paint

[zvogler]

Has anyone repainted their airhead using a different color or non BMW Glasurit paint?  My 83 R65 has been repainted 1 time by a PO. Changed from Blue to Silver.  It needs paint again and some tank metal work. I am trying to decide whether to go back to factory color or a darker silver, slate color. I added some pics of what she looks like now. Any input is appreciated.  

edit- i just realized i put this under the wrong section.  Can I move this or have a moderator/admin move this?

[montmil]

Paint's a pretty technical subject.  

Glasurit paint is pretty $$$$. Proud of it, they are. Maybe begin by looking over some color charts at your local auto body supply store. Unless you plan a full concours restoration, select a color that you like and will compliment the R65's design features.

I painted my '83 R65 in a metallic blue that was used on a BMW F800. I located a perfect match off a Honda automobile.

BTW, There's a BMW Airhead that turns up at most every major BMW rally. It's painted just like the machine behind your bike. Truth. Figure if you don't go beyond that Deere, you'll be fine.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
I had my '82 repainted in 2012.
As I live in France the only paint available to body shops is a water solvent paint.
so the colour is different from the Glasurit one and impossible to match exactly. But close. The main drawback is that it can't bear any fuel on it or it looks like an old orange peel... and .... peel.
But I like my bike better than with it's marred tank and old paint...  

[AlfromNH]

I'm in the process of having my tank, etc painted. Like Monte says, I went down to a local parts shop and looked thru their books. Settled on a deep blue metallic, I think it's a Mazda color. PPG brand paint.

[montmil]

...  As I live in France the only paint available to body shops is a water solvent paint.
so the colour is different from the Glasurit one and impossible to match exactly. But close. The main drawback is that it can't bear any fuel on it or it looks like an old orange peel... and .... peel...

Something many commercial paint shops in Cali have in common with zee French.

I rigged a paint booth on my covered patio when I shot color on the '83 R65. Went "green" and set up a solar-powered drier for the parts. Yes, the bits are all the same color... metallic paint and digi camera playing tricks.

[Justin B.]

I can't add anything other than just use a quality base-coat/clear-coat.  A clear-coat job is easier for the DIYer as the base-coat drys pretty fast and although the clear-coat stays pretty sticky for a while it is fairly easy to sand out the critters that might get trapped in it.