Painting a car or motorcycle

[SomethingClever]

So, I understand that to do a proper job on this, you need to strip the existing paint off, use primer, and then get a high-quality paint and use a spray gun.

HOWEVER

I want to paint a racing stripe on the tank of my motorcycle, and I'm wondering if I need to go to all that trouble.

It's an old bike with lots of scuffs and scratches already... if I just get a can of Krylon, tape off a stripe and have at it, will it look OK? My bike is currently bright yellow and I want to do a black stripe, if that makes a difference.

Someone tell me why I should or should not do this.

This is an example of the look I'm going for. Although I will just do one fat stripe for simplicity's sake, not one fat one and two skinny ones.

[guids]

I would check the net out for some vinyl pinstriping decals, they will probably be way easier, and look better


http://www.autotrimexpress.com/

something like this

[SomethingClever]

Hmm, the idea of vinyl pinstriping is intriguing, but I couldn't find a solid stripe anywhere on that site.

I also googled "vinyl pinstripe for motorcycle" and everything that comes up is flames or checkered flags or skulls. I just want a stripe, dammit!

[guids]

ya the tough part is going to be digging up a site with exactly what you want. but those things are extremely easy and quick to do, and look abotu 100 times better than spraypaint.


here you go:

http://www.edecals.com/Flags/rallyst.htm?source=home


you can cut these things every easily if they are too long obv.


And if you want something like the bike in the op, just buy the 6inch vinyl stripe from above, and get some pinstriping from autozone etc, and you can make it look pretty close.

[esevans]

No need for paint stripping. if the paint is in good shape it can be sanded and painted over. vinyl would be OK, but a good paint job with topcoat of clear would look the best. It might not cost that much to have it done by a shop if you take off the tank and fender yourself.