Using Aerosol Motorcycle Paint For Your Bike

A new coat of paint can make a motorcycle look like a different machine. But this can come at a high price if you go through a professional.
Yes, you will get a better and a longer lasting finish. However, if you are just starting building bikes as projects and want to learn a new skill, then painting them yourself can be great fun and it allows you to show your own creativity. A great way to get your toes wet with painting your bike is to start smaller and paint some of the smaller pieces that can go into your restoration – and the best way to start trying this out is with aerosol motorcycle paints. There is no need for a compressor, a spray booth or a spray gun. With just aerosol motorcycle paint you can create a quality look for your next project and have the chance to do it yourself.

Here is a short guide on how to make your bike look amazing using an aerosol spray can.

1. Know your desired result. Before you start, you need to have an idea of what you want the finished product to look like. This will decide what type of motorcycle paint you will use. You can always use our paint finder tool to find the authentic color match for your make, model, and year – but you can also choose a unique color that is just plain cool. An easy way to do this is to just keep your eyes out for a color you like, and ask for the make, model and year information from the owner. Most motorcycle owners love to talk about their bike, and are happy to tell you about it – especially if you are talking about how much you like the color. This route will probably mean you are looking at a full repaint, which might go beyond an aerosol paint job.
2. Understand Your Paint. There is plenty of terminology to understand when it comes to painting your motorbike. Are you dealing with a Single or Two stage paint? This means one coat that achieves both color and protection, or the use of a basecoat followed by a midcoat to achieve the desired finish. Then, do you use 1k coating or 2k? 1k coating does not require a hardener, where a 2k does. Make sure you do your research to understand up front what will go into getting you great results. None of the options necessarily make the paint job “harder” to do, but can add different factors and steps – understanding these up front can save you tons of heartache.
3. Prep. These are the basic steps you will have to go through in order to paint your motorcycle parts:

• Remove old paint with wet and dry sandpaper.
• Use filler and primer to fill in any dents or holes.
• Sand down smooth
• Prime
• Inspect the area for any inconsistencies in the surface
• Sand and prime again until you have a smooth, dent free finish. This might seem like a long process, but it is essential to obtain a quality finish.
• Painting. After a good preparation process, you can paint. There is a technique involved in spraying anything correctly. In order to achieve a uniform coat of paint, you need to hold the aerosol can at right angles to what you want to paint, keep the distance from the object consistent (and not too close or far away) and keep moving at a consistent speed too (not too fast nor too slow). If you are too close or too slow, this will cause the paint to run. If you are too far or fast, you won't get the desired coverage. Use as much or as little masking tape as you feel you need. Always do a sprayout to get your technique dialed in before spraying on your actual surface, and also to do a color match check before going for it with your paint.
• Color Sanding. Color sanding helps get rid of any unwanted effects caused when painting with an aerosol. Make sure the motorcycle paint you have used can be sanded. This will help you achieve a smooth and glossy finish. Using very fine-grit sandpaper, sand any minor defects. Once you have achieve the smoothness you are looking for, apply protective coating and wax.

And there you have it, a quick and dirty guide to painting motorbike parts at home using an aerosol can. Remember to research further and ask your shop for further advice. You can also get a way more in-depth guide to motorcycle paint here.