If you ride a motorcycle, chances are you will want to paint it sooner or later. If you wish to apply another coat of the current colors or if you plan to change the aesthetic entirely, knowing how to paint a motorcycle is an essential part of owning one.
This guide will explain how you can paint a motorcycle in a detailed, step-by-step process.
Before you get started painting your motorcycle, you would want to get all of the materials and supplies you will need for a successful painting session together beforehand. Things will quickly get messy, and it will be challenging to get more tools once you have started.
In total, you will need the following:
Once you have all of your gear together, you can start by preparing your painting space.
You must set up a dedicated painting area and make peace with the fact that things will get messy. Since you will be using a paint spray gun, you will get paint on the walls and floors around your motorcycle, no matter how meticulous you are.
To that end, pick a spot where you can make a mess and clean up after yourself afterward. Several good locations to consider are garages, storage areas, and similar sites. However, don't try to paint your motorcycle entirely outside or in places where it will be overly exposed to the elements. Rain, dust, and even pollen can ruin your paint job.
Once you have chosen a good spot to paint your motorcycle, begin to set down the plastic sheets or disposable paper everywhere. Set some down on the floor and the walls, using nails or thumbtacks to secure the sheets. This will prevent paint from escaping the painting area and creating a huge mess you will have to deal with later.
Get a variable speed fan and situate it in a spot to blow paint fumes out of the room or the painting area. This prevents you from breathing in too much of the fumes, even if you wear a respirator or a mask, which you should do at a bare minimum.
Remember to add some additional lighting to the space as well. Construction lamps or even table lamps can do the job. The more light you have, the better, since you will be able to paint more thoroughly and accurately.
Now that you have prepared the space for the motorcycle painting session, you need to prep your bike itself.
To do this, remove and set aside any of the parts of the motorcycle you plan to paint. You will not be painting your motorcycle directly (i.e., spraying your paint gun at the bike while it sits in front of you). This would get paint onto the delicate interior components and ruin the silver shine of your motorcycle’s other pieces.
Instead, remove the decorative or protective plates you want to paint, such as the tank plate. Naturally, you will need an Allen wrench and other tools to remove the bolts and get rid of all the plates you plan to paint.
Store the bolts in an area you won’t forget so you can put the plates properly back on your motorcycle after you finish painting.
Next, take the sandpaper you got earlier and sand down any surfaces you want to paint. Keep in mind that this will take a little bit of time and some serious elbow grease.
By sanding the surfaces of your motorcycle plates, you ensure that the plates are perfectly smooth and the paint will adhere evenly. If you don’t do this step correctly, the resulting paint layers will be uneven and aesthetically unpleasant.
When sanding the plates of your motorcycle, keep going until you reach the bare metal surface. Use circular motions to get rid of old paint and conserve energy. There should be no former paint left on the plates or pieces you wish to color by the time you finish.
Before proceeding, wipe down the newly sanded surfaces with a clean cloth to eliminate any residual dust particles that might remain.
Now it’s time to smooth some body filler over the sanded surfaces. Again, this process is to ensure that you apply the paint on smooth and even surfaces. You can buy body filler at any regular automotive store.
You can prepare the filler by mixing it well to guarantee that it is loose and creamy in its texture and consistency. Filler hardens pretty quickly, so create small batches at a time and repeat the mixing process as often as you need to.
Apply the filler in a 1/8 inch thick layer for the best results.
Let the body filler dry for over an hour or so. Ensure that the surfaces you want to paint are totally dry before taking a fresh piece of sandpaper and sanding again.
Continue sanding and using the body filler over and over until you are satisfied with the smoothness of the motorcycle body plates you want to paint. Take your time with this step of the process, as it will affect the end result of your painting efforts.
Now, you are finally ready to paint your motorcycle. Take your paint spray gun and the other materials and get ready.
You will want to apply two coats of epoxy primer before using any colored paint you have purchased. Epoxy primer protects the metal of the motorcycle plates from moisture damage when you ride your bike, helping to resist corrosive damage.
Regardless of the brand of epoxy primer you have purchased, follow the instructions that detail the hardeners you should mix with the primer and how to apply both perfectly. After mixing your chosen primer with an appropriate hardener, pour the resulting solution into your spray gun’s receptacle can.
Apply the first coat evenly onto your bike pieces. Let it dry for about an hour, then repeat with a second coat. As you use the spray gun, move your spray slowly and evenly over the surface of your plates to prevent over-applying in one area and under-applying in another.
Take another sheet of sandpaper and sand down the properly primed surfaces after the second coat has thoroughly dried. The majority of high-quality primers will leave a powdery texture on the surface, so you will have to smooth your bike pieces again before applying the colored paint.
We recommend using 2000-grit wet and dry sandpaper for the best results.
Take one of the microfiber cloths you have prepared and lightly wet it with paint thinner. You should only apply enough thinner so you can strip the primer layer of excess material rather than soak the rag through. Wipe down the to-be-painted surfaces with the rag.
Clean your spray gun before mixing paint with thinner. If any epoxy primer remains in the barrel, it could cause an issue with the gun or the resulting paint mixture as you apply it to your motorcycle plates.
Mix your chosen paint color with the thinner. The packaging on the paint and the thinner should provide the recommended ratio for both liquids, so follow the instructions you find. Mix both products thoroughly to avoid clogging your spray gun and to make sure you apply a smooth coat of paint on your motorcycle.
Once you have loaded your spray gun, apply between three and four layers of paint to your motorcycle plates. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying a new layer. Your paint’s packaging should tell you how long you have to wait between applications.
After you have applied the third layer of paint, take the 2000-grit wet and dry sandpaper and sand the surfaces again. This prepares the motorcycle plates for a final coat of paint. However, gently sand for a few moments to avoid removing the paint you have just applied!
Take a clean microfiber cloth after sanding and wipe the surfaces down. Then, apply the final coat of paint and allow it to dry. You are finally finished painting your motorcycle.
If you want your motorcycle’s paint job to last for more than a week, you will also need to apply two coats of clear coat. This lacquer will add a protective finish to your paint job, shielding it from debris and water.
As with the other stages of motorcycle painting, if you are unsatisfied with the smoothness or evenness of the lacquer coats, you can always sandpaper down the inconsistencies. Then apply another lacquer layer afterward.
Be sure to clean your paint gun thoroughly after applying the coats of paint, as it prevents the paint from drying and causing clogging later on. In addition, it will allow you to use the same paint gun for a different job in the future.
You should also thoroughly clean up your painting area and throw out any disposable plastic or paper sheets you used to protect the floor and walls.