Painting

[TomHines]

I need instructions on how to redo my paint..

I saw this guy on youtube with an all white bike... I would really like the same color as that.. Gloossy looking... does anyone have instructions what paint to use and the steps thank you.

[x18nfs]

http://minimotoplanet.net/forums/midbike-how-tos/288-how-paint-get-good-finish-will-last.html

there is a good guidethumbsup2

[Ghost Rider]

That guy with the video is me...its actually not that glossy but i still think its one of the best looking x18sthumbsup2

[TomHines]

I love everything about your bike lol.. I want something like it that why I joined here =p... Could you tell me what you did to paint it like what paint you used.

[TomHines]

It is odd the site you bought it off is still selling 2007 x18s. Are they a good site? And what were you hitting when it came out of the box? I may get this but I want to get it street legal.. Does it have back lights I know some x18s dont.

[ninja x1]

yeah it dose, you just have to switch the wires from the clutch to the brake lever, you might have to some come like that, :confused:

[TomHines]

Wow thats wierd.. I heard some dont have back lights.. There are so many scams out there. But the holezshot site and superpocketbikes18 site both look decent... Because they have Vin numbers...

But I looked at super pocket bikes section and when they deliver it to you its say not for street use! on the box lol

[rene13]

They can be register for street use.

[TomHines]

I hope I can and there isnt a lil stupid thing I missed... I know Ii need to add mirrors and a liscence plate with a light.. (Dont know were I will find the light)

[rene13]

Where do you live? What light are you referring too?

[TomHines]

I live in maine... And I am refering to my liscence plate it requirse it to have a light in the state I live in.. But I have no clue were I can find a holder with a light on it.

[rene13]

I hope I can and there isnt a lil stupid thing I missed... I know Ii need to add mirrors and a liscence plate with a light.. (Dont know were I will find the light)

If you are talking about the light that shine on the plate here it is http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Custom-License-plate-lights-LED-Bolt-Lights-Stainless_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33713QQihZ017 QQitemZ270259808596QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

All you have to do is wire it into (tap into the running light) the regular running light and the same goes for the other lights if your adding more lights for safety reasons. Just tap intothe lights you already have. Here you go.

YouTube - Rene's X-18 Midbike 2nd time around!

[ninja x1]

yeah i did that, i bought 4 signal lights, and they look really nice.

[rene13]

yeah i did that, i bought 4 signal lights, and they look really nice.

The mini stalks in the back cost me like 20 bucks and so did the side markers by Lockhart Phillips, my pig spotters cost me like 40 used.

[TomHines]

Does the bike require to have side markers to get registered?

[ninja x1]

The mini stalks in the back cost me like 20 bucks and so did the side markers by Lockhart Phillips, my pig spotters cost me like 40 used.

dang there where kinda expinsev then, i got 4 for like 23 bucks, the ones on the back look way better, than when i had them on the video.


o and tom, in some states they have to be a certain distance, like here in az, they have to be like 8 in apart??

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

hey, dont just paint it a color, do something different
YouTube - X18 Rising Sun Ninja

[Ghost Rider]

Just do something different that no one else has

[TomHines]

I dont know what I could do -_-.. I diff want neon lights lol

[TomHines]

Rene or someone could you tell me how this whole lighting system works.. How you can add so many lights... Also do you have to create wholes to put your side markers on..

Sorry so many questions I am not a mechanic and new to mid bikes... I fell in love with them though the first time I saw them for some reason.

[r32rider]

hey rene13, did you have to cut your fairings to run the exhaust like that? its looks hella sweet.

[TomHines]

What io wanna know is if he cut the fairings to put the markers on.. Or if they are stick on.

[r32rider]

more then likely you have to drill a small hole for the wire to go through and that should be it. they are definitly not stick on, you have to have a hole for the wire somewhere. come on you scared to drill a hole in that body, lol.

[TomHines]

No not that lol I am afraid of me drilling a hole in the plastic lol..

[r32rider]

its nothing. go ahead and drill them. all they need to be is like 1/8th inch holes.

[redryderaus]

Wow thats wierd.. I heard some dont have back lights.. There are so many scams out there. But the holezshot site and superpocketbikes18 site both look decent... Because they have Vin numbers...

But I looked at super pocket bikes section and when they deliver it to you its say not for street use! on the box lol

To save yourself a lot of grief I strongly suggest doing some research on vendors before choosing one to buy your bike from. A flashly website is no indicator of a good vendor.

Painting is a matter of good preparation, good quality paint, good technique and patience.

- Good preparation means removing all the stickers, wiping down with acetone-based thinners to remove any gunk from the stickers then wet-sanding the existing paint with 600 or (better) 800 grit wet&dry sandpaper. You aren't trying to remove the existing paint, just remove any lumps & bumps and create an all-over matt surface for the new paint to stick to. Wash the freshly sanded surface down thoroughly with an acetone based thinners. Use a tack-rag (available from good automotive paint shops) to remove any dust and lint from cleaning cloths.

- Good quality paint means forget the $3 cans of spraypaint. It just won't work! This doesn't mean you need a spray gun, aircompressor and mega-buck paint. There are many spraycan paints out there sold for painting metal work that will (with good technique) give excellent results on a properly prepared surface. Look for the ones sold as epoxy enamels. I use Dulux "Killrust" brand paints. Don't think that because they are sold for metal they won't work on plastic. The key here is they are epoxy based and therefore they will stick like s**t to a blanket on any properly prepared surface. An added bonus of the epoxy enamels is they remain somewhat flexible which reduces cracking over time (the paint, not the crappy plastic :) ) Acrylic paints become brittle as they dry and on our plastic fairings will show cracks quite quickly.

- Good technique means setting yourself up in a clear, dust-free area. If like most of us you are spraying in your garage get out the vacuum cleaner and suck up as much dust on surfaces and structure (including the roof) as you can. I find it easier to spray horizontally from the top (ie side to side) so if your spray can has a nozzle you can adjust I'd set it that way. When spraying you start before the panel, move across the surface trying to maintain a constant 20-25cm (8-10") from the surface and finish past the panel. What you are aiming for here is a "not quite" wet look, don't worry about full coverage at this stage. Drop your hand 2-3cm (1"), press the button and come back across releasing the button past the surface. Repeat down to the bottom of the panel. By now you have a good idea how your particular spraycan lays paint. Now go back to the top and start again. This time try for a "sorta" wet look. Repeat down to the bottom of the panel. Now leave it to dry for 24-48hrs (this is where the patience comes in :)). Assuming you didn't get any runs, rub the surface down with steel wool. If you do get runs you'll need to rub them down with 800 grit wet&dry. Clean the surface again with thinners and tack-rag. Repeat the painting process this time going for a wet look, but only use one coat followed by a second 1hr later. Leave to dry for 24-48hrs (patience). You should have a shiny, even coat of paint. If it still looks a bit dull, repeat the steel wool and lay on another coatof paint. If it looks good then leave it for a few days to harden then polish with any commercially available car polish for that in-your-face shine. Always remember that with gloss paint the shine comes more from surface prep and spray technique than from the paint. It's a process that has to be learned, so don't get frustrated if your first attempt isn't perfect.

I've won "Best Presented" awards at race meets with 1:1 bikes painted with spraycans. Most people just refused believe it wasn't done professionally. But it all came down to preparation and patience.

Cheers,

red ausflag

[TomHines]

Wow thanks alot! When you say wet sand paper does this mean to wet the sand paper?



P.S If I bougth this bike new and just got rid of the stickers.. I wouldn't have to get rid of the factory paint?

[TomHines]

I found these steps on another site.. Would anyone disagree on this style of painting?

1. Take everything off your frame, it will just make everything easier and will look better. But when taking everything off the frame remember where every part came from.

2. Next buy some 80 grit sandpaper. Buy 2 or 3 packs of it (depending on the size of your frame).

3. Sand down your entire frame. Just until you cant see a shine off of the frame’s surface.

4. Wash the frame off with soap and water. Be sure to wash off all the soap. And dry off the frame. Before doing the next step, wait about 1hr after washing it for a extra safety precaution.

5. Buy 1 can of automotive spray paint of your choice of color. Buy 1 an of automotive spray paint primer. And buy 1 can of automotive spray clear coat.

6. Spray a coat of the primer on the frame. Then wait the time on the can for it to dry. Then spray another layer of the primer on. Do the same procedure for 4 or 5 layers of primer. Before doing the next step, wait at least 1 day for the primer to complete drying.

7. sand very lighly on the primer, then clean off the dust.

8. Do the same thing you did with the primer except do it with the colored paint. And remember after spraying the colored paint on, wait at least 1 day before doing the next step.

9. Do the same thing you did with the last two steps except with the clear coat.

10. After waiting another day, reassemble the bike.

[redryderaus]

Wow thanks alot! When you say wet sand paper does this mean to wet the sand paper?



P.S If I bougth this bike new and just got rid of the stickers.. I wouldn't have to get rid of the factory paint?

It is a special type of sandpaper that you frequently wet with water. The water stops clogging of the sandpaper with paint.

80grit paper is far too coarse. It will leave deep scratches which will show through the paint, especially gloss paint.

When they say soap, they should specify it should be a product called sugar soap sold in paint and hardware stores. Ordinary detergents can contain ingredients which remain after rinsing off that will contaminate paint.

Cheers,

red ausflag

[ashar014]

check out this pic of my bike

http://www.midbikenation.com/photoplog/index.php?n=133

i just used 8 sheets of 12 inch by 12 inch 400 grit sand paper

then 3 x 8oz cans of royal blue auto spray paint
then 2 x 8oz cans of clear coat auto spray paint

i didnt wait but 30 seconds between paint and clear coat

it turned out great very smooth finish, only took about 1 hour to fully dry