Topic: Question: What is the value in original frame paint

[thirstforspeed]

guys,

looking for a little opinion here. i have a pretty clean 78 CB550K, and i have already taken it all apart so that I can do an engine-out restomod. I want to preserve the value of the stock bike, so i will be keeping all the chrome, and not cutting the frame or painting anything that can't be reversed.

my question is: the frame is nice, but has a bit of surface rust and some chips. I don't want to powdercoat it, but instead use something like automotive epoxy paint as IMO it is closer to what the frame was painted with at the factory. will using epoxy paint devalue the bike in a magnitude similar to if i were to cut the tail off and do one of those cafe rear loops for example?

[Stev-o]

will using epoxy paint devalue the bike in a magnitude similar to if i were to cut the tail off and do one of those cafe rear loops for example?

Of course not!  Sorry to say, that is not a super valuable bike you have there [I have one too].
Unless it is totally all original, including original body paint in very good cond, toughing up will def not devalue it and may add some value or at the very least make it more marketable.
Semi-gloss paint is very close to the original frame paint.

[Dunk]

Seriously? When I restored my 750 K1 I stripped the frame and painted with VHT. Nobody into old CBs ever commented on non original frame paint. The comments were more along the lines of "Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor", and only the very observant would notice the minor but mostly correct appearing improvements (new stamped DID rims, stainless spokes, Dyna ignition, a bit more polish than from Honda, etc...)

Repainted frame looks plenty close enough, and IMO there is zero value in original frame paint if it is at all blemished with rust. Even if very nice with only minor scratches or blemishes I think repainting with an epoxy paint would be a net gain in value vs imperfect original paint.

[thirstforspeed]

okay thanks. i just wanted to make sure. in Toronto the prices for CB550s and 750s are insane. $5K for a nice but not gorgeous original bike.

the assumption is that all of my work is intended to restore the bike, I just want to make sure I don't do anything that would irreversibly reduce value.

[Don R]

 Agreed paint it. That said, keep a nice tank original.

[thirstforspeed]

deal. done.



and sorry, the ship has sailed on the tank. it was painted 'lamborghini orange' by the previous owner's son. there are no dents, but there is a lot of orange that needs to go.
i plan to black out everything except the engine, and paint the side covers and tank a nice off white. not quite cream, but not quite white. its gonna be for my wife.

this is the bike, sans side covers, but i have them.


this is my blog of the build.
http://thirstforspeed.blogspot.ca/

[Powderman]

I am a professional powder coater. Who here can look at the frame and tell whether it is painted or powder coated? Most chassis and frame stuff in the auto industry use a PACCAR Black which is a 55% gloss level. Unless you are building a high dollar original powder coating will not detract from the value.

[754]

I have picked out a few frames that are powder coated.. Some of them look more like plastic than paint...
 I don't care on a nodded bike.. That's the place for it..
 But if the person says it will be a full on resto.. I tell them,  it's incorrect.. That finish did not exist on these bikes..

[thirstforspeed]

its very interesting to see the split on opinions on this. very useful info.

from where i sit it has confirmed my opinion that a paint job is the way to go on this instead of powder.

thanks guys! i expected the answer to take many more days to be honest. very pleased that the hive mind was able to help me decide so quickly

[754]

First think I would ask if powdercoating... How will I be able to touch this up.?

[Powderman]

First think I would ask if powdercoating... How will I be able to touch this up.?

Because powder is so tough it is 10 times more unlikely you will need to touch it up. That's why it is a much better option than paint that will probably need touching up everytime you move the motor in the frame and chip the paint, gets hit by a rock, etc.
I hear so many stories of painted bikes that need touching up that people automatically assume powder will do the same thing, it just doesn't.
If need be, you can touch up a powder job with paint. But your fix will not perform as well over a period of time.

[rocs]

IM glad to see these responses!

I painted my frame with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy. Very tough and durable paint. Cheap also. Heres my build thread with my frame along with my friends frame painted with this. Spray it on thick if you chose this route

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,143510.0.html

[przjohn]

IM glad to see these responses!

I painted my frame with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy. Very tough and durable paint. Cheap also. Heres my build thread with my frame along with my friends frame painted with this. Spray it on thick if you chose this route

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,143510.0.html

I have used that paint on a few items and it is a very good paint. I am a fan however of a powder coated frame. I have yet to have anyone say, "Oh, that's a powder coated frame" My reasoning is the powder coater charges a fair amount to just sand blast the frame so I might as well PC it at the same time. I have had very good luck with PC on frames and parts.

[Stev-o]

If need be, you can touch up a powder job with paint.

I always thought this too, PM. 

I always read "oh, you cant touch up powdercoat".   BS, sure ya can.

[Retro Rocket]

If need be, you can touch up a powder job with paint.

I always thought this too, PM. 

I always read "oh, you cant touch up powdercoat".   BS, sure ya can.

Older powdercoat finishes were thick and did look like plastic, new powder is nothing like that, I challenge anyone to tell the difference by eye, there are thousands of powder finishes today that didn't exist even 15 years ago, you should see the candy finishes, they are awesome and far more durable than paint....

[Powderman]

If need be, you can touch up a powder job with paint.

I always thought this too, PM. 

I always read "oh, you cant touch up powdercoat".   BS, sure ya can.

Older powdercoat finishes were thick and did look like plastic, new powder is nothing like that, I challenge anyone to tell the difference by eye, there are thousands of powder finishes today that didn't exist even 15 years ago, you should see the candy finishes, they are awesome and far more durable than paint....

I do a lot of candy colors, thus my name of Creative Candy Powder Coating. I was never into doing paint/body work myself so didn't think about it till now that a normal paint job does not go over a blasted surface. THATS WHY IT CHIPS SO EASILY. The blasted surface for powder coating is one of the reasons it is so durable and resistant to chipping. Applied correctly it is only .0015-.003" thick, average paint job is twice that at 5-6mil, 1.5-2mil being the clear coat.

[seanbarney41]

not much logic here when you are gonna paint the bodywork white, but you are worried about whether to paint or powdercoat the frame?  I ain't mad at ya, I'm just sayin' pretty much every restored bike gets new paint or powder for the frame, only the ones with an authentic color scheme can be called restorations.

[Dunk]

Regarding durability of powdercoat... If you've ever tried to strip a powdercoated anything to bare metal you'd know it's pretty tough stuff. Sucks if it does get a chip of scratch though, but much harder to do so. It's tough and I'm on the fence about it, but I generally prefer paint because I can touch it up easily.

Stripping frames sucks unless you have a large booth to blast. For mine I go chem with aircraft stripper then wire wheel the whole thing. Clean with brake cleaner then paint shortly thereafter so it doesn't flash rust. Spray in the hidden areas and places around welded pieces with rust converting primer.