Powder Coating my Frame

[N8Strine]

I will be getting my frame powder coated sometime in the next couple months. Is there anything to take into consideration before I do this or to ask the place that is going to do this?

[Indawoods]

Ask them how many pounds it will add...

[canyncarvr]

I'd ask for some references. Talk to some of their customers to see how it turned out.

I've had plusses and minuses from powder coating...from the same shop.

I had the heads done on my Duster..inside and out! I was concerned when I heard that some coatings didn't hold up well to continued oil contact. I didn't want the stuff coming off INside the engine.

So, the next time I had the heads off, I took them in to get 'fixed'..recoated with the REAL stuff that DIDN'T flake/peel.

When I took the heads off, the coating INside the heads was perfect. Not a flake, chip or peel nowhere. The NEW stuff? That lasted a month or so before IT started to peel.

Yeah...preparation is important..and coating something that has had an oil bath for years probably isn't going to work well. Still...the FIRST coat was PERFECT. That kind'a blows the 'oil impregnation' idea out.

I'm sayin' you just never know. Your result will certainly be a product of their prep and product..and the best way to find out about that isn't to ask'em about it. Ask their CUSTOMERS about it. Go LOOK at some of their jobs. Pay real close attention to how it's holding up on welds.

[Dewey]

Take it to a shop that has an oven big enough to do the frame, don't accept lamp cured it doesn't hold up as well. Most professional shops will easily accommodate a bike frame. As mentioned above, prep is critical, have it stripped throughly down to the bare metal, either through media blasting or chemical stripping. If you can, take the opportunity to go over the bare frame and inspect for cracks and/or worn holes, also clean up any weld splatter that was left from the factory. Talk to the coater about which powders hold up the best, some powders hold up much better than others.

As CC said get references!

A good job will last a long time on a bike frame!

[N8Strine]

Thanx for the info, I will put picks up when im done in a few months

[barryadam]

Did you get the powdercoating done yet?
If not, select a shop that has experience doing m/c parts and frames.
As Dewey said, before you take your frame in, or between the blasting and coating, inspect thoroughly. Now is the time to weld up and re-thread those loose fastener points. Like the seat hold-down bolt holes. Mine were stripped from the PO. I also did the sub-frame mount holes on my KX and re-welded on the pipe mount bracket. I welded on tabs to bolt a skid plate to the frame. Now would also be the time to straighten out anything that isn't aligned.
I removed the steering head races and put new ones in to match the new bearings once the frame coating was done.
The powder shop I use plugs the thread holes with silicone plugs before coating, and when I get the frame back, there is a bit of flash to clean up including the swingarm and steering bearing locations. I run a thread chaser (not a tap) through all the frame holes after coating as well.
The shop masks off the VIN as SOP and then clear coats over it. They claim it can be unreadable if not masked, but I have had other shops NOT mask it and it was fine. You might want to discuss with the shop before he starts.
Inspect the painted parts before you leave the shop for runs, drips, etc. Powdercoating is pretty good, but many times, there are problems, especially if they don't get the frame 100% clean after blasting. If grease leaks out of the steering tube or other places after blasting, it ruins the powder application.
There's nothing like assembly day with everything plated, coated and cleaned up!!!

[N8Strine]

[Jeb]

Shiny and new lookin!

What did you use to paint the spring?

[N8Strine]

powdercoated also

[barryadam]

Sah - Weeeet!

[Julien D]

Sexy, I like it. :D

[N8Strine]

Thanx, Sparkle Silver is what the frame is, Standard Silver for the swingarm, not sure what shade of white the spring is.

[KAOS]

That looks sweet, how much roughly would that cost?

[N8Strine]

$250 I also got a couple other little parts done.

[N8Strine]

Here it is somewhat together.

[Little Jeff]

Can you post some more pics of what your triple clamp setup looks like with your KX forks in them? I plan on doing that sometime in the next year or so.
Little Jeff

[cleoent]

lets see completed pics! Looks very cool.

[N8Strine]

[canyncarvr]

VERY purdy!!

New plastics? ..as in number plates?

What did you do to the engine?

I want one!

[cleoent]

loooks awesome! I think the KLX450R light looks a bit out of place, but i also do appreciate the newer look.

Great job, so very purdy!