I think it's also near impossible to match the honda paint job. I've seen kits out there. Has anyone used these with success?
Even if you use the same paint codes?
yes, no, maybe. Depends how good you are. Even if you use the same paint codes some of the honda paints are "candy" paints like Candy Ruby Red and Candy Blue Green (There are 9 different candy colors across the years for just CB750s). The thing about a candy paint is that it carries the color in the clear itself instead of the opaque base coat. That means that each successive coat darkens the color's hue and depending on the base coat can change the color's tint. For example Candy Bacchus Olive is not a green paint, it is the result of Candy Gold over Metallic Blue base (or vice versa but I think that's right - let's just assume it is). Too few clear coats and the color is too blue, too many and the color shifts back to too gold but it also gets darker and harder to see the flake through. The skill is getting just the right amount of coats to emulate the factory paint.
The other problem is...does anybody know what the original color's hue and tint is actually supposed to be? paint is susceptible to fade and candy paint is twice if not more "fragile" when it comes to fade. So unless you have a NOS part that has not seen the light of day in 40 years it's hard to say what is "correct". Professional restorers struggle with "correct" hue on cars with single stage opaque laquer paints so candy paints...forget about it there is no "100% accurate replica"
Finally candy paint is subject to variation. Hondas painted on an overcast Monday may be a different shade from Hondas painted on a sunny Friday due to weather conditions and human error. So there is a "range" to get it right.
It's one of those things where close enough is good enough and honestly don't sweat it too much. As long as the bike is shiny and it's approximately the right shade you are good.
