I have a 78 1000 and trying to find a unique look.
Has anyone has ever clear coated a frame? what would be the downsides, if any?
Looking for tips and time saving ideas as stripping the bike down and building it back up is enough work.

Thanks, Frodo
jonnyc4

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- 1978 GL1000 on its way to being a blacked out original.
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are you talking about having the frame stripped to bare metal and then clearcoating it?

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1980 GL1100 - Orange Crush

You probably will have better luck with a clear powder coat on a bare frame rather than a clear paint finish. Powder coat is more durable without a substrate.

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Craig S
1983 GL1100I

Yeah, bare steel frame. Airplane paint stripper, and scotch pads are what I have found so far. You know get that truly naked Goldwing thing going all the way to the steel.

I found a post from a xs650 site and everybody was saying to take it to a shop and get it sandblasted & clear powder coat put on BUT that usually fails at some point as well (BUT won't all paint?)

I don't have that kind of money so I was looking for alternatives.

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- 1978 GL1000 on its way to being a blacked out original.
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you can sand it down, but clear coat is really just a transparent paint. and to stick well to the frame, you would need primer

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If y put a good enough scratch in the metal 320grit and up to 800 it's not gona have an adhesion issue. The big issue is rust. Even if you have water catches on your air compressor and clean the metal really well. The slight exposure from the time you clean it off to when clear coats the metal is enough to get the ball rolling. It's goin to rust. When and how bad is up to you. My suggestion, have it blasted, then powdercoated. Easy Peasy, nd less of a hassle for you.

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1980 GL1100 - Orange Crush

i've tried clear coat on all kinda stuff, chrome shocks, cleaned bare metal bolts, i likey

try something like a swingarm

Starting small sounds like a good idea. I was thinking of using an angle grinder with a wire disc. any objections?
Then wipe it all down with acetone an then with metal rescue sealer before paint. Should I skip the metal rescue and just hit it with a clear coat as fast as possible?

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- 1978 GL1000 on its way to being a blacked out original.
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Can't believe no one has pointed you to bones, jonnyc4 if you haven't been following that one you'll have some reading ahead of you to catch up but if you're thinking of stripping a bike to bare metal its full of great info.

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Phil US Army vet
Not all who wander are lost

1971 cb 350 (gave away)
2007 xl 1200 nightster (sold)
1979 gl 1000 daily driver work in progress
1976 gl 1000 under the knife, or wrench

Hard lessons learned on "Bones" 1. Take the time you estimate for the frame and multiply it by 24! 2. Plan on spending more in stripper and supplies then you would in paint. 3. Whatever they painted these things with is TOUGH!!! Even after liberal application of stripper I still had to use stripper and coarse steel wool to scrub off the paint, then wire wheel the rest. And Cyborg is right. I used rustoleum clear and it scrapes easily. For my build I don't mind the "character". If you have actual paint equipment and proper clear you will probably have a more durable finish. If I had painted it I would have been done a year ago! But it looks awesome. If you have the patience give it a shot. You can always paint it if you get tired of it. Here's a pic and link to my build.

http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24698

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Daily rider...
2012 Concours 1400
Projects...
81 1100 "Bones" (Stripped!)
Maintain...
Dad's 86 1200 Aspencade (my fee is being able to ride it whenever)
Uncle's 76 1000 (for sale)

Oh man I just checked out the link to the build. That is incredible THANKS! and good job on everything. I have family over in Jackson a ways south of you but most of my family grew up in Detroit. Keep up the work and thanks for the inspiration.

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- 1978 GL1000 on its way to being a blacked out original.
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Have you considered anodizing your frame? Have it sandblasted, then anodized. The colors are endless and many have great cosmetic effects. They even do clear anodizing.

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Placerville - 1976 Yellow

Survivor - BOTM - May 2011

New and Confused ?
Push the Big Button

I was reading up on this and it seems you can only anodize aluminum or titanium easily. A whole frame would be hard because I would need 3 55 gallon plastic drums and be able to heat up the water in at least one of them. IT is a whole lot more work.

thanks for the idea though.

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- 1978 GL1000 on its way to being a blacked out original.
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