Motorbike frame: Paint or powder coat?

[Norsk]

I recently bought an old yamaha tenere. It is in really good nick apart from a few scrapes that are getting a bit rusty. Next winter I plan to pull it apart,treat it to a new wiring loom and repaint the frame.

Would powder coating be a good idea or perhaps an epoxy paint be better

 

[Bobupndown]

Powder coat is OK until it gets chipped then water gets in behind and peels off.
For a classic seeing only fair weather it would be fine but for an everyday bike I'd want it painted.

 

[Nomad]

@Bobupndown covers it.

I had a Yam TT600 (same running gear as the Tenere but different tank & seat), I had it powder coated and it looked great for 20 years then small crazing started to appear.
It was a fun toy not normally used in the wet, I suspect a bike used in all weathers will start to get water behind the powder coating after a few years..

 

[dieselsamurai]

personally I would not powder coat anything i have , I have painted bike frames and they are still ok after 30 years

 

[Kram]

Epoxy + 2k paint will be much better long term and look better, less of a pain to remove as well.

 

[julianf]

I would never powdercoat a ferrous item, that I cared about, that lived outside.

 

[Bobupndown]

I have the standard steel wheels on my classic mini powder coated in an off white colour. Been done 10 years now and like new still but it is really only used in summer and never sees gritted roads.

 

[lchris21]

Just to go against the general consensus...powdercoat for me. Ive had dozens of frames and parts done over the decades, never once suffered the rust under the finish that most people quote, chips are easily sorted with paint, deep scratches can be sanded and polished out, and even with some of the powder melted carefully and levelled if its really deep ! Depends how reputable your powder coating place is and how deep your pockets are, some recommend glav for belt and braces, but Ive not tried that. Surface prep is key and primer if you're concerned. My place uses fresh glass as not to embed rust blasted off from previous jobs which are just swept up off the floor..As I said, ive not had any issues, and by the time the 20-30 years comes around the bike will probably need a few other jobs doing as well?
This is a bike im working on at the moment, OEM painted frame after 7 years...Honda aint as good as they used to be
Ive touched it up with 1k UPOL rattle can paint as im just getting it tidied up, rather than a compete strip-down. If i was it would be straight into my powdercoating place for a refresh

 

[ajlelectronics]

I have seen a few Reliant vehicles with powder coated chassis for sale. I would just like to say that I wouldn't buy them at any price above scrap value.

 

[winchman]

All mine have been powder coated.

 

[Robotstar5]

Another vote for powder coating, but it depends on who does it, the company I used would chromate prime it before powder coating, one bike I used for 7 or 8 years for commuting after coating and it was still fine when I sold it.

 

[Morrisman]

I’ve had a few items powder coated in the past, and contrary to numerous people telling me what a super tough bulletproof finish it is I found I could easily mark it with my fingernail.

But, apparently that depends on the diligence of the powder coat operator. Heavier gauge items need longer in the oven, to ensure the proper temperature is achieved. Thin sheet metal or tube takes a couple of minutes, whereas a casting would take ten or more. So I was told.

And the prep too, everything needs blasting to within an inch of its life. Which is time consuming. I don’t think there is even any way to acid dip stuff, it has to be blasted to a ‘white metal finish’ as they apparently call it.

 

[Bornfree]

I had a Z1000 frame done several years ago powder coated in red. It looked lovely but I've no idea of durability as a car pulled out in front of me and wrote the bike off two weeks after getting it back on the road.

 

[brightspark]

2k every time blasted 1st

 

[Norsk]

I cerakoated a rifle a few years ago,that might also be an option.

 

[striker]

I fancy having a go at cerakoting, but I don't have any shot blasting equipment... It would only be push bike parts, like chainsets etc. maybe one of those hand held gravity blasters used in the garden would do it. I only have 14cfm of air.

 

[striker]

I cerakoated a rifle a few years ago,that might also be an option.

Is it as durable as they say it is?

 

[Norsk]

Is it as durable as they say it is?

Yes I would say it is. Providing the surface is shot blasted prior.

I made a solvent tank and degreased all the parts,then applied the cerokoat with a wee airbrush as they hung on wires.

The barrel and action all look as though they are matt stainless steel,even though they are regular chrome molly.

I think I will go with regular epoxy paint for the bike frame. I have a decent compressor and spray gun.