My 696 project

[Dr. Stylo]

Waiting for paint to dry, can't sleep, so here are the pics of the process.  Yes, I did all the usual prep work on the aluminum and plastic, applied appropriate primers, then color matched paint, then clear coat.  There were about 6 coats of color, and 5 coats of clear.  I want to be able to buff it down if needed. The products were Urethane base spray that I got from a company that specializes in color matched motorcycle paints.  This is a PERFECT color match...better than any other paint I have gotten before for cars etc, so super happy, worth the $24 a can, IMHO.

I also received my tank bag, very happy with that, fits like a glove.

Stock set up on the headlight and bikini visor.



Everything on the front removed:







Paint, these shots were after the clear coat was done, did not take pics of the actual process.





Waiting for things to dry enough to move them to a warmer area for better curing, I put on the tank bag.











Many hours later, they are dry enough to test fit and get an idea if I am an idiot or not....well, still not sure if I'm an idiot, but it was worth a shot.  I can always paint the red parts black.







You can see how good the color match is in the last picture, the top piece, the bikini visor was OEM painted, the lower piece, a cover for the instrument cluster if you take off the bikini visor, was originally black plastic.  It is absolutely a perfect color match, and I am pretty happy with the clear coat, and that was without a wet sand yet, just finish spray with a rattle can. 

[Raux]

i like the red light frame and the short nose piece. what are you doing to the mirrors?

[dennisd]

Looks good.  I did the headlight frame in red on my M1100 quite a while back.  Really changed the look of the bike because it ties it in with the red frame.  I've got the silver tank shroud & bikini fairing so I did some tasteful pin striping in red on those.  I also painted the sprocket carrier red.

[Dr. Stylo]

i like the red light frame and the short nose piece. what are you doing to the mirrors?

I am putting in handle bar mirrors, so I just pulled these off.

[Dr. Stylo]

well, I think I don't like the instrument cluster red, should have left it black.  I will change that again soon, but at least it turned out well.  Making that upper part black again will help to lower the front end of the bike, and make it look more aggressive, at least to me it will.

[Dr. Stylo]

Quick before and after comparo....I have decided to go back to black on the cluster cover, may do a carbon one...I think having that darker will help to lower the front visually, and hint at the streetfighter look.

[696DCRider]

NICE.  That's exactly what I want to do with my headlight cover.  Can you share how you did this?  I actually bought a can of the ducati colorrite paint that matches the red frame.  I just don't know how to prep the piece or go about properly painting it.  I don't really have much experience with painting.  Yours turned out really nice though.  Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

[ungeheuer]

....I have decided to go back to black on the cluster cover, may do a carbon one...I think having that darker will help to lower the front visually, and hint at the streetfighter look.

Red headlight bezel looks great     But I do agree with you on the red cluster cover.... Nice job.

[Justo]

Fnck yeah!! Looks great

[Dr. Stylo]

NICE.  That's exactly what I want to do with my headlight cover.  Can you share how you did this?  I actually bought a can of the ducati colorrite paint that matches the red frame.  I just don't know how to prep the piece or go about properly painting it.  I don't really have much experience with painting.  Yours turned out really nice though.  Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

The first rule in painting something with a spray can....patience!!!

1. prep the surface to be painted by sanding lightly with a 250-400 grit paper, this helps to remove any oils, solvents, etc to allow the spray paint to adhere.  After sanding, wipe down the surface with a de-natured alcohol or other cleaner to also help to remove oils and dust.  Make sure your hands are really clean if you plan to handle them without gloves...the oils from your hands can prevent paint from sticking, and you will get flaking.

2. find an appropriate primer to coat the surfaces first.  For plastic parts, there is a plastic primer, it is actually clear, and for other surfaces like the cast aluminum surround, any standard primer will do, that is usually grey.

3. after primer has fully dried, start application of your color, depending on if it is glossy or not will depend on clear coating after the fact.  The paint I used was flat, but factory color, so it required a clear urethane after it was applied.  THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART....spray LIGHT coats, evenly, smoothly.  Once you have sprayed a section, don't go back over it too many times in one application, this will cause runs or drips.  Let that set for 30-45 minutes, then apply another even coat over the surface.  It can take up to 5-6 times to get a full even coverage, just be patient.  After 2 quick coats, with 30 minutes between them, I let the surface dry for 2-3 hours before applying a 3rd to 4th coat, I always do coats in 2's, with the 30 minute duration between. 

4. Clear coat.  Same application process, lighter, even coats do not drip. but with clear, I wait about an hour between coats, to minimize any hazing.

Hope that helps, there are a million write ups throughout the internet if you want more details.  Painting like this can be done on anything, just take your time.  I learned how to do this stuff while working on cars....and did a full show car on my own.



Thanks for the compliments everyone, I can't believe they did not make them this way from the factory, looks so much better with a color matched headlight surround.  IMHO.

[696DCRider]

Stylo,
  Thanks a lot for the write-up.  That will be very helpful to me.  I have the rattle can, and some primer, so I guess I just need to pick up the clear coat and sand paper, and I'll be good to go.

Let me ask you one additional question though.  The surface of that headlight surrounding is not smooth, it has little bumps on it.  Someone mentioned that I should sand down all the bumps.  It sounds like this is not what you did.  Did the bumps in the surface come through in the painting job?  It looks like your job was very smooth.

[bicunica]

It looks awesome. I think I'm going back to stock headlight and painting it red as you did. I missed where you got the paint. Would appreciated some more info.
The directions and how to paint will definitely help. Thanks!


bicunica


P.S. Good call on the tank bag!   

[theprocess]

Color matched bezel looks nice, great job!  Should have removed the turn signal spacers while you were at it.

Which tank bag is that?  Link?

[Dr. Stylo]

1. got the paint from here: http://www.colorrite.com/

2. tank bag info can be found in this thread:  all links and info to be found there: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=39577.0

3. no need to sand down the bumps, with enough even thinner coats of paint, they all but disappear, plus, the variable surface aids in adhesion, creates more surface area for the primer coat.

Hope that helps guys, and thanks for the compliments.

[Travman]

I think you should strip it and paint it black.  That strip across the headlight looks tacky to begin with and by painting it red you are emphasizing it.