Champagne 83' GS1100E

[GSDCW]

I'm in the process of purchasing an 83' GS1100E. It's Suzuki's "Champagne" color. The side panels are repaired on the bike and need painted.

Have you Guys found a paint the closely matches the Factory color or can you still find it ?

 

[Rob S.]

The "Champagne" color was an '82 offering. Does this bike have 'snowflake' wheels or the '83 three-spoke? Is the engine black?

Better yet, post a pic and the experts will ID it for you.

 

[GSDCW]

Rob, the bike has 3-spoke wheels, engine is black, speedo is 140 mph with 9500 rpm tach

 

[Rob S.]

I guess the PO just likes that '82 color. No accounting for taste.

 

[GSDCW]

Now after this discussion, let's get down to Paint. Does anyone know where to find it or have used other Brands that have worked well ?

 

[Guest]

A paint shop should be able to scan/ match it. Gold is the hardest to match is what i've heard.

 

[GSDCW]

It's funny why Suzuki calls this color "champagne" when it's silver ? There's got to be someone who has used a color from a different application that closely matches the factory color ?

 

[jsandidge]

I've seen the champagne color. I don't believe your bike is champagne. Are you sure it hasn't been re-painted?

 

[GSDCW]

It doesn't appear to be. What do you have that represents the Suzuki "champagne" color ?

 

[Rob S.]

If it's '83 and "Champagne", it's been repainted (or it's got 82 bodywork). '82's came in Champagne and Maroon.

'83's came in blue and red, and as far as I know, all '83 engines were black.

 

[GSDCW]

I didn't open up this Post to debate what year the Bike is. Personally I really don't care. I'm just trying to find a Source where to purchase the Paint or if anyone ever used Something else from an Automotive application that Matched ? Good grief, can we get Past This !

 

[Guest]

Not sure of the year, but the only Suzuki motorcycle paint reference to "champagne" is YMP - Pale Champagne Gold Metallic. Your bike definitely looks silver from the picture, so it may have been painted. It definitely does not look anywhere close to a gold metallic.

Cheers!

 

[nvr2old]

As you were advised earlier in your thread..take a part that has a good spot of the color and have it scanned at an auto paint store. They can match it up for you. They may even be able to put it in a spray can if that's how you want to go. If nothing else you can go through their paint chips and maybe find something, too. These bikes are decades old..no one just has a can to match sitting on the shelf waiting for you to come in and buy it. Good luck in your search.

 

[fixmybrokecomputer]

A paint shop should be able to scan/ match it. Gold is the hardest to match is what i've heard.

Yes sir, gold is hard to match. I bought a used upper fairing and had it painted. The mid fairings were bought NOS and the paint was perfect, so I didn't want to mess with painting those too. They scanned it with the tool they have at the body shop. Nobody else seems to notice, but I do every time I look at it. It depends on the lighting as to whether or not I notice it a lot or a little or for those other than me, not at all.

 

[pano]

I never saw the 2 side by side but I always thought the Chevy suburban had a close match.

https://www.google.com/search?q=198...fari&prmd=smivn&hl=en-us#imgrc=40ewhlxF6uzkaM


https://www.google.com/search?q=che...ECAwQAQ&biw=1024&bih=666#imgrc=RJzG1f6hHTBg2M

 

[wacky941]

Okay, here's the scoop.
You ask the question about paint, you're gonna get all kinds of responses which will tell you to take it down to a paint store or a body shop and have the paint color matched. That's all fine and good however, it will pretty much lead you nowhere.
I did the exact same thing years ago right here on this forum and that was the response I received. I'm not saying it's bad advice but I am saying that for the most part it's a waste of time. I would go through the whole thing as I have done so many times here before but that too would be a waste of time.
Here's what you do, take your side cover or a removable piece that's in good condition and renders the paint you're looking for the best. Find the largest car dealership in your area that provides multiple brands and multiple models. If you go during the day, make sure it's a nice bright sunny day so you can see how well the paint matches. Being as these colors have a tone of what appears as metal flake, this needs to be taken into account. You may also use a camera with a flash to really see what it looks like and how well it matches.
This is what I did and it took me only a few minutes to find that the Inferno Red Crystal Pearl from the 2010 Dodge Ram matches perfectly with the '82 GS1100EZ.

Hope this helps.

 

[wacky941]

This will give you an idea of what I did.

The side covers and the Cafe Fairing were painted with the paint from the Dodge Ram and you see how well it matched. You can do the exact same thing for the Suzuki Chamgagne Gold.

 

[nvr2old]

That red matched really well. Nice thing about that color is that I can't think of a single manufacturer that doesn't offer it. It's a very popular red. Scanning is still a viable option. Sometimes it takes a bit more skill by the person doing the mixing to add a certain tint one way or another to get it just right. I 've been really lucky to have a guy that has matched paint for me perfectly for 30 years.

 

[GSDCW]

GM Color: Silver Ice Metallic 2019 Chevy Suburban ? Pano, is that what your making reference too ?

 

[Guest]

Purely going by your photo, i'd ask the Katana guys what they use as a match for their silver.