Featured New paint job

Decided to treat my Speed Triple to some new paint. Never sprayed before but figured for the price of materials and a few guns I get to learn a new skill and maybe save on getting someone else doing it. Went for a metallic black over the standard solid black and a gunmetal for the wheels. Still got the frame to do to match the wheels but the majority has been done. Also didn't want to use decals so cut some stencils on my plotter and used these to stencil the logo's on. Couldn't find a OEM carbon tank protector to protect the new paint so took a mould of the tank before prepping and made my own.

 

Over winter I converted 2/3rds of my garage into not so much a spray booth but a better place to work on and keep the bike condensation free. I covered the floor, walls and roof inside with a thick plastic like visqueen and then covered them all with high density fibre boards. Then put in a chipboard floor. No more condensation and it holds any heat much better. This area I covered in thin plastic when spraying to stop my tools, etc getting coated in overspray.

 

Yes mate, first go. I had spent most of winter looking at info and learning the technical details of it all. This obviously doesn't make me a pro but it certainly helped when choosing products and doing a good job on the prep and colour compounding. Got to wait a few weeks before I can put some polish on it but got a decent finish with the compound.

 

Thanks for the comments lads.

 

Thanks. I stuck with solvent based paints. I used a 2k black high build primer and once this was flatted down used a Valspar basecoat which is a high metallic black with some pearl in it too. I then used a Kapci 6030 2k clear as it is a good quality clear which can be air dried. I have some LVLP full size guns but found my mini HVLP (more midi sized) guns easier to use especially on the wheels as they are lighter and can get around the small panels better. For bike stuff I'll definitely stick with my mini's.

 

I must admit even though only about 10% of the time was spent spraying and the rest of the time mainly sanding with the prep I did enjoy doing it. I have the spoiler of my car to do which has had it's lacquer fail and my mate wants the wheels of his bike doing so looking forward to doing a bit more.

 

I can't compare myself as this is the first Triumph I've had but certainly won't be the last. Had decades mainly on Kawasaki fours which I'm still a lover of but I'm enjoying the 955i and will be keeping it for a good while yet. I think eventually I'll probably try the 1050 but my current bike does everything I want.