BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

It's my third oilhead and sixth BMW. I've bought 'em used. The rock is the best handling beemer I've had. I couldn't like the 'blue' valve covers on a black/bronze motorcycle - and those on mine were deeply scratched. So, I found a set of valve covers on craigslist and stripped the paint off the outside. Primered them, painted them with engine black and bronze rattle can paint. Yes, the paint will flake off or maybe it won't. Time will tell.

It's got 27,000 on the odometer and comes to me with a recent new 'seal'.

How do I post a picture?

If I can't post 'em here - go take a look at a photo album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rabbascrabitz/RocksterPics

moonbandito wrote:
How do I post a picture? :

This should do it (found in Member's section, there might be a public tips sheet somewhere)

- You can do this by clicking the Img button under the subject line of a new or reply post.
- You can do this by typing it out: with the URL inside the IMG tags.

I will tell you that the board appears to not be picasa friendly. But give it a shot anyway, I might be doing something wrong.

And I am soooo going to ripp off that look on the heads, moon! It looks great!!! Let us know how it holds up. And it has the muffler lowering kit and extra clip for a full size RT bag on the left. Nice rig!

moonbandito wrote:It's my third oilhead and sixth BMW. I've bought 'em used. The rock is the best handling beemer I've had. I couldn't like the 'blue' valve covers on a black/bronze motorcycle - and those on mine were deeply scratched. So, I found a set of valve covers on craigslist and stripped the paint off the outside. Primered them, painted them with engine black and bronze rattle can paint. Yes, the paint will flake off or maybe it won't. Time will tell.

How do I post a picture?

Use "Quote" and you can see how it's done:






Those valvecovers sure look great.
Is it a standard rattlecan paintcolor ?

This paint job looks absolutely the dog's danglies!!!
Great work.
I want one too!

BTW - can you take couple of close-up shots pleeeeeeaaaase???

The black is 'engine black' and is high temperature paint. Not that the valve covers need them, but the original coating is undoubtably a polymer based paint. The original primer is an epoxy primer - two stage. One can't buy two stage expoxy primer in a rattle can. Why expoxy? Magnesium wants to oxidize and is porous. BMW valve covers are painted inside and out.

Paint process I used:

1. Used Mar-Hyde paint remover to remove all paint and coatings from the 'cover' only. I did not want to remove the paint from the 'cooling fins'. I used blue 3M painters tape to seal off the 'fins' from the paint remover.

2. Used a wire brush, finger nails, and a plastic scraper to remove the softened paint. It took time. It came off like skin after a bad sunburn.

3. Used steel wool to remove all traces, especially around the 'lip' and 'magnesium' text.

4. Sprayed the bare metal with primer. A filling primer.

5. Sprayed the cover black, using satin black engine paint. Removed tape before paint had dried hard.

6. taped off the section I wanted to paint 'bronze'. Sprayed the color. The first time it bubbled. I don't know why. I had to remove all paint and start over. Removed tape while paint was still tacky.

7. Cut strips of blue 3m painters tape to cover the 'fin' lines and applied the tape to the fins.

8. Painted the fins with the engine black. Removed the tape while paint was tacky.

9. Touched up areas along the fin line where paint remover had taken off the 'clear' coat using silver paint and a small brush.

...bolted covers on and rode it for 50 miles. Ahh the smell of baking paint!

I haven't ridden it on 200 mile ride yet so I can't say how this paint combination will hold up. It cost me about $30 in materials, $25 for a scarred valve cover, $90 for an unscarred valve cover.

I've added pictures of the left and right valve cover. The right side came out nearly perfect. The left side has one paint 'sag' - but it still looks better than 'blue'. I also swapped out the 'silver' spark plug covers for black ones. It just looked better to me.

I have not been able to use the Img or Quote features to include photos. How is this done?

http://picasaweb.google.com/rabbascrabitz/RocksterPics

http://picasaweb.google.com/rabbascrabi ... 0882100690

Paint color for 'bronze': Dupli-color MS100 Metal Specks Burnt Copper

After visiting a real paint store I found there is a two stage paint, called 'hot rod black' that looks like the black finish on the rockster.

If I want an exact match on textures I'd have to say satin black is a bit too shiny. Flat black is a bit too dull.

thanks for the info on the paint process

I doubt I will be able to find the exact paints as you as I am across the pond!

I missed the opportunity to buy a right handside rocker cover off ebay two days ago ...

will keep trying!

cheers

As Robox would say, this looks pants!



Not sure if I'm using the expression correctly: I'm saying that I like it... a lot!

jfslater98 wrote:As Robox would say, this looks pants!



Not sure if I'm using the expression correctly: I'm saying that I like it... a lot!

"pants" is bad.

"The bollox" is good.

"Bollox" is bad.


Don't you just love English....

A simple change, but it sure makes the bike stand out from standard Rocksters (like mine ...)

Captain K.

Very nice personal touch, it certainly stands out from the rest. Enjoy your new bike....