Painting my Honda ST1300 (Please Help)

[Matt Smith]

Hi all,

There is such a slough of conflicting information about Painting plastic online, so I wanted to talk with those of you who have panted exactly the same bike I have.

I'm going to do this myself, and it needs to be relatively cheap. I have painted a motorcycle before, and it came out great, but that was metal. I understand the need for prep and flash times etc. One of the biggest conflicts I am finding is weather or not I should use primer. Most of the conflict I find around using primer seems to stem from the fact that its recommended to use bulldog adhesion promoter after sanding. Then I see people just jumping to paint.

Here is the basic outline for my plan (Please tell me if you did something different, and how your paint looked years later)
1. Clean with simple green. Followed by SOS pads.
2. Scuff with 400-600 grit sand paper for adhesion (creating a tooth), then clean again, and let dry.
3. Wipe with Tack Cloth
4. Spray with Bulldog adhesion promotor according to directions.
5. No primer is needed???
6. Paint with color (Chatgpt suggested Krylon Fusion all-in-one)
7. Clear coat.


Any help is greatly appreciated This bike is in desperate need of paint.

 

[sTaylor]

I’ve used Earlex products for years to great success. Nice portable airless for under a hundred, I believe. Good luck!

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

Hi all,

There is such a slough of conflicting information about Painting plastic online, so I wanted to talk with those of you who have panted exactly the same bike I have.

I'm going to do this myself, and it needs to be relatively cheap. I have painted a motorcycle before, and it came out great, but that was metal. I understand the need for prep and flash times etc. One of the biggest conflicts I am finding is weather or not I should use primer. Most of the conflict I find around using primer seems to stem from the fact that its recommended to use bulldog adhesion promoter after sanding. Then I see people just jumping to paint.

Here is the basic outline for my plan (Please tell me if you did something different, and how your paint looked years later)
1. Clean with simple green. Followed by SOS pads.
2. Scuff with 400-600 grit sand paper for adhesion (creating a tooth), then clean again, and let dry.
3. Wipe with Tack Cloth
4. Spray with Bulldog adhesion promotor according to directions.
5. No primer is needed???
6. Paint with color (Chatgpt suggested Krylon Fusion all-in-one)
7. Clear coat.


Any help is greatly appreciated This bike is in desperate need of paint.

Hi Matt, there are some real painters here, maybe one will see this. The prep looks good, most times you get the best finish with spraying color, then wet sand and spray again. after a few coats, repeat the process with the clear coat. Not saying Krylon won't work, it's just not how most good finishes are created.

Take a middle cowl and try it, worst that happens is you sand it off. There are some YT videos of color matching my bumper and such that will go through the process. Your on the right track, give it a shot and do some before and after picts. Good luck!!