Topic: Candy Ruby Red and Gas Tanks Questions

[ZTatZAU]

While waiting for my Busso pipes, I've been dealing with a few issues like new side covers, a set of rubber fork boots, and other items...

And I got to thinking... If I'm ever going to repaint my 1971 (12/70) K1 again, now's the time to do so.  At a minimum, I'll need to paint at least one set of side covers I recently got from frankenstuff. (Thanks Joe!)

I covered up my OEM Candy Ruby Red, with a "much cooler" dark gold Dupont Duluxe enamel(?) back in the mid-late 1970s.  The gold finish is far from perfect but still looks pretty good for its age.



So, do I get a rattle can "close as I can find" color to match the gold Duluxe color, I put on back in the mid-late '70s?  OR, do it up right again with an original 1971 K1 Candy Ruby Red color scheme?

In case of the latter...

1)  Can anyone confirm (or correct) that the K0s & K1 gas tanks had painted gold and black stripes whereas K2 and later CB750 tanks used stripe decals? 

2)  Can anyone confirm, or otherwise describe the lower gas tank molding on a 1971 (12/70) K1 CB750?  Was it gold above and below a single black stripe or was it silver with a centered black stripe?  Or

3)  I've been looking at the VMR Honda, Candy Ruby Red system of Basecoat, Candy Color coat, and Clear coat.  I figure a quart of each component would be enough for the tank, side and fork covers, headlight shell, a fairing and an extra set of side covers.  Total would be about $500 for the paint.  Has anyone used this VMR CRR system?

4)  VRM seems to have a lock on best being best at matching vintage OEM Honda paints.  True?  False?
Can anyone share PPG/Shop-Line formulas for a good base, color, and clear coat products to match Honda's Candy Ruby Red?

Thoughts, comments, suggestions, and/or reviews on the VRM Candy Ruby Red system appreciated.

ZT

[69cb750]

1)  Can anyone confirm (or correct) that the K0s & K1 gas tanks had painted gold and black stripes whereas K2 and later CB750 tanks used stripe decals?

69,70,71 had painted stripes, not sure about K2

2)  Can anyone confirm, or otherwise describe the lower gas tank molding on a 1971 (12/70) K1 CB750?  Was it gold above and below a single black stripe or was it silver with a centered black stripe?  Or

K1 tank trim is silver with a black stripe

3)  I've been looking at the VMR Honda, Candy Ruby Red system of Basecoat, Candy Color coat, and Clear coat.  I figure a quart of each component would be enough for the tank, side and fork covers, headlight shell, a fairing and an extra set of side covers.  Total would be about $500 for the paint.  Has anyone used this VMR CRR system?

I have seen good results from the vmr system.

4)  VRM seems to have a lock on best being best at matching vintage OEM Honda paints.  True?  False?
Can anyone share PPG/Shop-Line formulas for a good base, color, and clear coat products to match Honda's Candy Ruby Red?

I use Xotic, have formula.

[jlh3rd]

according to this guy...and cms

[jlh3rd]

and..not saying he's right or wrong.

[MauiK3]

And of course, many folks have said the red ones were the fastest, I'm not sure about that but it's been said many times.
I'd go for VMR.

[bryanj]

Well they do paint fire engines red!

[Stev-o]

Do it right and paint all to match including the fork ears. 

Paint is very expensive these days and red pigment for some reason is the most expensive.

A quart will be more than enough, if using a painter, consult with him before purchasing. Last bike I painted I seem to recall only purchasing a pint but it was not a stock scheme and no fork ears.

[RAFster122s]

Always good to have extra paint, allows you the ability to repaint an item if necessary and have some for a touchup pen, if needed.

[ZTatZAU]

Thanks everyone!  Now there's more to think about!

...  I use Xotic, have formula. 

I'd be interested to learn more about xotic paints as well as your formula(s).
I couldn't get, what I though was, their website to load.

ZT

[69cb750]

I'd be interested to learn more about xotic paints as well as your formula(s).
I couldn't get, what I though was, their website to load.

Base = Queens gold dark
Mid = Apple red dark
Clear = SpeedoKote (other clears work too)
https://xoticcolours.com/product/queens-gold-metallic-basecoat/

[MauiK3]

Beautiful red!

[ZTatZAU]

I'd be interested to learn more about xotic paints as well as your formula(s).
I couldn't get, what I though was, their website to load.

Base = Queens gold dark
Mid = Apple red dark
Clear = SpeedoKote (other clears work too)
https://xoticcolours.com/product/queens-gold-metallic-basecoat/

Your tank looks great, 69cb750!
I've had a look at xotic's website... thanks for the link!

Is your striping painted or a decal?
If the latter, when in the 3-coat process did you apply the decal?
If the former, did you use the Queen's Gold Dark for the stripe?

Thanks!  ZT

[andy750]

I'd be interested to learn more about xotic paints as well as your formula(s).
I couldn't get, what I though was, their website to load.

Base = Queens gold dark
Mid = Apple red dark
Clear = SpeedoKote (other clears work too)
https://xoticcolours.com/product/queens-gold-metallic-basecoat/

Beautiful work! If you are looking for work I have a K2 tank and sidecovers I would like to get painted  Let me know if interested.
thanks
Andy

[69cb750]

Is your striping painted or a decal?
If the latter, when in the 3-coat process did you apply the decal?
If the former, did you use the Queen's Gold Dark for the stripe?

The stripe is paint.
Complete tank, spray two coats base, two coats mid, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
Tape for stripe, scuff, one light coat gray primer, two coats black base, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
3m tape for black lines, scuff, one light coat gray primer, two coats gold base, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
Remove all tape and paper, scuff tank, two coats of clear.
I am using black ppg base, gold ppg base dbc27381.
The clear coat protects the base coat from coming off when removing tape.
This is evolution, I have tried gold seperate, black seperate, black over gold, gold over black works best.
PPG paint getting very expensive, will swith to Omni when I run out of ppg.

Beautiful work! If you are looking for work I have a K2 tank and sidecovers I would like to get painted  Let me know if interested.
thanks

I have four bikes in my basement and lack of time for my projects.

[ZTatZAU]

The stripe is paint.

Very nice!  If I proceed with an OEM paint scheme, I'd like to paint the stripe on my 1971 (12/70) K1 too.

Complete tank, spray two coats base, two coats mid, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I assume, up to this point... (for the Candy Ruby Red), you are using the Xotics paint products you mentioned with Speedokote clear?  Then, after 24 hrs, start on the stripe using the PPG products you mentioned?

Tape for stripe, scuff, one light coat gray primer, two coats black base, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
3m tape for black lines, scuff, one light coat gray primer, two coats gold base, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
Remove all tape and paper, scuff tank, two coats of clear.
I am using black ppg base, gold ppg base dbc27381.
The clear coat protects the base coat from coming off when removing tape.
This is evolution, I have tried gold seperate, black seperate, black over gold, gold over black works best.
PPG paint getting very expensive, will swith to Omni when I run out of ppg.

Thanks much for the info, 69cb750!
ZT

Beautiful work! If you are looking for work I have a K2 tank and sidecovers I would like to get painted  Let me know if interested.
thanks

I have four bikes in my basement and lack of time for my projects.

[69cb750]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I assume, up to this point... (for the Candy Ruby Red), you are using the Xotics paint products you mentioned with Speedokote clear?  Then, after 24 hrs, start on the stripe using the PPG products you mentioned?

Yes

[ZTatZAU]

...
Complete tank, spray two coats base, two coats mid, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
Tape for stripe, scuff, one light coat gray primer, two coats black base, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
3m tape for black lines, scuff, one light coat gray primer, two coats gold base, one coat clear, wait 24 hours.
Remove all tape and paper, scuff tank, two coats of clear.
I am using black ppg base, gold ppg base dbc27381.
The clear coat protects the base coat from coming off when removing tape.

This is evolution, I have tried gold seperate, black seperate, black over gold, gold over black works best.
PPG paint getting very expensive, will swith to Omni when I run out of ppg.
...

I know the candy ruby red formula you posted was for the XOTIC base and mid coat paint, but have you ever gotten good candy ruby red results with a PPG base and mid coat?

If so, do you remember what the PPG colors were?  My fairing paint guy is going to try matching my Yamiya CCRR painted side covers with PPG he has on hand.  Any tips on this appreciated.

And... have you always used a gold base coat for Honda's candy ruby red?  I've seen other info saying Honda's  1971 CRR used a Candy Silver Base coat (UC-16-100) and Candy Ruby Red Mid/Top coat (HC-16-201).  Not sure where this info or the numbers came from.  Can anyone shed light on these "color codes"?

Or if any particular combo of PPG (or Omni/Shopline) base and mid coat will recreate the Honda CRR color?

Thanks much! ZT

[jlh3rd]

just informational...not too much help.
but, that info probably came from the Lubritech Paint Schedule, shown here. Lubritech had a licensing agreement with Honda that gave permission for them to produce authentic honda motorcycle paints. Mostly marketed in spray cans. My guess is the "HC" and "UC" numbers are Lubritech's assigned #'s, not honda.
Honda "paint" "codes" were like the can also shown here.....this is the candy tone orange for the sunrise metalflake orange color. Honda used another different two letter # in the parts list for painted parts.
Lubritech also had a kawasaki agreement.

[ZTatZAU]

Thanks JLH3!

I actually just ran across that same info (probably posted by you) about the Lubritech company while searching older SOHC4 threads.

I'm currently most curious about the proper basecoat color for 1971 Candy Ruby Red.  Lubritech says Candy SILVER basecoat.  But the VMR kits and 69cb750 who does an amazing CRR using XOTIC paints, both use Gold basecoats.

Like others who've posted, for years, I'm trying to help my painter who'd like to try matching the CRR on my new Yamiya painted set with PPG paints he has on hand rather than by one of the other kits/cans.

ZT

[jlh3rd]

as I don't paint , I can't help with that. I would say that as many actual examples from guys on here that have painted as restorations is the best path.....however...
If your trying to match yamiya, maybe you could send a question to them and just ask what exact colors they use. They seem to be pretty reachable.
As fantastic as a gold base color ruby red paint job is, candy tone top coat painted parts will not be the same shade as a silver base coat job ( my opinion, and others).  My guess is that yamiya uses the silver. I have read on here that yamiya sets match the vintage honda parts right on. Plus, every coat of candy top coats deepen the color....you are attempting a tough challenge even if it's the same procedure
You see where I'm going with this.
gotta add, this is assuming lubritech is correct

[ZTatZAU]

...
If your trying to match yamiya, maybe you could send a question to them and just ask what exact colors they use. They seem to be pretty reachable.

I have considered that!  Thanks for the nudge!
I've corresponded with Yamiya and I wholeheartedly agree on their reachability. 

As fantastic as a gold base color ruby red paint job is, candy tone top coat painted parts will not be the same shade as a silver base coat job ( my opinion, and others)...
You see where I'm going with this.
gotta add, this is assuming lubritech is correct

Yes, I do and have to say I'm glad to know that I'm not the first one to ponder the silver vs gold basecoat question.  I was just hoping someone would have had all this down pat by now.

ZT