Girlfriend just bought a 2nd hand Suzuki SV to replace her write-off Gixxer.

For some reason it's missing the rear grab rail (which may explain why both rear fairings are snapped nearly off- to be replaced!).

She's bought a replacement but it's the wrong colour so it needs painting and she's decided to go for black.

It's currently 'painted' blue and then varnished:


Grab rail


Grab rail 2


The bike isn't mint so doesn't deserve paying to have it properly plastic coated and she'll be getting the proper yellow paint for the bodywork in a couple of months.

In the meantime, if we went for Plasticoat black paint (worked well on my wishbones and rollbar) what should be done to prepare the rail?

I'm assuming it's as simple as:
wet and dry (what grade?) to 'key' the varnish (or whatever the current top coat is).
Then plasticoat primer (couple of coats)
Then black plasticoat (couple of coats).

Should there then be a laquer on top of the plasticoat?


Thanks!

James

Are you certain it's actually been "varnished"? Unless someone got carried away whilst slapping a bit of Sadolin on their woodwork it should just be a standard clear coat on top.

Sand it down with a suitable grade of wet and dry, degrease and spray it.

Good bikes though, I just bought this:

Looks anodized blue not painted, but I don't think you need etch primer for anodized ali, so your plan looks good.

Edit: Should have said anodized and then clear coated/laquered.
Edit2: Don't sand through the anodizing or you'll need etch primer (U-pol Acid #8 or similar)


[Edited on 16/7/10 by iank]

What grade wet and dry? Never really used it before.

Thanks,
James

just sand it with a scotch pad and paint it with black satin plasti kote black satin ,hang it from a coat hanger to paint it and lots of thin coats giving it 5 mins between coats .this will give it a factory finish look .

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Originally posted by MikeRJ
Are you certain it's actually been "varnished"? Unless someone got carried away whilst slapping a bit of Sadolin on their woodwork it should just be a standard clear coat on top.

Sand it down with a suitable grade of wet and dry, degrease and spray it.

Good bikes though, I just bought this:

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quote:

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Originally posted by James
What grade wet and dry? Never really used it before.

Thanks,
James

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quote:

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Originally posted by James
For some reason it's missing the rear grab rail (which may explain why both rear fairings are snapped nearly off- to be replaced!).....

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