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1/29/2018
Location
Bethania, NC
US
Edited Date/Time
7/25/2018 5:45pm
Looking into the idea of getting my frame and possibly swingarm powdercoated black of some sort this winter when its too cold to ride and not really riding anyways.
I know the process of powdercoating but i dont have the time/space nor experience to do the job myself. So thats where you guys come in.
Who does motorcycle frame powdercoating and does a good job/knows what they are doing that wont break the bank?
A couple questions as well:
- How well does powdercoating hold up to abuse? (Decent wrecks, scrathes, general beating bikes take)
- Also say I get my frame/swingarm powdercoated, are there any special care requirments or is it dependent on what powders the powdercoater uses?
Thanks for any info!
I know the process of powdercoating but i dont have the time/space nor experience to do the job myself. So thats where you guys come in.
Who does motorcycle frame powdercoating and does a good job/knows what they are doing that wont break the bank?
A couple questions as well:
- How well does powdercoating hold up to abuse? (Decent wrecks, scrathes, general beating bikes take)
- Also say I get my frame/swingarm powdercoated, are there any special care requirments or is it dependent on what powders the powdercoater uses?
Thanks for any info!
It should cost about $250 for the frame alone. Any powder coating specialist will know to plug any thread inserts & tight tolerance fittings before spraying.
Use google to find someone local, there are at least a dozen in my area that powder coat auto wheels, street bike items, & commercial stuff, etc.
The Shop
The advantage as identified above is thinner layer less fitment issues,,,including ground that give running gremlins. It doesn't hide a crack beneath in the event one happens,,,can be applied at home...and it doesn't flake & bubble once a chip happens. Remember the lawnmower out back..once it starts bubbling and flaking the water keeps wicking behind and pushing more powder coating off. This Klass Kote is awesome, and doesn't lift even from the worst chemicals like Nitro.
If I need to eld a crack or tab...no problem..and spray a touch up after. Powder is ruined if you need to grind it off to repair anything and not a east way to cover up repair
Also...most powder jobs I saw are 'orange peel' surface finished....when I paint I get smooooth & glossy.
Powder is a monkey see monkey do $ expense in this hobby. My opinion..I'll epoxy.
Trik Tape
The second frame I was adamant to the guy to stay away from the VIN and he said yeah sure no problem. Went to pick up the completed frame and guess what.... VIN gone. Apparently the lady that did the job never got the message and the guy I spoke with didn’t write it on the work order.
So now I have two bikes with no VIN. Next time I’m going to paint myself. I’ll check out that klasscote mentioned earlier. I wish I knew about that high temp 3m tape!
3-5 lbs is not accurate for added frame weight. My recently coated KX 125 frame added 0.9lb. Kawasaki also has to be applied very thick as it does not lay that well. Black can be applied thinner. Powdered swing look good for 10 minutes, any kind of ruts and they get scuffed.
Don't need to go to a "motorcycle frame powder coater" just go to a company who knows what they are doing with coatings.
That story above about having to dremel stuff is horrible, anyone worth a damn should be fine with masking/plugging all the necessary holes and surfaces that are critical.
You're pricing and advice are right on except for one thing. The weight. It may add roughly 1 lb but you're also stripping off any paint or coating that was on it. Weight in the end, is negligible. A pound at most. I just coated a YZ frame and in doing so it took about a half lb to coat it. That doesn't consider the powder that is lost to the process in the air (booth). Even with Primer, base coat, color and a top coat, 4 coats in total, it added less than 2 lbs.
Hope that's helpful.
Do you have the Vin #'s on any paperwork? If so, you could have them make a stencil and add it back with some cerakote. If I made that mistake, I'd fix it on my dime. They should too.
Whoever did the powder coat did a terrible job prepping then.
I had a similar experience too. Asked him to mask/plug threaded holes, pivot holes, and the VIN (I’ll always do this myself now). He didn’t do any of it and I’ve had to retap and sand every point, on top of that the prep/paint destroyed the VIN and it’s unreadable now. I was told the KTM VIN is laser engraved and not as deep as a stamped one.
Find someone experienced with motorcycle frames next time. Experienced coated should never do that.
I took that advice on the second frame I sent out. The first was a guy that a guy at the shop knew kind of deal. I took that experience and the second frame I had done was at a local shop that only did powder coat, jobs big and small with plenty of examples and good feedback.
The price I was quoted was astronomical, but I thought, “hey, at least it’ll be done right.”
Went in to get the frame and the VIN was gone and nice shiny orange powder coat where it should be. The guy I dealt with said to my face that I never asked for that. I talked to the lady that actually did the job and she said she wasn’t told to look out for it.
A bunch of back and forth later, I would up with my frame at “no charge” with the coating stripped off the steering head where they looked for the VIN that had been blasted away.
Paint only for me from here on out. Too much risk apparently.
Some lessons you have to learn the hard way.
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