Ducati Monster Forum

My bike is torn apart to get a bunch of parts powdercoated, and now the idea has come up that maybe I should take this op to paint it. I was thinking about doing a flat color (like dark blue-garnett red-etc) but I am not sure how that kinda color would look on the bike. Def. want to keep it on the darker side. Here's how the bike looked before I tore it down:
I dig the black on black on black scheme I have going now, but I have always NOT been a fan of the factory stripe. I come from a HD/Rat Rod/Hot rod background so I am having a hard time trying to think up a paintjob that would work with a more modern scoot such as my S2R1K.

I am also torn on the fact that sometimes when a sport/modern bike has an aftermarket paintjob it makes the bike feel/look "cheap" in my opinion. Dont get me wrong, I have seen bikes with amazing paintjobs, but unless the factory badging (or something) is used it just doesnt look right (to me atleast)...

Opinions ?
Anyone want to do some Photoshop mock-up's ?

Once you go dark, you'll never go back.

I am def. a fan of the Dark Monsters.
Just for this bike I kinda want to go with a flat color (or some sort) rather than black.

How about gloss black, with a matte black stripe?  I also like the idea of a gloss/matte checkerboard detail or stripe.  Then maybe some pinstripe red for accent, or some primer gray.  I actually like the white stripe, but if I could change it, I would make it a more vintage off-white.  Are you going to put the fenders back on?

The front fender is staying off the bike for the time being.
I might go with a superbike fender down the road (cant stand the stock Monster fender), but I am no sure yet..

An idea that I have bounced around for another bike was a gloss with matte detailing (either stripes or some other pattern). Are you planning on keeping the frame black? That would be the direction definer for me personally...

why paint it at all -- just go take a look at some of the unique industrial coatings out there.  If you have aviation manufacturing about yourself, go take a look at whom does their industrial coating.  If that doesn't give you a bunch of great ideas, I don't know what would.

The nice thing about the stuff for aviation is that it is just 3-25 microns thick and most are corrosion / wear resistant.  It's why I like the ceramic coating done to frames / bars / etc -- it's really thin unlike powdercoating or paint.

One cavaet though in regard to the industrial coating is the heat process required to coat the products.  Ceramic coating is 550deg for a few hours -- it makes the metal "move" depending upon internal stress, etc.  Thus a round item might come back a bit ovalized depending upon how it was formed.

Other one is coatings for the firearms / gun industry.  Some have tanks deep enough to blue or blacken an entire frame and other items as well.

I've always wanted to do a black gun finish on a metal tank (and make metal side panels / seat cowl to go with).  Then come back and ghost clear w/pearl racing stripes over the top of.

I def. thought about doing something industrial on this bike (to keep with the theme).
I always wanted to see a monster like mine with raw (looking) alum. wheels and maybe a tank to match ?
I am going to my buddies house to do some Photochoppin tomorrow night before I go in any one direction.
The powdercoated stuff needed to be done, now the paint and wheel color/finish is up int he air..
Yup..
No way I am gonna tear the bike down that far ;D

gloss black with a 'dark' stripe

If I were to paint my bike black it would to be to Volkswagen's Black Magic Pearl. It's black but at certain angles it has a hint of gray to it. It's doesn't appear straight black..

Bluing would be cool, anything flat, industrial, etc..

Not sure if bluing and clearing would work....blueing needs to be oiled or it will rust, clearing it will need a clean finish.  Not sure if the cleaners needed to prep for paint would work with the bluing, but a painter would :)

Seems like you could just have it painted the same color as a blued finish and it might be easier. [thumbsup]

If you can't tell, I like the bluing idea.

Personally I'd probably just leave it...that's a nice looking bike.  [thumbsup] That color scheme looks great to me...especially with all the black accents. I'd put the paint $$ into exhaust, as the open udder looks unfinished. Either a completely custom system, or a set of Boom Tubes.  [thumbsup]

If you hate the stripe and want to get it painted though, I'd go all gloss black. No other pigments in the black...just straight black. My multi was done like this and it looks friggn' tough.  [evil] The Duc black seems to be more of a really dark gray in comparison. Maybe add a flat black stripe as well...that'd look nice and mean.

 Hmmmmm..... I think I may have seen that somewhere before. But where?  [laugh]

I think that would be sick looking.
maybe mix a bit of the bluing with this...
(http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/44358/2549912500102750601S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2549912500102750601XJcclk)

I feel the same way 100%. I always wonder whats hiding under there.

I think a combo of the gloss and flat black.  Gloss for the main part of the tank and some Scrambler-ish side panels in flat, have you seen the guy on here doing a Monster in Scrambler yellow?  That pattern is what I'm talking about

Believe me I hear ya on the exhaust. I have been fighting with trying to find an exhaust I like that isnt huge $$$ for this bike since before I bought it.
Looks like I am going to buy a aftermarket midpipe, some small "GP" style cans and have my chassis buddy weld it all up. I want a system that is loud as hell, exit's behind my ears, doesnt require a $1000
computer upgrade to run right, as well as keeps the rear wheel open (as it is now). Untill then the open udder will have to do..

i really like the black. maybe get rid of the stripe if you really dont like it. flat black is hard to keep clean, and you cant wax it. that and being next to shiny black could be tough

anyways, post pics once your done!

I think if I did a flat color along with a flat clear on top cleanup and maint. wouldnt be an issue..

QUESTION:
I see some bikes with a large "monster" sticker/emblems on the side of the tank.
Was this a factory thing in years past or something else ?
I ask becasue if I do paint my tank I want to replace the "simple" Ducati logo with something different..

Matte finish blue looks good and with the black it will look like a bruise. Could be cool. Maybe some pin-striping to accent? Check out this website, it might give you some ideas. Personally I would go with vintage burgundy pearl, but that's me.
http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/ksflatz.aspx (http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/ksflatz.aspx)

If you like the blueing, keep looking to the gun industry. The stainless slide of my S&W is finished in this melonite. Its a satin black, not flat, not glossy, and is extremely durable. http://www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html (http://www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html)

There is also a process called parkerising that is a flat finish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize)

But it sounds like you're looking for suggestions on the tank. Personally I like the idea of gloss black with satin black stripe.

I am at a loss trying to figure out what I wanna do (paint wise) on this bike.
I think I am going to take that cash and finally build my exhaust I have been wanting too for quite some time, and then worry about the paint in the fall..

Step back and take another long look at that bike.  The OEM pain is beautiful.

Painting that bike seems crazy to me. ???

LA

Check out

http://www.tapeworks.com/ (http://www.tapeworks.com/)

for the stickers you are looking for.  Go to the customers bike's of the month and chekc out April 2008.  They can do whatever stickers you want and are great to deal with.

Check out the cans from Competition Werks. http://www.competitionwerkes.com/ (http://www.competitionwerkes.com/)

I bought an R6 slip-on can for my Multi project. It looks friggin' awesome, and it will be loud (hopefully not too loud for me  :P). I need a bit of header piping work to get the angle right, but I started it last weekend with the can on. They're also pretty cheap. If you call them with your exhaust pipe size they'll look around for which can will work...may not matter if you're getting all new headers though.

You're going to need something to keep the engine from running too lean though...with pretty much anything if you remove the udder.

personally with the style of bikes you are running with. i think a flat black with semi-flat black tattoo art would be cool. you could use your HalfFast logo on the tail cover. and at Ducati Eagle logo would be the coolest black and white though.

(http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/guzzino_2042_88595111)

oh and find a way to put this on too

(http://secure.compwerkes.com/stores/1784228/catalog/wh1002%20copy.jpg)

those exhausts are sick. they look a lot like the Daytona 696 super modded bike posted elsewhere.


DROOL* [bow_down]

+1

I think I am going to scrap the paint idea for the time being and focus on finally getting an exhaust to work on my bike.

I def. plan to run a “open” system, so getting the bike to run it’s best is def. a concern. I would like to stay as far away from dyno tuning/buying an upgraded computer, hours of tuining as possibile. I really want a exhaust similar to the Arrow high mount system , just with smaller cans. I have considered buying the Arrow system and swapping the stock cans for something else but that seems like a waste of money. Then I thought about just buying a aftermarket midpipe and having my chassis shop buddy fab up the rest. At this point I will prob. have him make the entire system from scratch. This way I can have the pipe that goes under the motor made up outta oval tubing (for maximum ground clearance), as well as looking pretty trick. Just need to figure out some way to add some backpressure to the system but not muffle down the sound too much..

You did that?  Awesome  [thumbsup]

Either:  Great minds.

Or:  I stole your idea, subconsciously.  I kinda sorta remember a checkerboard design I liked from the old board, maybe?  Link me some pics if you have some posted.  If I did appropriate it, my apologies.  But it was an idea good enough to rip off :)

Hey ProTeal,
Chicago here too.  I think your bike looks great in the factory paint...  The gloss black with a white stripe is reminiscent of muscle cars from the 60's & 70's, in my opinion... I think it's a pretty cool look.  Black is always my favorite.  It just looks so damn good.  If you ever get to any of the Chicago meets, I'd like to see your bike in person.  It looks like one I would own.

Thanks for the kind words..
I am prob. going to leave the paint the way it is for the time being and do some other things to the bike that I have been wanting too..
My clubn and I (HTTP://WWW.HALFFASTCHICAGO.COM (http://HTTP://WWW.HALFFASTCHICAGO.COM)) do two weekly bike nights and as soon as my bike is back in my hands will be out to both weekly.
Come out and make yourself known !  [thumbsup]

Or we could understand checkerboard patterns are not new. They sort of started on checkerboards.



That and I had it painted on the roof of my chrysler (inside) back in 1997, so, it was my idea you were stealing  :P

Today i saw a blue Bugatti (an old one  [thumbsup]) and i think my next color will be like that