How-To: Paint your Buell at home

[bonesXB9S]

What you need: at least 600 grit sand paper, a bucket of water, paint and primer.

First, take off the plastics and wet sand them with at least 600 grit sand paper. This will scuff up the paint and allow the primer to stick. When your done sanding the plastics should look like this

Next, Tape of the chin fairing. Unless you want to paint the grey part too, then skip this step.

Next, Prime the plastics. I have a shelf in my garage, so I put a few nails in it and bent some hangers so I could hang the plastics, in order to paint them evenly.

Now, after you've let the primer dry for approximately 20 minutes, paint the plastics. Again I kept the plastics hanging so I could get good coverage. I used Rust Oleum matte black paint. I suggest getting good paint, not the 97 cent stuff. It will last longer and cover better.

Alright, must rattle can paints will be dry to the touch in around 20 or 30 minutes, but wont be completely dry for around 24 hours. I would let them fully dry before putting the plastics back on, other wise marks will show up in the paint from your hands. Now, put it back together.

 

[03Firebolt9R]

Better pics of the finished product would be nice to see. Can you get some close ups?

 

[dave_xb12r]

Nice write up and good job!

I have a few comments.

The center chin fairing can be separated by drilling out the rivets. That makes painting much easier.

RustOleum is generally a metal paint. They do make a paint specifically for plastics. Plastic paint is recommended when painting plastics.

Use 2 coats of primer, very lightly sanding or scuffing between each coat, then use at least 3 coats of paint. Again, sand or scuff between each coat.

here is a link to instructions I wrote a long time ago.

 

[buellet proof]

Looks good

 

[toddb3]

Going along with what Dave said it is important to choose paint made for plastics. I've rattle canned 2 bikes and on the second I bought my paint from Paintscratch.com. Its a little expensive for spray paint but you can pick exactly what color you want and specify paint for plastic. I did my last bike in Ferrari red and followed up with 3 coats of clear and wet sanded,buffed,waxed the clear to get a mirror shine.

 

[07Bolt]

heres my airbox; exactly how bones did his,,,

 

[Khmerican]

Nice job!

 

[Sidewinder]

Hammered finish? That looks kinda cool.

 

[bonesXB9S]

I used the Rust Oleum specifically for plastic. They sell it at Home Depot. I didn't have a way to get the rivets back in, which is why I taped of the chin. I will get some close ups soon. Right now Tropical Storm IDA is still blowing through, so the weather is crapy and the garage is full, so I'll take some pics when the storm passes and I can get some room. haha