Painting an RS

[Prairieman]

I'm going to have an RS fairing repainted. The technonerd part of me wants to take off the instrument panel and separate all the parts for painting. The old man in me suspects that putting that instrument panel back on may cause more harm than it's worth.

What have others done? How and why?

Dr. Bob

[dwire]

Not too familiar with that RS setup exactly, but good shops can apply plastic protective film over the work once its completely cured if you inquire.

[dougie]

When I painted mine I took the dash off.
Whether you need to remove it is a judgement call.It goes back on with hollow brass rivets.
It didn't damage the paint at all.

[SuperDave]

Same here.
Thinking back, I was concerned about it at first too, but waited until I had the new rivets in hand.
It really wasn't difficult.

If you are going back with a stock look... get hand laid pinstriping.

[dougie]

If you are going back with a stock look... get hand laid pinstriping.

Did it meself Dave.

[SuperDave]

If you are going back with a stock look... get hand laid pinstriping.

Did it meself Dave.

And there you go.
When I look at a bike that's been painted, that's one of the first things I zoom in on.

[moore84rs]

Taking it apart is important. If you don't, paint will bridge the seams and crack
when the fairing flexes. Its not hard to do. I repainted mine with OEM Glasurite
paint.

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx30 ... CN0091.jpg

[Major Softie]

Ya, no matter how well you mask, it will not look as good and will have the results described by Moore84rs.

Take it apart. It's worth it.

[SteveD]

Drill out the brass spacer. They're easy enough to replace.



Buy a countersunk bolt that fits the brass spacer. Install them with the dash to the fairing and thread the nut to flare the straight end. Easy.

I use #1 from the picture instead of the oem #3 rivets. Cheaper, easier, reusable.

If you use #2, you won't need the brass bits.

[R90Steve]

Well I hate to be the fly in the ointment but.... I have had several S fairings painted by the same painter. He is well known/repected. Usually when I go to his shop there are show type projects, exotic cars, bikes etc. in the shop. Anyway, I asked him what would be best and he advised masking. After all the work I put into the bikes, I wouldn't hesitate to take the fairing apart if he advised to.
The first one was 6 years ago with no sign of a problem. Obviously if there is repair needed in that area it would be different. FWIW