[Scooter68]

Hey all. Great site here!!

I just picked up a '74 CB550. I first had the intention of chopping it, but the more I research, the more I find what great bikes these are, and I have decided to make a cool cafe out of it. The bike was pretty well parted out when I got it, and will need some work. The engine only has 15k on it and it's my first priority to get that running again. It was running before the bike was parted out.

Anyhow, I have some questions on painting. Do you all do your own frame, body, and engine painting? If so, what should I be using? I'm trying to keep this project on the cheap, so doing it at home would be cool.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Nick]

You can honestly do a great job with GOOD QUALITY (not KRYLON) spraycans. Take your time and lay the paint on in numerous thin coats. My local NAPA can mix any color I want and put it in a spraycan for about 10 bucks. The cans have the nice fan pattern nozzles, and don't splatter like some cheaper paints. I recommend making your own little spray booth to keep the contamination down. A simple plywood box with a small window fan and furnace filters can really help create a better finish.
Good luck, you'll love that bike once you ride it!

Goes like the proverbial violated primate....

 

[Scooter68]

Thanks for the tips Nick. I'll have to check the local napa and see if they do the spray can thing.

 

[Brentadour]

I do auto paint for a living and painted my cb550 last year. If you paint it your self make sure you scuff everthing with a scotch brite pad before you paint, also clean clean clean your parts with a precleaner. The last thing you want to do is paint over dirt or grease, it will fisheye or just look like shit. secondly, Ive used alot of different spray paint and found that krylon is by far the best. Its cheap and looks great, just do thin coats and let each one tack up before doing the next. I used krylon on my wheels and it looked so good I couldn't belive it. I also spraied my vinal top on my caddy with it. For the engine I used a high temp paint from napa or pepboys and that worked pretty well too. I gotta get a picture of my bike up. Anyway, good luck. Let us know how it goes

-Brent

 

[Nick]

I haven't used Krylon in years, I guess it has improved.(I retract my earlier statement) I think the important thing is to find a spraycan that has a fan-style paint nozzle, not just a regular WD-40 type spray nozzle, which tend to spatter.

Goes like the proverbial violated primate....

 

[Lance]

I use krylon any time i got to paint any thing I just did the side covers on my XS the suckers look awesome. As has been said the prep work is the most important. Me personaly i would have the frame powder coated i just did a dirt bike and it was 150 That included sand blasting and a gun metal gray color. Also if you are lucky to have a Harbor Frieght in town they are selling a Powder coating set up for 60 i am going to check it out over the weekend going to powder coat some rear sets i am makeing for my XS .

75 XS650 standard soon to be cafed out and a 74 TY 250 trials bike