I'd like to paint the radiator covers on my V. The earlier models had them black, and I think it will look better after I put crash bars on. I wouldn't mind painting the pivot (side) covers too.

The how-to guides assume you're dealing with smooth plastic parts, but these pieces on the Versys are textured.

Any ideas?

What type of "paint" are you talking about? Rustoleum or automotive paint?

If it's Rusto, I'd say just clean them, scuff, prime and paint a few topcoats.

If it's automotive, I think you'll need to consider flexibility, which is where your rustoleum is probably going to have a problem, and definitely consider whether the auto paint will eat the plastic that these things are made out of. (I melted a helmet shell one time from using the wrong type of paint.)

On the other hand, if you use Rusto, you can just repaint them if they start looking flakey.

One more thought, which might address the flexibility is to potentially use dashboard paint - never tried it tho.

You mean like this.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/4270/farkle1ev4.jpg
I just used Walmart brand flat black, $.89 a can. I just lightly sanded them then washed and dried them and painted them.

You mean like this.

I just used Walmart brand flat black, $.89 a can. I just lightly sanded them then washed and dried them and painted them.

Yep! That's exactly what I'm thinking!

So they're holding up OK? I've noticed that my boots are rubbing the color off the stock side panels as it is....

Since they're textured (or maybe it's called a metallic finish?) it seems like it will be hard to sand into the crevasses so the paint will stick.

Krylon Fusion paint, made for plastic. No sanding, no priming, just wipe down with alcohol and paint.

Krylon Fusion paint, made for plastic. No sanding, no priming, just wipe down with alcohol and paint.

x2. Rustoleum makes a plastic paint you can do the same way. I've used it in the past with great results/durability.

Something I used to do modding PC cases a lot was to use automotive Vinyl Dye. It's used to recolor vinyl dashboards, etc in cars. It's a superfine spray paint with a solvent mixed in that actually penetrates into the plastic. It's very easy to go darker in color, but not so easy to go lighter.

Painted mine this weekend with Krylon Fusion, looks great.

Bad-Tat,

I see you have a Fasma tank bag. Which one is it and how do you like it?

Oscar,
It's the Famsa bag that fits the 1200GS. Perfect fit and it's great!! Just unzip from the base to fill with gas. That is a bit of a pain as I'm spoiled from the Dakar with that tank under the seat!

Prepped and painted mine with Krylon Fusion Black. See my pic...
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/6/web/2994000-2994999/2994384_28_full.jpg

Hey Willie , Did ya paint your rims as well or are they stock???? by the way it looks sweet !

Ox.......

Yep, I painted them as well with Duplicolor Acrylic Enamel in Glossy Black. Took a whole day to do because of all the prep and masking work, but it was worth it.:D
I was going to ues Duplicolor's Aluminum Wheel Paint, but they don't make it in Black from what I could find at the local O'Reilly's, Auto Zone, and Advanced Auto Parts shops, so I went with acrylic enamel because it's suposed to be harder than standard auto or Krylon paint....THANKS!

Prepped and painted mine with Krylon Fusion Black. See my pic...
Looks good. Sometimes it's hard to tell from the pictures, but is it flat, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss?

Looks good. Sometimes it's hard to tell from the pictures, but is it flat, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss?

Thanks. The can says Glossy Black but with the texture on the parts it looks more like semi-gloss. It matches the OEM Black piece that runs under the tank and seat almost perfectly.

You fellas used flat black paint, right?

Nope,
I used Krylon Fusion Glossy Black. It dries like a semi-gloss due to the texture on the pieces. It matches the Black ones from the factory perfectly because I applied shine protectant to them when I first got the bike.

You fellas used flat black paint, right?

I decided to use the Satin Black (Krylon Fusion). The finish seems to match the other factory parts pretty closely...

I'll post some pictures when I can get a chance.

One more ?. Willieflo...did you use the same paint on the foot peg mounts? I noticed yours were black also. Considering they are made of aluminum.

Stoned GP,
For those foot peg mount plates, I actually used the Duplicolor Acrylic Enamel in Black Glossy after prepping:
1. Take off the shine with 800 grit sandpaper
2. Gave it a 1000 grit wet sanding
3. Washed it with a little Dawn & alot of water
4. Towel dry
5. Give it a Prep All cleaning to get rid of any oils or residue left

I did this same process to do the wheels and used the same Duplicolor Acrylic Enamel since its supposed to be harder than typical Krylon rattlecan paint.

WillieFlo,

How did you get the tires back on the rims without chipping any paint? Do you have a touchless mag changer or something?

Your V looks good... hope you don't mind a look alike in South Florida.

Todd

Todd

WillieFlo,

How did you get the tires back on the rims without chipping any paint? Do you have a touchless mag changer or something?

Your V looks good... hope you don't mind a look alike in South Florida.

Todd

Todd

Where abouts in south Florida are you? I'm in the Fort Myers area.

WillieFlo,

How did you get the tires back on the rims without chipping any paint? Do you have a touchless mag changer or something?

Your V looks good... hope you don't mind a look alike in South Florida.

Todd

Todd

Just a guess, but I'd be willing to bet he painted the wheels with the tires still mounted on them.

You are wise 08Versys!

Here are some pics of my blue versys with the textured plastic painted satin black. Does any one know if there is a company that makes them in carbon fiber? That would look awesome!

Here are some pics of my blue versys with the textured plastic painted satin black. Does any one know if there is a company that makes them in carbon fiber? That would look awesome!


You bike looks good!





(Is that a quote by Tupac?? :D:D:D)

Thanks. This bike is great so many things do so little money.
Would a quote from Johnathan Davis (Lead vocals and bagpipe from Korn) be more appropriate for some maybe :) ?


I don't care what people think or say about me, I know who I am. (Jonathan Davis)

GregScuba,

I am in Fort Lauderdale, have you seen many other V's around Florida? I have seen ZERO on the Southeast Coast so far.

Todd

I painted these parts a while back. I used Krylon Fusion - Satin Black

Pics are attached.

lost84001,
Do you have any pic's showing a full side view of your bike with the crash bars on?
I've got the blacked out look and need to add frame sliders or crash bars, but not sure if I think they'd look right on my bike.
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/6/web/2994000-2994999/2994384_29_full.jpg
Oh, and yes the wheel stripes are Red. They're reflective so they lit up from the flash.....

lost84001,
Do you have any pic's showing a full side view of your bike with the crash bars on?


This is all I have at the moment (fuzzy and not full on from the side)

http://forums.kawasakiversys.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=477&d=1216580949

Is it just me...or does anyone think that maybe flat black would match the other black pieces better than the satin, that most are using?

The Satin matches better especially if you apply any kind of protectant to the existing Black plastics. The flat looks like crap after a while with weathering from rain or mud and scratches very easily...

I think I'm gonna paint the other black pieces along with the silver, so they match.
BTW...Willieflo...nice truck!

Thanks Stoned GP!.. It's my grocery getter....:D

Are your grocery stores on top of a mountain?:thumb::thumb:

Has anyone used the bed liner spray to paint their trim? I have used in on a lot of dirt bikes with success. Very durable!

what kind of rear rack u have? nice....

Here is mine . painting done by local paint shop with some chemical to get the paint to stick to the plastic.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/fastoman/HornCompactItaly1.jpg

Hope it helps.

:cheers:

Hi guys!
I'm considering this paint mod as well. Since they all are textured plastic, do you still have to sand the parts for the paint to stick? what about primer?? did you use any?

Congrats on your bikes!

I'm in "process". Just wet-sanded the cowlings and frame covers with 1000 grit. Amazing how thin that silver paint is. Will be painting w/ Krylon satin rattle-can in the next day or two. Still deciding if I want to do the lattices, but will probably bite the bullet and do them too.

Here's a 2010 with the cowlings and frame covers blacked out via Krylon satin black. It's not factory glaze, but I figure if they get all scratched up, I'll give'm a light sanding and a re-spray when it gets to the point of really bothering me. I like the look better than the original silver - it tones down the bike. I didn't do the lattices - still on the fence about that and not sure it would add anything. Apologies for the non-professional photo quality....

Here's a 2010 with the cowlings and frame covers blacked out via Krylon satin black. It's not factory glaze, but I figure if they get all scratched up, I'll give'm a light sanding and a re-spray when it gets to the point of really bothering me. I like the look better than the original silver - it tones down the bike. I didn't do the lattices - still on the fence about that and not sure it would add anything. Apologies for the non-professional photo quality....
Hi there I have the same 2010 in black. But swmbo won't let me paint mine (it's only 2 months old and she is paying the finance)
I think you should paint the headlight surround as well, that would be cool

I agree, it would look better blacked out. And the cry went out: "More Krylon!":D

My SWMBO just shakes her head and stays out of it. She's about to put fenders on her Specialized CrossTrail Comp bike (aka "Root Beer") for what passes as a winter commute around here, so she can't complain too much about my "back to black" campaign...heh. BTW, I chopped the rat tail this afternoon in a 10-minute coffee break, to just a bit below the license plate bracket. Easy hacksaw and then hit it with a file and voila. Looks much better.