prepping for paint on previously painted parts

[fieldgrade]

I’m contemplating a small paint project on part of motorcycle fairing lowers that are made of either ABS or some sort of composite fiberglass that have been factory painted with primer (I expect), acrylic urethane, and clear cost. As an aside, this will be the lower half of the lowers that will catch a lot of road debris over time and get beat up with chips, and probably get repainted at a later point if I keep the bike.

The question is, do I need to take the factory finish down to the plastic/composite or just rough it up enough to hold paint? I’ll be painting with gloss black acrylic urethane. This is a somewhat inconspicuous location compared to the other painted parts on the bike, so I don’t want to overthink this (which is my usual way).

Thanks in advance.

 

[heavydoc]

Rough up the existing finish with scotch Brite red pads till it has a even dull look to it.

 

[Red Marley]

And I’d suggest a satin finish instead of gloss in that location

 

[Escape Goat]

I've had good luck with Dupli-color's Plastic Adhesion Promoter. It's specifically made for automotive plastics and there's no need to prep the surface beyond cleaning it.

 

[Jp8819]

I've had good luck with Dupli-color's Plastic Adhesion Promoter. It's specifically made for automotive plastics and there's no need to prep the surface beyond cleaning it.

This stuff works good on plastic items especially if you lightly scuff or ruff it up first like others mentioned.

Also If its on plastic and you think it may take minor impacts or flex some try using a paint with a flexagent in it or made for plastics as the paint well be less likely to crack and chipping. Usually pretty easy to touch up
as well.

 

[fieldgrade]

And I’d suggest a satin finish instead of gloss in that location

I know satin is a lot easier to lay down a nice looking coat, but there is a lot of gloss black on the bike, both on the “tins”, as well as everything else, engine, forks, fairings, frame, etc. I fear satin would just look “off”.

Look at the bottom of the lower fairings on this 2018 HD Ultra below. That’s the plan. Only difference is 99% of the chrome you see below is gloss black on my bike.

I’m going to start out with reef blue OE lowers (haven’t ordered yet) and paint the bottom half black, then pinstripe.

 

[svtf150]

So you're looking at roughing it up and paint. No primer? Then yeah it def needs a good scuffing.
If it were me I would apply clear over the paint to help hide those chips you mentioned.

But C'mon man let's overthink it!
My mind tells me the lines don't work. On the ultra, that line swoops up off the bag, straight onto sidecover, and straight forward onto the lower. Basically a straight line tying everything together.
The line on your sidecover turns upward to pick up the line on the tank. So, nowhere for the line on the lower to tie into. Nit-picky maybe. But that's just how my mind works when it comes to stuff like this. I think I would do all black lowers, on a black crash bar on a blacked out bike. You'll hardly notice them. No need for any blue down there.

 

[fieldgrade]

My mind tells me the lines don't work. On the ultra, that line swoops up off the bag, straight onto sidecover, and straight forward onto the lower. Basically a straight line tying everything together.
The line on your sidecover turns upward to pick up the line on the tank. So, nowhere for the line on the lower to tie into. Nit-picky maybe. But that's just how my mind works when it comes to stuff like this. I think I would do all black lowers, on a black crash bar on a blacked out bike. You'll hardly notice them. No need for any blue down there.

I have stood out in the garage staring at it trying to figure it out. I absolutely see exactly what you are seeing, and that’s why it’s a conundrum. I have tried to concoct all kinds of patterns, some that would be much easier than others to paint because there’s all manner of contours on the lowers to deal with, and then the pin-striping which I will do myself with 3M 5/32nds #69 light gray pinstripe.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Look at the next two pictures of the bike as it sits now, and tell me what you think.

Black lowers look fine against all the other black, right?



But then there’s this view.

 

[kcult]

This guy popped up on my suggested videos. Why? I don't know, but I've watched a few of his videos and I'm confident I could still screw something up.

 

[fieldgrade]

and I'm confident I could still screw something up.

#METOO

 

[heavydoc]

This guy popped up on my suggested videos. Why? I don't know, but I've watched a few of his videos and I'm confident I could still screw something up.

You got an old crappy 5 gallon bucket laying around to practice on? 🤣

 

[svtf150]

@fieldgrade
I like the all black from both viewpoints. I wish I could photoshop, but If you think it needs some blue, did you think about doing the forward part of the pod? meaning from the seam forward and upwards? that would leave a little strip of black on the side at the rear to tie into the black on the tank. Then also maybe the blue would kinda tie into the front fender a little....Hmmmm
But then you've got that big patch of black just above it on the fairing, the black fork just in front of it...Hmmmm....i dunno. I like the all black.

I forgot you bought those pods. Adding blue to what you have would be less than buying another set of pods wouldn't it? I think I'd try it at least.

You can try all sorts of ideas. I bet blue painters tape would be good enough to get the effect for this exercise. Seriously...

 

[fieldgrade]

@fieldgrade
I like the all black from both viewpoints. I wish I could photoshop, but If you think it needs some blue, did you think about doing the forward part of the pod? meaning from the seam forward and upwards? that would leave a little strip of black on the side at the rear to tie into the black on the tank. Then also maybe the blue would kinda tie into the front fender a little....Hmmmm
But then you've got that big patch of black just above it on the fairing, the black fork just in front of it...Hmmmm....i dunno. I like the all black.

I forgot you bought those pods. Adding blue to what you have would be less than buying another set of pods wouldn't it? I think I'd try it at least.

You can try all sorts of ideas. I bet blue painters tape would be good enough to get the effect for this exercise. Seriously...

Earlier today I photo-shopped exactly what you are talking about. Taking those pods off and painting them would be easy. I just don’t know if I can cut those tight curves with the pin-stripe tape. It might be the first thing I try.

The last thing I want to do is something that clearly looks like I tried and couldn’t. Plus, I’ll probably take the lowers off in summer.

 

[hp468]

Fine line tape turns very easily when laying it down.

 

[fieldgrade]

@svtf150 I appreciate you eyeballing it, and sharing your opinion. Another guy posted the same thing on an HD forum and somebody said “Why didn’t you get blue lowers instead of black?” But then it would be a big blob of blue, as you’ve figured out.

Everything I might try to do other than how it is now is sorta of a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. I’ll probably run those cheap lowers in winter, and take them off in summer anyway.

 

[fieldgrade]

Fine line tape turns very easily when laying it down.

I’ve pinstriped (vinyl) some of my cars years ago, but this is 5/32nds which is somewhat wide-ish to my thinking. I had it “custom" cut, minimum order 150 ft, so I’ll have a bunch to play with. Still under $30 shipped.

 

[svtf150]

I’ve pinstriped some of my cars years ago, but this is 5/32nds which is somewhat wide-ish to my thinking. I had it “custom" cut, minimum order 150 ft, so I’ll have a bunch to play with. Still under $30 shipped.

Well now that you've shared that you already purchased the pinstripe, it makes what I was gonna say next moot.
But i'll say it anyway. If they're just for temporary use then I'd run the heck out of all black. No paint, no pinstripe, no muss, no fuss. You can't see em when you're riding and I doubt that any passersby are gonna look your way and say "His lower pods don't match the rest of his bike. Booooo!!!"

Those dern conundrums....

 

[hp468]

I’ve pinstriped (vinyl) some of my cars years ago, but this is 5/32nds which is somewhat wide-ish to my thinking. I had it “custom" cut, minimum order 150 ft, so I’ll have a bunch to play with. Still under $30 shipped.

Just go to a paint supply store and pick up 3m fine line tape, auto parts store may have it as well. Pin stripe is far more fragile than fine line. Fine line is almost like thin electrical tape.

I’d scuff everything, tape/mask, spray your color, then clear everything. Don’t be surprised if your blue doesn’t match the bike 100% though. It should be passable though.

Vinyl wrap would be another option if you could get a close enough color.

 

[hp468]

Wait I misread thinking you were using pin stripe for masking 🤦🏼‍♂️

Harley pin stripes arn’t painted on anymore?

 

[fieldgrade]

Wait I misread thinking you were using pin stripe for masking 🤦🏼‍♂️

Harley pin stripes arn’t painted on anymore?

Yes they are, but this is a DIY project and I’m not capable. I found some matching vinyl for these lowers I’m willing to roll the dice on the short distance I need to stripe.

 

[Red Marley]

If they're just for temporary use then I'd run the heck out of all black. No paint, no pinstripe, no muss, no fuss. You can't see em when you're riding and I doubt that any passersby are gonna look your way and say "His lower pods don't match the rest of his bike. Booooo!!!"

I gotta say, this is what I would do. But then a lotta people wouldn’t do what I would do. I don’t question your ability but it’s really difficult to get that job perfect, and if it’s not perfect it will bug you every time you see it. You won’t be able to look at the bike without seeing it. Black is beautiful!

 

[Red Marley]

Now watch him do a perfect job just to show us who’s the boss

 

[fieldgrade]

Now watch him do a perfect job just to show us who’s the boss

There’s a lot of winter left, and I’ve done everything else to the bike.

These fairing lowers cost a whopping $100 and I might throw another $100 in a matching paint kit from ColorRite that includes color coat and clear coat. If it’s a giant fail, I have lots more in parts I installed and took off inside of four months than that so I won’t care.

What I can’t get my wallet wrapped around is spending $862 for the HD painted lowers and ruining them with a sloppy paint job, that I don’t even know will look right if I did it perfect.

 

[hp468]

$100 for the pair? Dang.

How’s the finish on them? Pinholes in the paint?

 

[fieldgrade]

$100 for the pair? Dang.

How’s the finish on them? Pinholes in the paint?

The paint is freaking perfect. They were packed as well or better than HD parts, and came in a very sturdy double wall box that is good or better than my neighbor's HD hard bags that arrived busted recently.

The glove boxes are cheap and you see the backside of the fairings, but heck, I paid this much for HD soft lowers to run on my last bike.

I don’t know how these chinesuem companies do it.

 

[svtf150]

There’s a lot of winter left, and I’ve done everything else to the bike.

These fairing lowers cost a whopping $100 and I might throw another $100 in a matching paint kit from ColorRite that includes color coat and clear coat. If it’s a giant fail, I have lots more in parts I installed and took off inside of four months than that so I won’t care.

What I can’t get my wallet wrapped around is spending $862 for the HD painted lowers and ruining them with a sloppy paint job, that I don’t even know will look right if I did it perfect.

Dont spend that money. You got this.

 

[hp468]

The paint is freaking perfect. They were packed as well or better than HD parts, and came in a very sturdy double wall box that is good or better than my neighbor's HD hard bags that arrived busted recently.

The glove boxes are cheap and you see the backside of the fairings, but heck, I paid this much for HD soft lowers to run on my last bike.

I don’t know how these chinesuem companies do it.

Interesting. I’ll have to look into them.

They are probably the exact same lowers that Harley sells knowing the MOCO. 🤣

 

[fieldgrade]

Interesting. I’ll have to look into them.

They are probably the exact same lowers that Harley sells knowing the MOCO. 🤣

At that price they only come in “Vivid Black” i.e. gloss black.
Advanblack sells them color matched for $445 shipped, plus tax.
HD $862. The HD’s will be nicer glove boxes and the inside of the lowers won’t be visible.

 

[fieldgrade]

Pinstripe arrived today. Color is close enough for horseshoes. They said they’d cut it as close to my requested 5/32nds wide as they could. It’s a 1/16th wider. Would it still work? Maybe. For $25 I don’t care if I don’t use it.

Did @svtf150 and @Red Marley talk me out of it? I think so. Hopefully. At least for this week.

I washed all the handprints and grime from cutting the instrument cluster for cables, installing handlebars, tour pak, tour pak light, wiring, and fairing lowers.

And now we ride.