To paint or not to paint.

[SS4Luck]

So I’m currently putting feelers out to see if anyone wants to trade my blue trim for their red trim. Red and white is kinda my color scheme for life and I always intended to get rid of the blue one way or another.


If I don’t find anyone to swap parts with in a week or so I’m just going to pull everything apart and send it to paint. My question now is, should I have the piece of fairing that runs along the gas tank and into the nose too? If I go down the paint route my decision will be between Nissans Midnight Purple 3 and a probably Porsche Guardsred. With paint I would do all the trim, the black bottom half of the intake, the front tire hugger and possibly the black triangle by the knees and the panel by the tank. Am I trying to do too much?

 

[SS4Luck]

This was the bike that made me realize I didn’t want the matte green or a darker color trim anymore.

 

[Mythos]

Am I trying to do too much?

My answer is YES but if you saw my old ZX-14, do what your heart desires.

Definitely do paint the ram air cover.

Don't paint the part by your knees.

This was the bike that made me realize I didn’t want the matte green or a darker color trim anymore.

Paint your bike to look like that then.

 

[SS4Luck]

My answer is YES but if you saw my old ZX-14, do what your heart desires.

Definitely do paint the ram air cover.

Don't paint the part by your knees.



Paint your bike to look like that then.

I was on the fence about the part by my knees. I’ve seen a few bikes painted there and didn’t mind it. The top covers definitely need to be painted IMO



That bike has the stock red trim which is why I hope I can find someone to just swap me trim bits vs having to paint.

 

[Bumblebee]

I was on the fence about the part by my knees. I’ve seen a few bikes painted there and didn’t mind it. The top covers definitely need to be painted IMO



That bike has the stock red trim which is why I hope I can find someone to just swap me trim bits vs having to paint.

The great thing about the Hayabusa is it's so open to modifications and personal customization.....

My opinion is-make it your own....if you don't like it afterwards, it can be painted...

 

[Mythos]

I was on the fence about the part by my knees. I’ve seen a few bikes painted there and didn’t mind it. The top covers definitely need to be painted IMO



That bike has the stock red trim which is why I hope I can find someone to just swap me trim bits vs having to paint.

I agree, the red trim is much more exciting than the grey/black trim you have. You really could go with any bright color on the trim. Red works well. Any of the 2022 trim colors would work. I don't know where that grey you have came from, I saw blue, red or gold trim on the 2022s. The chrome boomerang fits all the schemes perfectly. You could paint it white to match the main color but will downplay the flow of the vent shape. That side vent is a main design element so personally, I would try to keep it working to enhance the shape of the vent as it was designed for aesthetics.

The matte black side piece in the knee area is a grip surface, black seems to be the automatic choice considering what its function is. Also the forward point of the grip surface flows well with the pointyness of the overall design. Suzuki really did an outstanding job creating the look for the Gen3. I can't see messing with it a whole lot.

 

[SS4Luck]

I don't know where that grey you have came from, I saw blue, red or gold trim on the 2022s.

it’s just the lightning. I wrapped my trim matte green a couple of months ago to see if that was the color I’d want, but I don’t like it now.

 

[MonkeyButtRides]

This was the bike that made me realize I didn’t want the matte green or a darker color trim anymore.

View attachment 1655663

View attachment 1655664

Not gonna lie, that shade of red on white looks fantastic!!!

 

[Mythos]

I wrapped my trim matte green a couple of months ago to see if that was the color I’d want, but I don’t like it now.

I put 4" vinyl stripes on one of my bikes years back. It was really difficult stretching the vinyl around the the tip of the nose, I have a hard time imagining wrapping the fins or even the tail piece on a busa. You did an amazing job! I don't know how the colored mirror finish vinyls would look after they were stretched to such extremes but if you can wrap that well, you might consider a red mirror vinyl or red anodized if anyone makes that. If you use the anodized rattlecan paint on it, it might fade. I don't think you can apply clearcoat to that stuff either, it might dissolve the color below and run.

 

[SS4Luck]

I learned early that the best bet is to focus on what can be seen by everyone and to hide your seams at junctions in shadows the bike bits were definitely a challenge but it just takes a steady hand and extra material lol. The under light spoiler definitely was the point where I almost gave up though.


The gloss or reflective vinayl discolors a lot sooner when it comes to stretching as well. I’m not sure I would have the skill to make a gloss look uniform

 

[VIPER]

i vote for wrap for sure. way easier cheaper and lasts a long time. I am going to be wrapping my entire machine this winter.

 

[Spudley]

I'm really digging all the great ideas you guys got between paint and wrap. I really like that red though on that Porsche. Who am I to say?. I painted my entire bike Nissan Katsura orange metallic.

 

[SS4Luck]

i vote for wrap for sure. way easier cheaper and lasts a long time. I am going to be wrapping my entire machine this winter.

My bike is already wrapped green. I did it as a temporary thing to try the color, I planned to paint it in the long run, especially if I go with midnight purple.

 

[Steve127]

I was on the fence about the part by my knees. I’ve seen a few bikes painted there and didn’t mind it. The top covers definitely need to be painted IMO



That bike has the stock red trim which is why I hope I can find someone to just swap me trim bits vs having to paint.

My thoughts exactly on the infill panel that sits between the side panel and the tank. My bike is the matte silver and red. However the top infill panels in question being the same colour as the side fairing panels just seems too much in my personal opinion which is why I am seriously considering painting it the same red as the other sections of red on my bike [Daring Red]. I did post a question about my thoughts really to get others opinions. Of course as was rightly stated......it's totally a personal choice. My biggest concern is if I do get the 2 infill panels painted red and I don't like it I'll likely end up having to buy 2 new panels unless I can get a perfect OEM colour match. It was suggested to paint them with plasticote as it could be rubbed off afterwards but my fear is that it would end up affecting the matte finish as any sort of rubbing down or polishing etc will put a shine on the matte paint.

 

[SS4Luck]

My thoughts exactly on the infill panel that sits between the side panel and the tank. My bike is the matte silver and red. However the top infill panels in question being the same colour as the side fairing panels just seems too much in my personal opinion which is why I am seriously considering painting it the same red as the other sections of red on my bike [Daring Red]. I did post a question about my thoughts really to get others opinions. Of course as was rightly stated......it's totally a personal choice. My biggest concern is if I do get the 2 infill panels painted red and I don't like it I'll likely end up having to buy 2 new panels unless I can get a perfect OEM colour match. It was suggested to paint them with plasticote as it could be rubbed off afterwards but my fear is that it would end up affecting the matte finish as any sort of rubbing down or polishing etc will put a shine on the matte paint.

Body panels haven’t been overly expensive in my search. You may be able to buy some, have them painted and then just hold ‘em up and see if you like it. Worst case you’re out a couple hundred bucks.