The Great Ongoing Motorcycle Thread

I tested the paint on the sacrificial (damaged) fairing. After prepping the whole fairing, I used Rust-Oleum automotive primer on about a third of it yesterday. I sanded it with 1,500 grit paper today, and tried the OEM paint. Good news! The paint didn’t attack the primer (or vice versa), so I can use the inexpensive primer instead of the special primer from Color Rite. I put down two base coats, followed by three colour coats, followed by two clear coats. I’m very happy with the smoothness of the finish. But…

  1. The colour is just a bit lighter than the OEM side fairings. It’s just slightly lighter than the OEM fuel tank. It should be acceptable though.
  2. I’m not seeing the ‘pearlescence’ that gives the ‘reddish’ (in certain light) of the Reddish Yellow Cocktail original paint.

I wonder if I should have used fewer colour coats? I assume the base coat is where the ‘pearlescence’ comes from. I’ll have to call Color Rite’s technical person on Monday or Tuesday. Anyone have any experience with this?

I still have ⅔ of the damaged side fairing for experimentation.