My paint quote was $800.00....should I...

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MCA

MCA

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I am contemplating buying a tank and side cover set from Royal Choppers off ebay for ~$400 and place the originals on the self. The paint quote was for a respray, apply decals and clear. No tank pinstriping.
I have used this paint shop numerous times but was a taken by surprise with this quote. Last job was a few months ago for a Ducati 900ss fairing and tank @ $600.00. They are also 8 weeks out.

Anyone use the Royal Choppers tins?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292785518954

Thanks.........m
 
I have bought a complete roadster set, an Interstate set and a BSA Tank from Royal Choppers. They are OK. I have painted a few sets over the years and they look kind of like I had done them. Recently I had Brent at Vintage Vendor repaint two sets of Interstate tins and an S-Type set and the difference is simply amazing. Obviously the parts fit great but the quality of the paint from Brent was simply beautiful. The BSA Tank I got from RC was Chrome with a red paint and it looks really great. I think I paid $350 shipped and I was very happy except the filler cap area needed attention. If you manage your expectations then you should be happy with RC.
 
MCA said:
I am contemplating buying a tank and side cover set from Royal Choppers off ebay for ~$400 and place the originals on the self. The paint quote was for a respray, apply decals and clear. No tank pinstriping.
I have used this paint shop numerous times but was a taken by surprise with this quote. Last job was a few months ago for a Ducati 900ss fairing and tank @ $600.00. They are also 8 weeks out.

Anyone use the Royal Choppers tins?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292785518954

Thanks.........m
Click to expand...
I was paying $950 for a bare Roadster tank and side covers but with the increased shipping costs to me it now $1000. Hand pinstriped if 850 a little less if not strips. I had EMGO tanks drop shipped for free to the painter (next town over) so no shipping costs to him. He tells me that a gallon of the paint he uses has gone up $100 in the last year! Two years ago I shipped him a Trident tank and two side covers - cost me $70. Last year I shipped him a Trident gas tank alone and it cost $130.
 
Yorkie said:
I have bought a complete roadster set, an Interstate set and a BSA Tank from Royal Choppers. They are OK. I have painted a few sets over the years and they look kind of like I had done them. Recently I had Brent at Vintage Vendor repaint two sets of Interstate tins and an S-Type set and the difference is simply amazing. Obviously the parts fit great but the quality of the paint from Brent was simply beautiful. The BSA Tank I got from RC was Chrome with a red paint and it looks really great. I think I paid $350 shipped and I was very happy except the filler cap area needed attention. If you manage your expectations then you should be happy with RC.
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Thanks for the informatiom. I wonder what colors from them would be the best choice for a decent finish...........if you dont mind, what colors were your tin sets?
 
I had a bare Interstate tank and sidecovers done in NZ in candy apple red with pinstripe two years ago. Cost NZ $1800. That's about US$1200. A show quality job as demonstrated by 3rd placing at the Upper Hutt bike show
 
johnm said:
I had a bare Interstate tank and sidecovers done in NZ in candy apple red with pinstripe two years ago. Cost NZ $1800. That's about US$1200. A show quality job as demonstrated by 3rd placing at the Upper Hutt bike show
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i got the red and silver roadster set. It looks good.
 
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Bryan at BD’s Cycles did my tank , side covers and seat cowl for
$ 1000. U.S. plus shipping - that was a couple years ago . That included stripping out old epoxy liner and re coat with Caswell system .Absolutely stunning job and I couldn’t be happier. All paint - no decals or vinyl stickers. Here it is …
E54C5BCE-EAA0-4AA5-BC8A-18CCD87D8D21.jpeg
 
Just a friendly reminder, be sure to PRESSURE TEST any gas tank, old or new, (also the FIT as well) before the painting operation.🍻
3 PSI MAX, soap & water sprayed everywhere.

JMWO
 
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You will always know the difference, a great painter will tell you the cost is 80% preparation, and the financial return on fussy-shaped objects like motorcycle tanks (unless common in bulk) is not great. But a great paint job resists fading, is deep and even, and the painter may work with a pin striping outfit which can reduce price for that job. If there is any prep work the painter agrees you should complete do that for sure. Good luck and keep us posted!
 
My Interstate tank was made in India but I bought it through a USA dealer because I had heard lots of issues on quality and wanted some sort of QC done by a reputable firm. So I don't know who made it sorry. The sidecovers were from RGM.

You must check fit them before painting. Tank and sidecovers all needed modifying to fit properly. Sidecovers needed holes repositioned and filing to fit around the frame. Tank needed the tap locations completely repositioned and the petrol cap modified to fit. Shape was fine with no leaks but needed substantial fettling.

This is really important. Do not paint them until you have carefully test fitted them to your bike with all the rubber grommets, rubbers under the tank, fuel taps, petrol cap and attachment bolts, strap etc fitted. Almost everything needed adjusting on my tank.
 
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MCA said:
I am contemplating buying a tank and side cover set from Royal Choppers off ebay for ~$400 and place the originals on the self. The paint quote was for a respray, apply decals and clear. No tank pinstriping.
I have used this paint shop numerous times but was a taken by surprise with this quote. Last job was a few months ago for a Ducati 900ss fairing and tank @ $600.00. They are also 8 weeks out.

Anyone use the Royal Choppers tins?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292785518954

Thanks.........m
Click to expand...
I’m in the U.K. I have a quote for Candy Apple red on silver with silver stripes.
Interstate tank, roadster panels.
Stickers to be clear coated over.
The quote is around £850.
It’s a pro custom shop, his work is fabulous.
I thought it expensive but in the real world probably not!
 
Even on the best quality hardware, 25 hours can easily be consumed to get a basic colour job right.
candies & metalflakes add more.
So if you say $100 on materials & overheads, the $950 translates into less than $40 an hour; assuming everything is perfect first time.
Obviously it would be cheaper in Rupees...
 
Copy and paste from my previous post, shame Wicked coatings are in Poole UK as it doesn't help MCA the
original poster. Sorry.

I bought stick on decals from Classic Transfers (Robert Derrick ltd). They were excellent, being thin and a very
nice matt gold or silver rather than the typical shiny surface ones . They have side panels logos with pin stripes
included, but the tank pin stripes need to be hand painted.

Thoroughly recommend Classic Transfers

Many years ago I sprayed a petrol tank and side panels candy apple red. Most people who saw it remarked
how good it is and were surprised I sprayed it myself using correct colour rattle cans from a specialist paint
supplier. However, it took me several goes to get nice as it was difficult to get an even colour of red lacquer
over the metallic silver base coat over the whole area.

Recently I had a tank sprayed by Wicked coatings in Poole. It is totally fantastic - stunning. As I said to the lady
there "It's far too good to put on a bike and drive about. Needs to be in a glass case in the living room !"

I supplied Wicked Coatings with decals from Classic Transfers, but they made stencils from them and used
the stencils to paint the silver logos and pinstripes such that the clear lacquer surface is totally smooth.
TOTALLY FABULOUS.

Thoroughly recommend Wicked Coatings of Poole UK

Mk II 850 decals
 
Mark Savage said:
FD Motorcycles supplied an Emgo tank, decals and filler cap and I supplied the new AN side panels for them to paint. All in it was £1,000.
The bike came from the factory as a blue Roadster and I always wanted to return it to that.
It does mean that I can sell my black set and get a few quid back. Just listed on fleabay btw.View attachment 102900
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Every job I've ever seen FD do is excellent, they have done many Trident tanks for mates , your Commando looks beautiful. Is the front guard a Harris T140 type ?
 
Mark Savage said:
FD Motorcycles supplied an Emgo tank, decals and filler cap and I supplied the new AN side panels for them to paint. All in it was £1,000.
The bike came from the factory as a blue Roadster and I always wanted to return it to that.
It does mean that I can sell my black set and get a few quid back. Just listed on fleabay btw.View attachment 102900
Click to expand...
That looks sweet!
And I’m pleased to see you have finally accepted the well proven concept that ‘blue ones are faster’…
 
resurrecting this for future reference - I used to be a booster for Royal Chopper but this past week they did me wrong. I purchased a black 750 tank and panel set and although the paint was nice (it does chip easily) the oil tank panel holes were way off. I brought it to his attention and his response was that I bought the wrong ones as the ones he supplied were for a MK3 and for $120 he would supply me with the correct ones. After a few email exchanges I realized he was not going to do the right thing. Beware. Actually - avoid.
 
Yorkie said:
resurrecting this for future reference - I used to be a booster for Royal Chopper but this past week they did me wrong. I purchased a black 750 tank and panel set and although the paint was nice (it does chip easily) the oil tank panel holes were way off. I brought it to his attention and his response was that I bought the wrong ones as the ones he supplied were for a MK3 and for $120 he would supply me with the correct ones. After a few email exchanges I realized he was not going to do the right thing. Beware. Actually - avoid.
Click to expand...
Do the Royal Chopper tanks fit up ok ?
Do they sell raw steel finish ?
 
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