2. This site may be of help:

www.behanclassics.com/id9.html

He lists "2004 Acura MDX Havasu Blue" as an extremely close match, so I surfed onto

www.acuramdx.org

and looked around their gallery. I'd have to say it's not a bad colour. BG50M is the code apparently.

I may just go for that and hope nobody notices!

here's mine, same color as rob's (rstnick) .

Hey Gang. I just picked up another set of bodywork for my '77 650 Custom to swap when the mood hits me. I want to have the option of the stock '77 paint to have on my 810/650 sleeper. Did the '77 650 Custom have the exact same color as the '78 650 and '78 Z1R? I seem to remember the '78 silver had a bit more of a bluish tinge to it than the '77650 had.
Anyone's memory still holding up after 30 years of beer?
Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada

Here is a pic of the '78 650 Custom from a 650 website. From my eye the bike looks pretty dang close to bone stock the way it came from the factory. Sweet lookin' ride with that metallic stardust silver.
Here is the site.
jarle.eltelevest.no/Kawasaki/Series/Z/650/z650.htm

Cheers-Colin Firth Ontario Canada

Post edited by: reborn650, at: 2006/02/04 13:09