Paint ideas for my LS ?

[nhmaf]

This year I am planning to work on some of the cosmetic aspects of my 82 R65LS, which is  still sporting its original (fading to orange) Henna Red paint, though with
numerous scratches and wear spots, along with a rusty line where the seat pan has wore through the cover and scratched through the tank paint.
I've just got the materials to have a go at recovering and restuffing part of the seat myself (wish me luck) and am contemplating later this year to
send the body parts to be professionally repainted.   The wheels may have to wait another year, or send them out during next winter for powder coating.

I am debating whether or not to have the paint shop match (as closely as they can, as I don't know if I'll go for the expensive multi-part glasurit type paint)
the original colors and paint lines that the bike originally came with, or try something a bit different - I am thinking of maybe seeing if I can find someone to do a Henna Red/smoke paint style, like on the 70's "S" models with the "top" of the tank and top of the rear cowling being black, with the sides being red/orange.  I thought this might also work with a bit of modification of the paint on the fairing as well, and keeping the black cowling on top.  If I go with this idea, I think that I'd probably go for having the wheels done in black paint as well.

Of course, there are some BMW-philes who would consider it heresy to paint non-stock, but I think this might look good and still be "BMW" -ish.

Any comments or other paint ideas to suggest/consider
 

[Joan]

I say change is good. GO FOR IT!   [smiley=beehive.gif]

[suecanada]

Change is fun and good for the soul. It's your bike, do what pleases you Mike. The only comment I'd make is the LS was suppose to look kinda sleek and sporty so the black paint at the bottom of the gas tank made the gas tank look less fat and the black matched the starter cover so one never noticed that the gastank wasn't slim at all. The black lined up I guess, without looking at LRB, with the black battery covers and also made a nice line with the bottom edge of the rear cowling. So the bike seems to have a sleek look to compliment the forward slanting triangle of a fairing. I could stare at it for hours!

[MrRiden]

Stock or custom is a tough choice on an LS. I do like the smoke idea if you go custom. I've always thought that the black cowl piece on the nacelle would look good done in a carbon fiber but never found suitable material for covering.
rich

[SCJJR65]

You ought to ask our main man, Justin, about getting him to paint the parts for you.  From what I've seen, he does excellent work!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[mikeyd3]

 [smiley=beatnik.gif]Theres this sporty new color I have on my bike. I think its called "gloss black"
It looks beautiful on beemers! The president uses a similar color on his slew of suburbans too! JK
My 2c would be either the stock or nothing even close but something you think is cooool! imho

[nhmaf]

Thanks for the responses and advice !
As far as the "smoke" paint job idea, I was thinking something like this set of parts currently up for sale on ebay, but
with a few differences:

http://tinyurl.com/4qjav6

Namely, to use Henna Red, or maybe even a more "orange" red instead, the tank would basically be solid black on top and on the bottom, with red
on the sides like this one on ebay, but the fairing, front fender, and rear cowling would also have the smoke effect to solid black on the top/center but be
red on the sides, sorta the inverse of the other part's color scheme shown here but without the pinstriping... or maybe something different still.   Anyhoo, it got the gears turning in my brain.   I have no idea how hard it is to do a smoke-style paint effect, 'cept that it is beyond my skills and abilities with a paintgun !

[Justin B.]

It is quite tedious and the materials are somewhat expensive but the result looks nice.  [smiley=beatnik.gif] You basically wind up with three layers of color in some places so I'm not sure about the durability.  The thicker the paint the more prone it is to chipping it seems.  

[nhmaf]

Hi Justin,

Say, that tank looks quite nice !    

Regarding your comment about the chipping, would adding more layers of clearcoat reduce this ?   I know that some of BMW's colors
claim/require one to do a base layer of silver or gold before the color layers to get the right color/hue, so I would think that there might
very often be 3 colors on top of each other in many of BMW's paint schemes, or perhaps they have other layers, like clearcoat, in between ?

I would certainly consider asking you to do the job, though I am not sure what the shipping would be to get all these body parts to/from TX,
probably would be a substantial percentage of the total bill ?

[Joan]

It is quite tedious and the materials are somewhat expensive but the result looks nice.  [smiley=beatnik.gif] You basically wind up with three layers of color in some places so I'm not sure about the durability.  The thicker the paint the more prone it is to chipping it seems.  

[major drool] [whistling] Whoooooaaaaaaa... purty purty purty!

I believe it is entirely possible Justin missed his calling as an artist. For REAL.  

[Justin B.]

Joan, that's Ken's tank.  Some day once overtime slows down I'll get the chance to finish the side covers, rear fender, and seat cowls.  Right now after working 12 hour shifts it takes me a couple of days to recover and it's then time to go back to work - gettin' old, ya know?  This batch included the S fairing and front fender.  

Mike, it starts off with gold, then black, then three coats of Candy Red, then clear.  SO, when done the actual paint thickness in some spots is getting up there...

[Bob_Roller]

I think a red LS with white wheels, is the most classic looking airhead bike that's been put on the market in recent memory.

Change can be good, but a red LS is a timeless classic.

[Ed Miller]

What's the gold for, Justin?  Does it somehow show through the black?  

[Jon_P]

i loved the whole box of colurs when i was in school. pick one! i even like the purple and pinks, though i dont know about my bike.

a brite orange or yellow would really make that fairing pop! green, blue, black, white, purple there are so many to choose but not Bronco Brown!!!! to many of them!

[Justin B.]

The gold is the base for the red...