Fairing Painting Question

[Apex123]

Hello,
Had a quick question for you guys! After a few tumbles on the bike and learning from their mistakes I made a decision to get a brand new set of fairings. I have a green 08 ninja, but I only found an entire set for around 500 + USD (green ones). When I was looking for fairings I came across an amazing deal, I ended up purchasing a UNPAINTED fairing set for 250 USD. Now I kinda wanna keep the green theme but I don't know how to. My question is has anyone painted fairings kawi green? What methods did you use? Vinyl Wrap? Plasti Dip? If anyone else has any ideas or thoughts I would love to hear them!

[JohnnyBravo]

Colorite paint sells Kawi green
Wrap looks good and will last, threads around here someplace
Plastidip not my style

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBravo

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showpost.php?p=773690&postcount=91
Your info on paints all in that thread

[Apex123]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBravo

Colorite paint sells Kawi green
Wrap looks good and will last, threads around here someplace
Plastidip not my style

Good Idea,
I checked out Colorite but at 33 USD per can and around 5 - 6 cans needed I could have boughten the pre painted ones instead. Still looking for a full wrap, any cool wrap I find requires a black base fairing, not white :/ Why not use plasti dip?

[verboten1]

A high quality wrap job is not cheap. The right paint is not cheap.


Plasti-dip is relatively cheap, very easy, but high maintenance, and all you get is matte/satin finish.




I'm thinking I'll be spending the money for real paint this spring.

Or I'm buying a painted fairing set.

The $300 you saved will disappear if you have someone paint it or wrap it.

[JohnnyBravo]

Lots of folks make lime green paint cheaper if you aren't super hella picky

[Nemy]

Originally Posted by verboten1

The $300 you saved will disappear if you have someone paint it or wrap it.

Agreed. On my old blue ninja I used Colorite just to touchup and it was a PITA and expensive. But it also needed a special glitter coat and clear coat.

With unpainted fairings, I'd take the opportunity to play around with different colors. Photoshop will be your best friend. My current fairings are full green with black plastidip and glossifier. They make a variety of colors plus you can use regular paint over the plastidip and peel it all off if you don't like it or want to change it. I only ended up with a problem where the fairing screws go in - they end up ripping/tearing the plastidip in those areas. So I'd paint with regular paint in those areas.

[Ninja Rob]

Originally Posted by verboten1

A high quality wrap job is not cheap. The right paint is not cheap.


Plasti-dip is relatively cheap, very easy, but high maintenance, and all you get is matte/satin finish.




I'm thinking I'll be spending the money for real paint this spring.

Or I'm buying a painted fairing set.

The $300 you saved will disappear if you have someone paint it or wrap it.

That's a beautiful bike.

[verboten1]

Originally Posted by Ninja Rob

That's a beautiful bike.

Thank you! I had an idea what I wanted, and I was so happy with the way it turned out. If only it was actual paint....lol

[liberpolly]

Originally Posted by Apex123

Hello,
Had a quick question for you guys! After a few tumbles on the bike and learning from their mistakes I made a decision to get a brand new set of fairings. I have a green 08 ninja, but I only found an entire set for around 500 + USD (green ones). When I was looking for fairings I came across an amazing deal, I ended up purchasing a UNPAINTED fairing set for 250 USD.

If it was me, I'd Sharpie and clearcoat it. Look at it as a tattooing opportunity

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by liberpolly

If it was me, I'd Sharpie and clearcoat it. Look at it as a tattooing opportunity

I saw a sharpied bike in Florida... The thing had to be seen to be believed, rider was some sort of artist.

[cbinker]

I was told by an auto body tech that painting this type of body work is a bitch and usually doesn't stick and will peel, because of the material.

[JohnnyBravo]

I've seen so many of them painted though maybe he sucks

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Apex123

Why not use plasti dip?

Because

1) They don't make Plastidip in Kawi green, and
2) It's not durable, so you're looking at reshooting it on a regular basis. Okay for track fairings but I imagine it'd get old fast on a street bike.

I Plastidipped my track fairings. After just three track days, they're showing noticeable wear on the sharp edges. For the track it really doesn't matter, but I'd never do it to a street bike.

[Apex123]

Yeah, Plasti Dipped 3 parts on the bike and honestly I have to say it looked nice but I looked more into plasti dip. Its not gasoline proof so if I get in on anything it will look like a mess. The maintenance is insane and it peels from any sort of rubbing.

As for the sharpie bike, I mean I want to, but I don't have an artistic bone in my body. It would look awful.

I think the plan will be to go for the colorite option. I found a seller of the OEM aresol can and OEM Clearcoat can for a price of 35 USD for both. Each can is 12 oz, now my question is this.

Since I already have my TANK, and BOTH REAR / TAIL FAIRINGS how much paint do you think I need?I would be painting the left and right main fairings and the front (headlight fairing).

[liberpolly]

Originally Posted by Apex123

As for the sharpie bike, I mean I want to, but I don't have an artistic bone in my body. It would look awful.

Not to mean to push it, but in my artistic opinion, there is no such thing as non-artists. Steal some designs from internet, print them, transfer them on the surface with carbon copy paper they still sell in Office Depot, and trace with a sharpie. Worst case, you'll have to paint over it, which is what you are planning to do anyway you cannot lose!