5 Best Spray Paints For Your Motorcycle Frame
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Has the paint on your bike become too chipped or old? And you want to paint it before your next road trip? We have the top 5 motorcycle frame spray paints in the market that can help you complete this project in no time without compromising quality with a lustrous finish, durability, and excellent adhesion.
This specific spray paint is our #1 recommendation for motorcycle frame spray paint. Its durability and lustrous finish, along with its affordability, make it our top pick.
Today, the spray paint market is so saturated that it makes it easy for anyone to fall into the wrong hands of manufacturers who are comfortable reeling out counterfeit and sub-standard spray paints. Some spray paints have not been subject to serious quality assurance checks. That is if they have been made to pass through such a process.
From the survey, most motorcyclists, motorcycle enthusiasts, and custom motorcycle builders do not have issues selecting which paint to use on their frames. The majority understand that there is no question about spray paint on motorcycle frames.
Why? For the many times I’ve applied a fresh coat of spray paint, I have helped more than 20 motorcyclists, including motorcycle owners and builders, return their chipped-looking motorcycle frames to their old glory shining days and make them look brand new. The frames received a much better and desired look, and their wallet didn’t have to be a victim of running-over paint. Through trial and error, I have applied a wide range of spray paints, and I can say that some are better than others.
But the Do-It-Yourself spray painters have demanded that I make my recommendation of the top best spray paints that are ideal to use on their motorcycle frame. That is what I have come to do here. I need to pay close attention to every detail and information I will share with you here.
But I’ve often said there is the need to commit some cash. I said cash because some of the spray paints I recommend here can be pricey. Interestingly, you don’t have to wait forever because the spray paints get the lightning-quick evaporation you observe when you pour some methylated spirit on a surface.
What materials do you need to spray paint your bike frame?
Before I start to tell you what’s good about the best five spray paints, I must inform you that we need to have the following essential materials ready and at hand before we start to spray paint our bike frame.
Spray painting your bike frame is quite an easy job, and you may not need to hire the services of a pro to do it for you. If you’re going for the DIY spray painting, here is a list of everything you need to get it done.
- Quality spray paint
- Clear coat or rubbing alcohol
- Lint-free towel
- Painter’s tape (for covering parts you don’t wish to paint)
- Sandpaper (sanding your bike frame allows the pain to stick better.
Self-protective and Safety Gear
- A pair of safety goggles (for your safety)
- Dust mask
- Gloves
Two things you must keep in mind
- You can only use sandpaper on your frame if the frame isn’t made of raw aluminum, carbon, or steel.
- Ensure you’ve got all the above essentials before attempting to spray paint your bike frame to get excellent results.
Now that we have our essentials ready, let us visit the shelf so I can show you the top 5 best spray paints you can use on your bike frame.
1. Automotive Acrylic Lacquer Aerosol Paint
This automotive acrylic lacquer aerosol paint is number one on my list of the top 5 best spray paints. I have recommended this fantastic spray paint to hundreds of my customers, and the feedback has been incredible. The number of nods it has received online on various dropshipping and e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, speaks volumes about the fantastic work the spray paint performs on motorcycle frames.
If used correctly, this paint has proven to be of rugged durability and lustrous finish. Besides, this painting is the right partner for DIY painters because it makes painting easy while giving your bike frame a professional look.
Acrylic lacquer is a premium automotive design that guarantees a quality finish on your bike frame. Because it is a lacquer, this formula dries fast and sticks quickly to your motorcycle frame. This makes it easy for you because you’ll get it done by sparing a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. Besides, the paint has superior adhesion to metal.
Once it gets dry, this spray paint can be machined or hand-buffed to give your bike frame an even glossier look that is typical of a professional job. Do not be in a hurry to buff or sand the frame; wait for at least 48 hours. Also, do not spray this paint over existing air-dried enamel paints. You won’t get the best result you desire.
Do you have any model of automotive acrylic lacquer paint to recommend?
That’s a no-brainer. I will recommend the black gloss Rust-Oleum Automotive 253365 12-Ounce Acrylic Lacquer Spray, Rust-Oleum 1906830 Lacquer Spray, 11-Ounce, Gloss Clear, and Rust-Oleum 1905830 1905-830 Spray Paint, 11-Ounce, Black
Features
- Excellent adhesion
- Indoor-outdoor durability (can last you for no less than six years)
- Comfortable spray nozzle
- Premium automotive formulation
- Multiple angle spray
- Size: 12 oz. Spray
Read Customer Reviews and learn more.
2. Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Metallic Spray Paint
Packaged in an 11 oz can, the Rust-Oleum 248637 Stops Rust Metallic Spray Paint is vintage copper metallic in color. If you mention a bike frame spray paint without one capable of delivering a brilliant shiny finish, then your mention is complete.
Besides, this spray paint makes our selection because it is also one of the highest-quality spray paints you can find on the market as I write this post. Rust-Oleum is famous for its durability and offers high resistance to corrosion, abrasion, chipping, and fading.
This oil-based formula can withstand any weather conditions. That gives you a guarantee that the spray paint will protect your bike from rusting and corrosion, which often weaken parts of your bike frame.
When it comes to application, the Rust-Oleum 248637 Stops Rust Metallic Spray Paint easily and quickly dries. In fact, in less than 20 minutes, drying takes place.
Highlighted features
- Resistant against corrosion and other weather conditions
- Oil-based formula
- Durable protective coating
- Dries quickly and fast
- Excellent abrasion, chipping, and fading resistance
- It delivers a flawless finish
- 11 oz can
Read Customer Reviews and learn more.
3. Rust-Oleum 11-Ounce Spray Paint
This is another product from Rust-Oleum. The 11-Ounce Specialty Spray Color Shift was the spray paint I recommended to a friend in early 2019 when he wanted to build his custom motorcycle.
Unlike what you don’t find in many other paintings, the 11-Ounce Specialty is produced with new and advanced technology featuring upgraded light interference pigments. These pigments can change to different colors (you can experience the rainbow color), depending on the source it receives its light.
This spray paint saves money because of its long durability and versatility. It can be used in a wide range of outdoor and indoor projects. Because your bike frame is a paintable metal surface, it becomes prey to the magnificent finish that our 11-Ounce Specialty Spray gives.
Also, the paint is easy and comfortable to apply. This is due to its comfort tip plus any-angle spray feature, which makes it easy for a bike frame painter to apply it in any position he feels comfortable in. This color shift spray paint is often recommended to be applied over a black coat, say black primer, surface, or paint.
Highlighted features
- Any-angle spray with comfort and spray tip
- Easy to use
- Suitable for use on different materials
- Versatile for indoor and outdoor use
- Durable
Read Customer Reviews and learn more.
4. Honda R23 Tahitian Red Spray Paint
If you’re looking for spray paint that offers your bike frame the best look and finish, then the Honda R23 Tahitian Red Spray Paint Dirt Bike ColorRite is the right choice. Made to give make your DIY bike painting job easier, this spray paint is single-step paint. It means you don’t need to apply any clear coat on your bike frame before applying the paint.
What many have been scared about in the recent past is whether this paint is prohibited for use in some states. There is no room for that fear because the legality of the Honda R23 Tahitian Red Spray Paint is not in doubt in all the 50 states of the Union. If you want a quick touch-up job, this paint is ideal.
This paint can be applied to various bike frames. Whether you ride 1975-1982 CR125 or CR250 models of Honda Dirt Bikes or ATV frames, this color provides the best loo. Its quality and resilience boost your confidence for continuity in use.
Highlighted features
- Perfect for quick touch-up jobs
- Legal for use in all 50 states
- 11oz can
- No clear coat required
- Durable and versatile
Read Customer Reviews and learn more.
5. Yamaha Racing Blue Spray Paint
In my quest to help bike owners, motorcycle lovers, and custom motorcycle builders get real, hands-on value for the bike they own, I walked up straight to a spray paint store in late December to make inquiries about the quality of Yamaha’s 0564 Racing Blue Spray Paint Dirt Bike ColorRite Single Stage. The review I got from many of the buyers right in front of me in the store was amazing. This is not virtual feedback. It was real, live, and practical.
One thing that caught my attention about this paint is that it is cost-efficient, time-saving, and effort-conserving. How? It involves a one-step painting process. You don’t have to use any clear coat before applying the paint on your bike frame. That
Again, whether you reside in the lowlands of eastern portions of Kansas, Oklahoma, and northeast Texas, or the cold regions of North Dakota, Alaska, or Minnesota, you can order this paint, and no state law forbids its use across the length and breadth of the US. The Yamaha 0564 Racing Blue Spray Paint Dirt Bike ColorRite Single Stage is legal in all 50 states, making it ideal for quick touch-up jobs.
The bike frame spray paint is packaged in 11oz cans, boasting many years of use as a model on all Yamaha motorcycles, ATVs, and dirt bikes. So, if you’re looking for paint that won’t fade easily then the ColorRite model is the right choice. It matches your bike’s original factory color.
Highlighted features
- No clear coat required
- 110z can
- Available and legal in all states
- Ideal for fast touch-up jobs
Read Customer Reviews and learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to disassemble your entire bike before painting the frame?
The direct answer to your question is an absolute NO. There is this wrong idea among frame painters, including some pros, that to paint a motorcycle frame, you will need to remove and uncouple the whole body of your bike, including removing the engine.
My experience over the last few years has taught me that I don’t need to disassemble the motorcycle when planning to paint the frame.
Besides the fact that removing the engine can be daunting and have dire consequences if not properly handled, not uncoupling the bike won’t compromise the quality and standard of your painting.
The best way to do this is to tape off the engine and other bike parts that don’t require painting. Make sure that overspray gets on the engine. To achieve this, you can use a newspaper or some masking tape.
Do you need experience painting a motorcycle gas tank?
This is a binary question. Yes, I will say you need experience. I will also say -no, you don’t. Yes, because no experience is required to paint a motorcycle gas tank. However, having experience is a plus; it gives an added edge. If you have some practice before painting a bike gas tank, it may help you avoid some common errors.
But if you’ve not painted a motorcycle gas tank before, nurse no fear. You can start by picking some unimportant objects around you and painting them. Feel how it feels and looks, and use the experience from that unimportant practice to get your hands on an important painting.
What are motorcycle frames made from?
Typically, the old motorcycle frames were made from tubular steel. However, as technology advances and demands for upgraded models increase, motorcycle frame manufacturers are made from aluminum or carbon fiber. Meanwhile, we still have some bike frames made from steel, which is not as rampant as aluminum or carbon fiber.
Can I spray-paint my motorcycle engine?
Why not? You can spray paint your bike engine. But it is better to start with the services of a pro rather than going the DIY way. This is because engine paints can withstand high temperatures. In that case, if you’re a new person in the line of engine paints, it is advisable not to use ordinary spray paints but formulated engine paints. Unlike the common spray paints, formulated engine spray paints glue to the engine and don’t come off easily. Besides, they don’t combust when the engine is hot during operation.
What should you do before painting your frame?
Painting a motorcycle frame does not start and end with the word ‘painting.’ It is a lot of work, and many things are involved before you paint, wait for it to dry, and desire its beauty.
To achieve the desired results, there are several steps you have to take. Some of these steps are things you’re already familiar with; some are not-too-strange ideas; all you’d need is to get acquainted with them as soon as possible quickly.
Meanwhile, the list of the prep works you need before painting depends a lot of times on how much painting you want to give to your frame. If you’re repainting, the requirements differ, and the demand won’t be the same if it is a new bike frame. If you’re painting the whole frame, whether old or new, you know the process would be more intensive and cumbersome than a part painting.
Remove any obstruction
The first thing to do is to get rid of any parts that may stand in the way and make the result look shabby and chipped. Never overspray on parts, as they may be difficult to remove after painting. If you can remove it, tape it off.
Clean the frame to remove chunks
This is not usual among frame painters who want to finish the job quickly; they don’t mind whether or not the painting will chip shortly. You’ll also make this mistake if you don’t clean the bike frame and remove all dirt, grime, and gunk built upon it. If any of the dirt proves stubborn enough to be removed, use a wire brush or scraper. The sandpaper is also there for you to use to eliminate those harder chunks that won’t budge.
Scuff up old paint
Let me reiterate the rule of thumb for the umpteen times: don’t paint over an underlayment. What do I mean, as much as you can, scuff up the rest of the paint you want to paint over? You don’t have to sand the whole area you want to paint on the frame to bare metal, but at least make sure you scuff the underlayer. Once done, a wet rag will finish the rest before you start to paint.
Start painting
After completing all the processes, it is time to apply your spray paint. You can paint the engine or the frame, but the processes and procedures are different. So, understand each process and follow through. How much do you need even to do the spraying? Check out my next issue.
How much does it cost to spray a bike frame?
The cost of spray painting your bike frame depends mainly on the volume of work that will be done before and during the painting. If the painter has to pass through all the stages of removing obstacles, cleaning the frame to remove chunks, dirt, and debris, and scuff off old paints before the actual painting, you will cough up something in the region of $300-$1500. However, if you’re doing your own thing in your way, or you’re not picky, then $100 or so will finish up all spray paint on your bike frame.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve explored the best spray paints for your motorcycle frame, it’s time to take action! Whether you like glossy and bright colors or rustic finishes, there is a spray paint out there for you. Be sure to test the paint on a sample before working on your actual bike frame to ensure the color and finish you want.
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