Pearl Pure Red for 1100E

[dpep]

I spent all afternoon yesterday searching old paint threads here on the site trying to find out where I could get the color I needed to redo the tank and fender on my '83 1100E. The most useful tidbits I came up with were:

-------------------------------

The paint code from Suzuki: Pearl Pure Red #17R

A close match? - Duplicolor T152

A close match? - Plasti-Kote T-6 Swift Red

The Color-Rite chart just says Pure Red not Pearl Pure Red but has right number (17R).
For 17R the Color-Rite number is 4045L (color) and 1058L (clear).

Here are some websites other than Color-Rite that might could make the paint but they show no bikes older than '88.

CycleColor.com (does not go back to 83 but has some options)
motorcyclepaintsupply.com (does not go back to '83; web page malfuncitions)

Also someone suggested that PPG paint could scan the side panels with
something called "Prophet" and mix the color it indicates.

-------------------

Is there anything more recent that anyone can add to this? I did not realize it was going to be a major project just to find the paint.

The bike looks fine from the side, but the clear has flaked off the top of the tank. Maybe a leather tank cover instead?

[Joe Nardy]

Don,

A buddy of mine used a Dupont scanner to scan my tank and match paint for my fender. It looks perfect to me, however there is separation between the fender and any other panels. The tank would be another issue due to proximity to the side panels. I'd talk to a painter and see if they can possibly do some light sanding and just shoot clear rather than repainting.

Thanks,
Joe

[posplayr]

When I painted my bike, I went to a professional shop and gave them the same Suzuki paint code. They could not find any mixing info so they scanned the color like Joe said and did a custom mix to match the red base color only.

Here is the rub. The "Pearl Red" has a Pearl clear applied to it. I don't know how the factory did it, but the PPG paint guy said he did not know of any other way than to apply the pearl as a clear over the base red color. The Pearl can be tricky to apply and get it right. So here is a simpler suggestion.

Modern paint system derive most of their beauty from the clear coat. In fact I have some spare red in a can and I can tell you that base coat alone is actually pretty dull and unattractive. It is the pearl and clears that really make the paint job shine. In fact when applying decals, you have to re shoot the clear and so you end up sanding the whole part with 400 grit anyway so the clear coat will adhere.


Dep if your tank has all the color still on it (or mght just need a couple of touch ups) the simple thing to do would be to wet sand down the tank with a 400 grit being careful to not cut through the color. After that spray with a good quality clear like the PPG product. It will probably look perfect depending on how bad the original color might have faded.

Josh, is having a guy do this to his ESD to save the major expense of starting from scratch.

I might add that the color of my ED, depending on light will have a pronounced orange look. That is from my accidental over zealous use of the gold Pearl clear coat. Don't tell anyone; as I kinda like it

[Roger P.]

Dupont has a process called Chromavision which purports to match the paint through the use of a special camera. The paint shop I worked in used it, but the boss never relied on it, as he was so good at matching it by eye with paint chips, the process was largely superfluous. Turns out, my 83 was matched by him years before I owned the bike. He matched the Suzuki blue to a factory Porsche color, and you can't tell the difference even where the painted sidepanels lie next to the original paint of the gas tank.

[reddirtrider]

As Pos stated, the pearl is applied over the base and it's quite a bit less forgiving to apply than either the base for the clear. You need to keep the gun at the same distance and move it at the same speed at all times. While that's true for applying any paint, it's especially true for pearl. After having done one bike with a pearl white, I speak from experience.

You should apply the perl however, as it makes a big difference in the color. I really like it and will use it again on the next bike.

[sachsaca]

dpep, if your looking at the pearls you should really look for an experienced painter who has done it for awhile. That stuff is a real paint job, not the shoot dull color and shiny clear coat. It takes a good painter to make it smooth but experience is what gets a good pearl going. My good friend is a custom body and paint man and has been so for 40 years and he takes alot of time to work with pearls and alot of work, but his hand spray is as smooth as any factory job I've ever seen. So be careful and look for experience. Good luck and postapic.

[dpep]

Thanks everyone for the responses. After a lot of unsuccessful searching for someone who had or could provide the exact Suzuki paint code I settled on what a couple of you had already done.

I am just taking in all the parts and having a professional painter match it up as close as he can for a full paint job. If all the pieces are the same color it would probably have to be sitting next to another 83 with original paint to notice the difference. That is what I'm hoping anyway.

I'll post some pictures to this thread when I get it all back together.

[reddirtrider]

Thanks everyone for the responses. After a lot of unsuccessful searching for someone who had or could provide the exact Suzuki paint code I settled on what a couple of you had already done.

I am just taking in all the parts and having a professional painter match it up as close as he can for a full paint job. If all the pieces are the same color it would probably have to be sitting next to another 83 with original paint to be notice the difference. That is what I'm hoping anyway.

I'll post some pictures to this thread when I get it all back together.

You're correct Don. If you paint the entire bike you won't notice if it's off a shade. You'll probably need a good eye even if it's sitting next to an original.

[Joe Nardy]

Don,

Have you sourced replacement decals? I think Reproduction Decals has everything you need.

Thanks,
Joe

[jwhelan65]

Check with Brad at BK Custom Coatings http://www.bkcustomcoatings.com/

He did the my 700 in stock Pearl White, turned out fantastic. Probably going to have him do my 1100 also.

[dpep]

Don,
Have you sourced replacement decals? I think Reproduction Decals has everything you need.

Yes, I got all my decals from them and they are very nice people to work with. When I first called I thought I was only going to do the tank and I off handedly mentioned that I didn't need the whole set but didn't mind paying for it. She said if I didn't need the other decals they would only send and charge me for the tank ones. As it turned out I should have gotten the whole set, but that was my goof. How often do you get a vendor willing to split up a set of anything for you?

[dpep]

Check with Brad at BK Custom Coatings http://www.bkcustomcoatings.com/

He did the my 700 in stock Pearl White, turned out fantastic. Probably going to have him do my 1100 also.

Thanks, I'll check in with these folks next project. This one is underway now.