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Well, one of my cardinal rules of painting was obviously broken by the PO who repainted my bike. Today when I sanded the tank to scuff it for a gloss black top coat, over the clear...it happened. Right through to the metal on the top contour line! There couldn't have been any extra paint there, judging by how little pressure I was using. Not only that, I see no indication of a primer coat! I feathered it out, thinking I would just fix it, and it never revealed anything but the black and the clear above it. So...here I sit waiting for chemical stripper to remove the old paint, and I'm starting over. That way i know for sure what's on there. I was a little suspicious this spring, when I got a stone chip, and it went straight to metal. This bike was originally red, so I expected a few layers, like what I found on the side panels. Oh well, it's cold, but dry, and within the temperature window to paint, so Here I go again. Wish me luck!

Bummer, Ron.

But lets be honest here..... deep down inside, you really wanted to strip and paint that thing your way all along, didn't you..... Just so you know it was done the way you want it.

I thought so....

Busted. I think we have alot in common this way. It has been gnawing at me eversince I saw it all black.

I even re-read the back of the paint, hardener, and reducer from a different gloss black project...if the temp goes back up for one day, it's acrylic urethane all the way, baby! If not, I'll Kryon it and urethane it later...no problem there. I just want this beast on the road, once and for all...My seatfoam came in, BTW! Pretty stoked about that.

Whoo-Hoo... new stuff for the bike. Better 'n Christmas....

The taillight is molded into the cowling now...coming along pretty well. I'm not too happy with my enamel spraying, though. never was...figured this would be a good chance to practice it. Now i remember why i never got into it...too much waiting time before you can sand it. Takes days to paint something and have it look professional, especially if you need a recoat for any reason. In the meantime, it dries fast, but isn't cured, so you can dent it with a fingernail...wah,wah,wah. Also, one of the side covers lifted in two spots..after taking the enamel just fine. I sanded it out today and recoated, it was the recoat that lifted. I'm a little confused about these side covers, and how the paint is behaving on them. The next step is going to be sanding all the way to plastic, I guess. Doesn't seem to be much choice.

I'll post a pic of the tailpiece here later...It's really looking good, almost ready for primer/surfacer. Did the fine trimming of the taillight cutout, the undertail finishing, and most of it is sanded with 100 grit. After I get the front the way I want it to integrate with the cushion, I'll start the priming/painting process. Pic in a little while.

Here's the first stage of primer/surfacing before paint. All the polyester filler has been sanded with 100 grit to a wood-like texture. This give the primer lots of bite. There are 5 coats of sandable primer on this, most of which will be removed...scratches and slight depressions, pinholes etc that are too deep to sand out with be filled with glazing puttty, after block sanding all this with sponge-backed papers of different grits. Looks like a B2 bomber nose.



Especially from this angle...

Man Ron, I'm tellin ya, free room and board in Italy if you wanna help me makeover my BMW hehe

It also looks kinds like an old WW1 german officers helmet.... gonna put maltese cross mirrors and lights on it too?

J/K, it is looking good. But I like the look of the first tail you built better.... for now. I reserve judgment untill they are both finished.

That offer sounds pretty good every time I hear it! Unfortunately, the better half won't comply. I wish the skills we have were actually teachable over the net...then you could teach me to wrench, and I could teach you to paint. I get bummed when I think of what probably happens when I give tips on painting and somebody tries it for the first time. Lots of the mechanical details are printable, but there's a feel for some of these things that only experience can teach. That's why an"internship" in Naples would be so cool. oh well..dreamin'.