Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: FIX UR CRITTER on March 07, 2015, 08:24:40 PM
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Howdy all
I had a 2008 red connie that i thought was beautiful that i sold... then missed the bike and bought a 2008 silver years later.. I usually don't care much about bike color.. but i really dislike the silver.. i am considering haviing the bike painted.. wonder if it can be done for under $500 if i disassemble and prep the panels... also I can't decide what color.. it is so hard for me to tell the color from a paint chip. anyone have advise or tips or things to be aware of ??
thanks
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http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=18809.msg231042#msg231042 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=18809.msg231042#msg231042)
what about this.
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PM ZG. He's done it twice!
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I had a 2008 red connie that i thought was beautiful that i sold...
Did you paint it? The 2008 was only offered in light blue (Neutron Silver) and I think black is offered every year.
then missed the bike and bought a 2008 silver years later.. I usually don't care much about bike color.. but i really dislike the silver..
Probably because it isn't silver, it is light blue :P (Only real silver C14 offered was the 2011, Atomic Silver, and it is sweeeeeeet :) )
i am considering haviing the bike painted.. wonder if it can be done for under $500 if i disassemble and prep the panels... also I can't decide what color.. it is so hard for me to tell the color from a paint chip. anyone have advise or tips or things to be aware of ?? thanks
ZG is the resident expert on all things about painting the C14!
Picking a color is just your own preference. Pick whatever you like. Some factors to consider are how hard it is to keep it clean (black doesn't fare well), how badly it shows damage (also a black issue), safety/visibility (also looking at you negatively, black), how hot it gets (yep, yet another fault of black) and matching color later (at least black is easy to match). You can probably tell I think black is not an ideal color..... except nothing looks quite as nice as a clean, shiny, good condition black vehicle!
Sounds like you liked and miss the red... so why not go for red again?
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I've got a buddy that paints. Where are you located?
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I had mine painted at a MC specialty shop, WAY more than $500!
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I think that good materials alone will be over $300. Im sure a guy could pick up some garden variety enamel for much less but like the saying goes "Good tattoos aren't cheap and cheap tattoos aren't good."
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I've got a buddy that paints. Where are you located?
I'm in south florida..
I may have my years mixed up - my current bike may be considered a 2007 -but it looks silver to me.. and maybe the red one was 2009 but it was definitely red..
speaking of,, i tried searching for year by year c14 color pics.. but can' find.. anyone know where to find this info?
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first year MODEL date was dated as 2008, it was available in July 2007, and was only available in Neutron silver. There was no C10 produced in 2007 while awaiting the early release of the C14.
as for cost... you better add about $1000 to that $500 figure as a MINUMUM you will be paying, and even at that price, I wouldn't bet on a $1500 job being equal to the finish that comes OEM on any year. I did COGZilla my Nekid C10, and materials in rattle can, prep, and sundry disposables was $500.... and I had not finger tips after I finished.
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At $500, you're more in the range of Plastidip on the bike...not an entirely bad idea
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At $500, you're more in the range of Plastidip on the bike...not an entirely bad idea
ROTFLOL!!
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That stock color looking better all the time, Critter? Just kiddin'. ;)
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There was no 2007 Concours of any displacement. The first Concours 1400 was model year 2008, and introduced in the summer of '07 as Rich points out. And they are 'Neutron Silver' but are actually more of a gray IMO and tinged with blue. The medium- dark red was a 2009, and just in my personal opinion, perhaps the nicest color yet for this bike and I am not usually a fan of red.
Brian
I'm in south florida..
I may have my years mixed up - my current bike may be considered a 2007 -but it looks silver to me.. and maybe the red one was 2009 but it was definitely red..
speaking of,, i tried searching for year by year c14 color pics.. but can' find.. anyone know where to find this info?
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how on earth is the "Neutron Silver" blue in any way?! what are you guys smoking?! :o
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how on earth is the "Neutro Silver" blue in any way?! what are you guys smoking?! :o
Its "Neutron Silver". I like it, but it is certainly a shade of light blue. See attachment...
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Its "Neutron Silver". I like it, but it is certainly a shade of light blue. See attachment...
I don't consider it "blue" tint, more like a "seafoam green" tint....
8)
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If you pulled the body panels off yourself and prepped them with tape, sanding, etc, you're looking at roughly $800 - $1000 to have them professionally painted a different color.
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If you pulled the body panels off yourself and prepped them with tape, sanding, etc, you're looking at roughly $800 - $1000 to have them professionally painted a different color.
I wish. Did my own dismantle and prep and still paid $1200... and the guy used the wrong paint! He wasn't quite the lowest quote I got, but he was near the bottom. Now I'm just trying to scrape enough to have it painted properly. Not sure how well I'll be able to prep the crap he sprayed on there.
Bottom line, research your painter and look for reviews. Recommendations from others who are happy with their paint jobs should be a must.
But, I'm not bitter. >:(
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Light green.
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Light green.
You guys need an eye exam! (Mine is on Thursday morning at 8:30am; and I bet Neutron is still light blue after!)
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You guys need an eye exam! (Mine is on Thursday morning at 8:30am; and I bet Neutron is still light blue after!)
"changing your mind" has never gotten much of a chance, has it? That would deprive you from the pleasures of showing us the light.
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You guys need an eye exam! (Mine is on Thursday morning at 8:30am; and I bet Neutron is still light blue after!)
What color was that dress?
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"changing your mind" has never gotten much of a chance, has it? That would deprive you from the pleasures of showing us the light blue
:) fify
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If you paint a C14 gold and white will some people see it as black and blue?
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You guys need an eye exam! (Mine is on Thursday morning at 8:30am; and I bet Neutron is still light blue after!)
VJ may have been waiting for the lights to change and just going through his checklist before putting the bike into gear? :)
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I wish. Did my own dismantle and prep and still paid $1200... and the guy used the wrong paint! He wasn't quite the lowest quote I got, but he was near the bottom. Now I'm just trying to scrape enough to have it painted properly. Not sure how well I'll be able to prep the crap he sprayed on there.
Bottom line, research your painter and look for reviews. Recommendations from others who are happy with their paint jobs should be a must.
But, I'm not bitter. >:(
That's why you never pay up front and always inspect the work first. I got screwed on my first custom chopper; the paint job was HORRIBLE for what I paid. $1200.00 isn't unheard of if the paint scheme is expensive or they fully buff/finish it (which you can do yourself). The auto body shop near me is decent. They charge $55.00 an hour + materials. They mix their own paints in bulk, so I actually pay less for their paint than I do my own. Also, if you pick a color they are spraying at the time, you can usually cut a deal with the shop. Finally, tell them you are paying cash. Not having to deal with CC companies and insurance is a big + and they usually cut you a deal.
If you let the paint cure, provided the finish isn't too bad, you can use a brown Scotch Bright pad to roughen up the clear coat a bit and paint right over it. Worse case, you might have to sand down the areas that meet each other. For every coat of paint, you add a bit of thickness...
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That's why you never pay up front and always inspect the work first. I got screwed on my first custom chopper; the paint job was HORRIBLE for what I paid. $1200.00 isn't unheard of if the paint scheme is expensive or they fully buff/finish it (which you can do yourself). The auto body shop near me is decent. They charge $55.00 an hour + materials. They mix their own paints in bulk, so I actually pay less for their paint than I do my own. Also, if you pick a color they are spraying at the time, you can usually cut a deal with the shop. Finally, tell them you are paying cash. Not having to deal with CC companies and insurance is a big + and they usually cut you a deal.
If you let the paint cure, provided the finish isn't too bad, you can use a brown Scotch Bright pad to roughen up the clear coat a bit and paint right over it. Worse case, you might have to sand down the areas that meet each other. For every coat of paint, you add a bit of thickness...
Did all that... small shop, cash after painting... but I was so PO'd, I didn't want him touching my plastics again. Next time I'm taking it to an actual paint shop.
Part of my cost was for a matte clear... which he didn't do. He used a single stage flat that can't be cleaned ("oh yeah it's durable"). I've literally taken a scrub brush without being able to remove all of the road grime (bike hasn't been fully white in more than a year). It's my fault, as I didn't do proper due diligence on his work... and if I had refused the work, I would have gotten properly mad, and probably made things worse. My only right action was to walk away and put it behind me (until 2 years later with this thread :-\).
But hey... it looks good going down the highway at 60! It's not until you get within 10 feet that you see the issues. Looks decent in my tiny avatar, don' it?
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You get what you pay for when it comes to having paint work done IMO... :)
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You get what you pay for when it comes to having paint work done IMO... :)
You'd know!
Actually, if I were closer, I would have asked for your guy's number, as the work you've posted of your various efforts looks like quality work. But, I know there are quality places up here... I just need to do more research when it's time again (my new house has eaten into my Farkle Fund).