The Cost of a Decent Paint Job

[desertrefugee]

OK. So, I have the "skins" for my '78 GL out for smoothing/prepping/painting. It's being done by a friend and he's doing the job pretty danged cheaply. (Remember, mine is a budget build). But, he does good work in his home shop/booth. He did my wife's car after she got a boo boo. I was impressed. So, This topic can apply to pretty much any bike, but the GL presents a couple of unique challenges - i.e. many separate pieces and several base materials.

He threw out a number that shocked me ($100!!). At the time - last week, I told him he was nuts and said I couldn't pay that little. I said it'd be at least double. Went by today and he's already got them smoothed and in primer. They look pretty good. Says he's got about 3 hours into them as they sit.

But, what is everyone paying for paint? Now, I know that the sky is the limit, but for an average rider-quality job, what is typical? I also know it'll vary by geographical location, but a NICE job by a reputable shop with base/clear could easily go over a grand, right?

I'm talking a basic job, no graphics or fancy stuff.

I think I'll throw up another poll, just for giggles...

[Casper]

I paid just over $400, but this is in Canada where things are generally more expensive. In addition it was a three coat pearl, base/color/pearl top so the cost of the materials/labor was higher. No graphics or pin stripes.

[duke182]

$300-400 shoyld get you a really nice oaint job
A grand or better should get you an amazing paint job

Thing is, if you have the equipment you can keep the cost down doing it yourself.
If you buy good equipment just to say you did it s
All, you just blew the budget

[SnoBrdr]

OK. So, I have the "skins" for my '78 GL out for smoothing/prepping/painting. It's being done by a friend and he's doing the job pretty danged cheaply. (Remember, mine is a budget build). But, he does good work in his home shop/booth. He did my wife's car after she got a boo boo. I was impressed. So, This topic can apply to pretty much any bike, but the GL presents a couple of unique challenges - i.e. many separate pieces and several base materials.

He threw out a number that shocked me ($100!!). At the time - last week, I told him he was nuts and said I couldn't pay that little. I said it'd be at least double. Went by today and he's already got them smoothed and in primer. They look pretty good. Says he's got about 3 hours into them as they sit.

But, what is everyone paying for paint? Now, I know that the sky is the limit, but for an average rider-quality job, what is typical? I also know it'll vary by geographical location, but a NICE job by a reputable shop with base/clear could easily go over a grand, right?

I'm talking a basic job, no graphics or fancy stuff.

I think I'll throw up another poll, just for giggles...

Supplies would cost close to $100 alone for good paint, etc.

[tomk1960]

$300-400 shoyld get you a really nice oaint job
A grand or better should get you an amazing paint job

Thing is, if you have the equipment you can keep the cost down doing it yourself.
If you buy good equipment just to say you did it s
All, you just blew the budget

If there are no decals involved and very little bodywork, then this may be possible. If you want the bodywork to look original with repro decals, clearcoat, etc., I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to do the job for less than $600. I used a guy in WV to do three sets of bodywork for various bikes I restored. The CB750F parts were $600 in the original gloss black with decals and clearcoated. They were gorgeous. The CB1100F bodywork cost over $1100 and was worth every penny since there was a pearl, candy, lots of decals, and clearcoating involved. A comparable paint job today would be closer to $2000. Unfortunately, it was a part time business for him and he got burned out and got out of it.

I plan to have the bodywork on my '78 GL redone in an original color with decals, and I have no doubt that it will be well over $600 for the set. Good paint shops aren't cheap and a lot of them don't like doing this work - they'd rather do insurance repairs on cars. I hope I can find someone reasonable here in MA that can do a nice job.

[delling3]

I am in the over $1K group.

An acquaintance of mine does a wide range of automotive and motorsports work (mechanical, electrical, paint), and runs the school of automotive service at a local university. I actually bought my Gold Wing from him, and asked him if he would be interested in doing the paint.

In my case, I went with AMG/Mercedes gun-metal gray paint, with custom pinstripes on the shelter. I also had the front and rear fenders sand blasted, and powdercoated (as a primer coat) before they were sprayed body color, and the whole shebang then got 6 coats of clear. The paint is flawless - the guy is a perfectionist who put far more time into the job than the guys that have done my previous bikes. It shows, but the bill hurt.

My mistakes: Not getting a quote before handing off the parts. Choosing a very expensive paint system - material costs were about $400 for all the required paints, pearl additive, etc.

Bottom line is the paint turned out great, and I love the result. I think I would have been just as satisfied spending a lot less if I had made better choices. I would estimate that my bike would likely sell for $3500 - but no way I can justify spending $1200 on paint.

[skydog]

I had my 84 done this summer.800 bucks for a candy red to gold mettalic and clear coated.Painted pinstriping with two Vetter bag lids as well.He had to take some rust outta the back fender as well.This is a friend of mine,regualar price would have been over a grand.The result is spectacular!The red and gold "flip"in the light.

[gregforesi]

I rattle canned mine and it was over $100 by the time I got done. About a case of cans, build a cheapy booth, sandpaper, patience, more sandpaper, more patience, run-out-of-patience, more sandpaper...you get the idea.

[Oldewing]

my 1100 was and is rattle can, gloss black. No sandpaper, no prep, unless it has just rained....... But it is in the club of "you can't tell when your riding" so it's fine.


Saves boat loads of time waxing too

[HOTT]

I do my own. I can tell you just materials (approx)....

1 gal. clear with activator (house brand)................$100.00 (no I don't use a whole gallon,
but it's much cheaper than buying quarts & I use it pretty regular)
1 pint base coat (color)...........................................$ 40.00 (yellows are much more)
x2 (I like two tones)................................................$ 40.00
rattle can primer/paper/polish & glazes.................$ 70.00
So that is with out the labor it takes for; prep, layout, application, wet sand & polishing.

Hmm. $600.00 sounds pretty good.

HOTT

[Gowing]

I spoke with a painter a few months ago at a local paint supply store when doing just my fake
tank lid. $100 bucks supplies and three hours. And he said he would need $1500 for a
top notch pant job on my 75 including side covers.

[desertrefugee]

I dunno. I'm gonna have to throw a BS flag on the play here. We're not talking about show bikes. Whole nuther kettle of fish. Ain't no way on God's green earth there'd be a need to splash that kind of cash on a daily rider bike job. No doubt you'd get a nice job (you'd better). But, I suspect the folks responding to this poll paying $600'ish are getting pretty nice work.

The jury is still out on my job (and its price), but I expect to pay in the neighborhood of $200. A friend, but he says he'll make a little coin. Like I said, the end result will soon be known...

(Like I'd admit here if it's a dud!)

[chewy999]

I believe this is a case of 'you get what you pay for'. I got a quote for dummy tank, side panels, and front mudguard and the top price was £700, ($1100)! I was a bit fazed but know that a lot of the costs come in the preparation, but as has been said, my bike will never be a show bike so will look around for an alternative. Got a mate who knows someone who can do an acceptable job including pin stripes!

[SnoBrdr]

I dunno. I'm gonna have to throw a BS flag on the play here. We're not talking about show bikes. Whole nuther kettle of fish. Ain't no way on God's green earth there'd be a need to splash that kind of cash on a daily rider bike job. No doubt you'd get a nice job (you'd better). But, I suspect the folks responding to this poll paying $600'ish are getting pretty nice work.

The jury is still out on my job (and its price), but I expect to pay in the neighborhood of $200. A friend, but he says he'll make a little coin. Like I said, the end result will soon be known...

(Like I'd admit here if it's a dud!)

I guess they figure they have you over a barrel cause they can do it and you can't.

[Oldewing]

Small hijack, worked at a Earl's Shop in the 70's.....Any Car any color 79.95 was on our shirts then We did two tone for 10.00 more


And sometimes we even sanded before we painted.....

All the taping was done by kids even younger than me ( I was 18)