Hi friends, I acquired this bike recently and she needs some serious TLC, and the previous owner unfortunately prepped the bike to be powder coated and then never got around to it. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for painting or protecting the bike at a low cost. I am fine with the rough look honestly I think it’s kind of cool (especially after it’s cleaned up a bit), but want to keep it safe from the elements at the very least!
Full home paint and decal job?
Just 2k clear coat?
Go full rat bike?
I would like to hear your ideas!
by Vegetable-Builder-23
11 Comments
Those cable housings up front are way too long. I’d start by trimming them to the proper length.
As for the finish, I would rattle can it with primer, paint and clear coat.
Blacked out with bed liner would look pretty cool. Krylon also makes a really awesome looking hammered texture spray paint if you’re skilled with a rattle can. The hammered gunmetal gray looks especially nice.
Proper prep work, really light coats, and wet sanding between coats will make a huge difference in how nice the finish looks and how durable it is.
Bedliner is pretty forgiving, so that’s the route I’d probably take.
1 vote for rat bike 😈
https://bikedecalreplace.com/products/bridgestone-mb-0-zip-1991-frame-decal-set
Green flames
Wax finish and keep the patina
Clean and wax
Or
Clean abd clearcoat
Maybe a splatter paint job if you wanna get artsy
But I like me some derelict
Do some kind of cool pattern with two colors of paint and some basic masking then clearcoat over it. This could be really fun.
*Hello!*
*Sweet ride. Been interested in finding a Tange Prestige frame for some time. This Kilauea looks so sweet! The hunt for a high-end Kona continues..!*
I took (and take) a lot of bike restoration inspo from the car detailing videos Automotive Aesthetic, a car detailing company in Virginia, did with Gears & Gasoline, a car mod/lifestyle YouTube channel. This is one of my favorites: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocjnIiZMQ8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocjnIiZMQ8) .
This might be overkill for some folks here; the main takeaways from the detail process are (1) wash and degrease, (2) paint decontamination, (3) paint restoration & polishing, (4) protection. Here’s a different vid highlighting a version of this process on a bike: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4n2S7-SC4Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4n2S7-SC4Q) . You can definitely detail the frame on a lightweight budget; I’d recommend getting a clay bar and its respective spray lube, though.
I’ve done this to a couple bikes, and for used rides, I’ve decided that I will go through the process of detailing the paint once when it first comes into my possession to give it a nice shine and refresh, and then just letting the elements and its usage give it character and not detailing it again after that. I figure, since most paint on the old 26’rs I like and this sub likes has been ignored, it doesn’t hurt to give it some love for the first time in probably decades “turning back the clock” and letting loose after that.
TL;DR – I’d do a deep detail once (see above) and then let the bike build a patina afterwards.
Check out Hammerite
It’s incredible paint
What a tank