Random thoughts, mostly about painting non-Nortons

I'm lucky, my '66 N15CS is so easy to live with. It drips a bit, but so do I, haha. I ride it more than my big Suzukis ('83 GS1100Es x 2), even though I'm sort-of ape-size on it, at 6'3" 240lb. Oh well. The Norton works so well and starts with one kick.

I have two '83 Suzuki GS1100Es, both with 20K miles that were free to me. I have built a nice paint booth and am ready to go. I have two complete sets of bodywork (tanks, fenders, rear cowling and side covers) to paint this week. I built a booth using my side yard's awning. It wasn't usable until I figured out how to move it with my son's skateboard under the posts on one end, and us on the other. Brilliant! Now I have a 10'x10' area to paint. I wish I had done this with the N15 and given it proper urethane or epoxy treatment, but it's holding up well.

Look forward to this as I'm crappie at paint!

Great idea ! I may have to try this myself- thanks.

I've a similar system, using an old garden gazebo/shelter. Not perfect, but keeps the flies and and falling leaves away.
Best operated in calm, warm weather!

The blue on my bike(s) will be like this bike (not mine), but w/o the front quarter fairing. The red isn't bad, I did a quick 2K clear from a can and it shines, but is a 10 footer, shown below.

Choice one is to have one red and one blue. Choice 2 is two blue ones - especially if they turn out really nice, which I think they will. Choice 3, courtesy of my son, is to find a cheap GS1100E that has rough body work. I put him on the case. He found my N15CS (for $150) in 2021 when he was 16.

I did the 2nd-best set, base, and clear. It's all fine, the top of the tank is a bit bumpy, but as I have to wet-sand the clear for the decals on the sides, I'll just do a bit extra work on the top. Hard to spray downward. It's two good layers of clear, so there's plenty there to work with. Tomorrow I'll do the better set - it's nice painting weather. The only issue with this first set is that there's a so-so line on the forward bottom (you can see it in the pic). I knew I couldn't get it perfect, but as it sits on the bike, it won't be an issue I'll worry about. I probably won't be able to do the decals and final two coats of clear, then wet sand and polish till mid-July, as I'll be out of town.

I rode the N15 this evening to the local biker hangout and through the canyons. It always amazes me with its all-around goodness. I love it. Cook's Corner is a lifestyle place, nobody is really into motorcycles there IMO, mostly just paint, tattoos, chrome, and doo-dads on 30K machines they take out on the weekend. Sometimes there's some old-school HD stuff like the one next to mine tho.

The 2nd set came out better, as I learn the ropes. Not orange peel-y. The first set will be fine, but I will need to sand some areas more,

Now 2 days drying time awaits, then I will do the decals and hit them with the final coats of clear. I got a gallon of clear coat and a quart of activator on clearance for $60. Fantastic. The decals are $50 a set. I had one that came with the bikes, and just got another off eBay.