If you have had a bike for years which has gone through many cosmetic damages, probably it’s time for you to give it a nice and professional paint job. And if you are wondering how much does it cost to paint a motorcycle, you’ve come to the right place.
As far as painting a motorcycle goes, there are a couple of ways to go about it – regular paint, DIY and professional custom fit, which by the way can be done by the riders themselves or from a paint shop.
Additionally, you can paint different motorcycle parts or the entire motorcycle. It is easy to do a DIY project to paint the gas tank, oil tanks, side panels, fuel tank and other parts. A professional job in a body shop can be helpful too.
The cost involved in each method is different and in this article, we will provide you with all the information regarding the cost along with details of each of the three methods so that you have every bit of information in your hand before proceeding with the actual paint job.
Cost of a Regular Motorcycle Paint Job
You can expect to get a good regular paint job done for between $300-$1,500.
For regular motorcycle paintwork, it is completely disassembled and sanded. The new colour coat is applied and after that two coats of clear coat are applied to the colour coat to protect it from scratches and nicks.
The price range for this kind of job varies from one shop to another depending on a number of factors including the original cost of your bike, its current condition, whether you have taken it in parts from different shops or somebody just slapped some paint over it ’cause they couldn’t be bothered about how it looked after that one unfortunate accident.
A regular paint job in most cases is carried out by service station or garage mechanics, which means the job will be done by professionals. It costs a few hundred dollars but creates a lasting impression. However, the quality of paint used in this process is generally average.
Cost of a DIY Paint Work for Motorcycles
Expect to pay between $100-$500 depending on your skills at coming up with the desired paint job yourself.
In the DIY painting method, you will need two colours which you will need to mix together to get the desired colour. Then, the motorcycle has to be sanded and all parts have to be painted separately with detail on each part of your bike. You can use leftover old paint to remodel the motorcycle.
In the case of the DIY paint job, the only thing you need to worry about is the final result as it will solely depend on your skill. Also, it’s fair to say that the ultimate cost of a DIY method will depend on a number of factors like the quality of paint and equipment you choose and whether you are painting the whole bike or some selected parts of it.
Can Backfiring Cause Damage to a Motorcycle’s Paint Job?
Backfiring is a common issue faced by motorcycle owners, and it can potentially cause damage to the paint job. When the fuel-air mixture is not burned properly, it can explode in the exhaust system, shooting out flames or hot gases. These intense bursts can lead to discoloration, peeling, or even melting of the paint. To avoid such damage, addressing the causes of motorcycle backfire, like a rich fuel mixture or faulty spark plugs, is crucial. Regular maintenance and tuning can prevent backfiring, keeping your motorcycle’s paint job pristine.
Cost of a Custom Motorcycle Paint Job
Custom paint work for your motorcycle will cost between $600-$3000.
For doing a customized paint job on your motorcycle, there are no limits in terms of how much money you want to spend on that job because essentially you are getting an entirely new design slapped onto your bike which is not restricted by any rules and regulations unlike professional race teams and such.
The options open for customization here also include painting different sections of your bike with different colours by using an airbrush or hand-painting it.
Custom paint jobs are done by professionals who have experience in the field and since these people will be using quality equipment, paints, and resources; you can expect to pay between $600-$3,000 for custom painting on your motorcycle.
Choose the Perfect Motorcycle Paint Method
Looking at all three methods that are discussed above, it is clear that choosing the best method primarily depends on your budget as well as how concerned you are about the appearance of your bike.
If you feel like spending more money than required on something which is cosmetic – go ahead with a custom paint job because not only will it last longer but would also give you better resale value if someday you want to sell your bike.
If you are not too bothered about the overall appearance of your bike but would like to get rid of the scratches and nicks on it – choose a DIY option so that you can at least try to fix things yourself instead of looking up professional help which might be more expensive than doing it yourself.
The last option i.e. regular paint job is suitable if all you want is to slap some paint over your motorcycle in order to change its colour or give it a new look with no intentions of spending too much money on that task.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that this method will most probably lead to peeling off the paint after a short while due to poor quality materials used during painting or lack of protective clear coats which do provide protection to the paint.
Conclusion
In the end, it comes down to your own personal preference whether you choose a regular paint job, DIY method, or go for a custom paint job that involves professional help.
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pick up that can of spray paint or take your bike over to a professional who knows what they are doing.
Happy Painting!
