Painting fork legs

[byker]

Over the winter I plan on painting the lower fork legs on my 87 K100rs. What paint would you suggest for this application. The legs are black and I wish to keep them the same.

[cayuse60]

I'm doing the same...plan on using a flat black epoxy based spray paint, marine grade.

[98lee]

I would suggest satin or semi-gloss. In the neighborhood of a 20%+- gloss to more match the frame and what was originally on the forks.

I personally just used Eastwood's Underhood Satin black covered with their Diamond Clear Satin. Mainly because I had some in rattle cans from a Mach 1 that I am working on.

It has held up well (in California on a garaged bike) for about two years and 15k. YRMV.

There are many more more durable (and expensive and time consuming) and proper ways of doing it , but this was a good balance for me. Your Needs May Vary.


:dance :dance :dance

[BuddingGeezer]

I painted the lower fork legs of my K100LT. I used 'Dupli-Color Acrylic lacquer'. Super looks after 1 year and 11,000 miles. I have since painted the legs of a K75 and used 'Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel which should hold up better according to my auto paint guru friend. I used gloss black and it isn't too glossy since the fork legs are not real smooth and slick.

Ralph Sims

[mieczkow]

I did mine a few months ago when I had the forks apart to replace the seals. I used an epoxy in a semi-gloss that I got a Lowe's. Odd thing was the lady made me show ID that I was 21 to buy the paint (I'm 60, by the way - God bless you, lady).

The paint job came out very nicely and the paint appears to be very tough. I really cleaned the exterior of the tubes up with lacquer thinner, used some blue masking tape where appropriate, hung them up with a wire through on of the tabs for the calipers and sprayed.

So far, after a few thousand miles, it has held up really well.

[ghostridery2k]

im painting mine with ppg black and clearcoating with stain finish clear coat used on older mercedes bumpers.(great thing is to working in colision busines>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>acces to any color,paint,ect..........) ride safe.

[byker]

Now I must decide which way to go. Thanks to all for their advice.