factory paint codes for new fairing

[nomadwest]

Have gone to 3 different painters for estimates on painting my new Reckless fairing. They all want the factory codes for the candy cardinal red. They dont want Colorite's code or to order the paint from them. I cant find a color code anywhere. Tried online and the dealer. Anyone know what it is for the 07 Nomad? Apparantly the candy colors are really hard to match by the paint photo computer.
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/dudewest/Img_0066-small.jpg

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Dave you might have a difficult time trying to find what you need. I went to my local dealer to get touch up paint for my black '08. Kawasaki doesn't even make any touch up paint. They gave me the number for Colorite. At least that is who I think the company was. I didn't need it just thought I would get one just in case. If they don't have anything for black I am sure it will be more difficult for you. I know that isn't what you wanted to hear. Just saying.

[minst7877]

Good luck with this as the original color is a three step paint. It has a base color, top color then the clear coat. The scanners have a difficult time with this because of the base color. Probably the only way you will get a perfect match is to get the paint from colorite and find someone who will use what you provide. I ran into this problem on a 06 classic that I did a bunch of work on.

DC

[duneseven]

My painter Did a color match on mine which is blue/silver.. The blue was a perfect match but the silver is a touch off but not too noticable

[zoom45]

You can always take their auto color books outside and try to match it up. This may take time but you can usually find a color that looks the same which has an auto code. I just did this with a buddies Harley. I painted his with PPG paint and it matched. I just painted another fairing with OMNI base coat and it matched perfectly. Ford trucks have colors similar to your bike. That may be a starting point.

Zoom45

[04kaw1500]

I painted my fairing using colorite raddle cans and I am 100% happy with my work .

[jwg383]

Nomadwest (Dave) I paint cars for a living. My paint computer at work does list Kawasaki motorcycle paint formulas. I'll look and see what I can find. Maybe i can find a code to tell your painter.

[Hacksaw]

I'm following this thread closely, I have the same color combo as him and will be needing parts painted in a couple months.

[Jared]

Candy paints are very hard to match perfectly. Good luck!

[ringadingh]

When I had my fairing repainted a few years ago the bodyshop matched the paint perfectly, but Im not sure which paint brand he used.

[Jared]

Most of kawis paints aren't a tri-stage or candy paint and would easy to match. The few that are candies are the ones that will be difficult.

[ringadingh]

I would think that matching paint chips from different paint suppliers would allow you to have a good chance at matching the paint.
Also if you have to have the exact match, and Color Rite is the only supplier you have no choice anyways. If your repainting the complete bike it wouldn't really matter since there will be nothing to compare it against.

[Jared]

I would think that matching paint chips from different paint suppliers would allow you to have a good chance at matching the paint.
Also if you have to have the exact match, and Color Rite is the only supplier you have no choice anyways. If your repainting the complete bike it wouldn't really matter since there will be nothing to compare it against.

The reason the candy paint is so difficult to match is because with each pass it, changes color and depending on what gun you are spraying wit,h it could be different. Imagine piling tinted transparency paper on top of one another. Each piece would cause the color to get darker and darker. It's definitely not impossible, but very difficult.

Attached is a picture of my base coat for a candy red paint job. You can see it started bright yellow/gold. It took 4 coats to get it to the red I wanted. One more coat of candy would have made it drastically darker and one less made it orange.

[lonewolf]

used the colorite paint on my fairing. yes it was expensive, but i think it matched well .

[jwg383]

Ok Dave, here is what I found. Kawasaki color code 317 is a 3-stage red metallic or (candy) as you all call it.
My paint manufacturer: Spies Hecker, lists the formula # as 102063 I'm not 100% positive that this is your color, but judging by the tints in the formula, is looks an awful lot like it. Any reputable body shop with modern equipment should be able to use that color code, or cross reference the formula#

On a side note, I've been painting cars for nearly 20 years. I work for the largest most profitable shop in Mississippi. I've never heard of this colorite everyone is talking about. I think I read that someone said it comes in a spray can. Do yourselves a favor, stay away from it. If it doesn't have a catalyst like modern automotive finishes it won't last. Hope this helps.

[Jared]

Ok Dave, here is what I found. Kawasaki color code 317 is a 3-stage red metallic or (candy) as you all call it.
My paint manufacturer: Spies Hecker, lists the formula # as 102063 I'm not 100% positive that this is your color, but judging by the tints in the formula, is looks an awful lot like it. Any reputable body shop with modern equipment should be able to use that color code, or cross reference the formula#

On a side note, I've been painting cars for nearly 20 years. I work for the largest most profitable shop in Mississippi. I've never heard of this colorite everyone is talking about. I think I read that someone said it comes in a spray can. Do yourselves a favor, stay away from it. If it doesn't have a catalyst like modern automotive finishes it won't last. Hope this helps.

From what I've read, color rite is a line of PPG that is used on motorcycles and marked WAY up for that reason.

IMHO, I would just try to match the formula numbers with PPG and see if you find a match. I'd be willing to bet you would.

[nomadwest]

Thanks for all the input. Will let all know how the fairing comes out.
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/dudewest/Img_0066-small.jpg

[sarge1057]

Nomadwest (Dave) I paint cars for a living. My paint computer at work does list Kawasaki motorcycle paint formulas. I'll look and see what I can find. Maybe i can find a code to tell your painter.
I'm have a similar problem with my red and black 2008 any help on codes would be greatly appreciated.

[jwg383]

Sarge i'll see what I can find. The formula listing I have cover all of Kawasaki's models and years, but they aren't specific on what bikes they are used on. Sometimes its hard to distinguish. I would like to hear back from Dave to know if the code I gave him is correct. I'll get back to ya.

[minst7877]

Maybe make up a list of the codes by year and post them in the tech section for easy reference. Just a thought as this comes up frequently.

DC

[tonik]

I've never heard of this colorite everyone is talking about. I think I read that someone said it comes in a spray can. Do yourselves a favor...

Just an FYI, they are a paint supplier using Dupont I believe. They just are a convenient place to get touch-up paint either in an applicator or a rattle can. Great for chips and what not but as you say not what you want for a full paint job. The color codes they use are their own color codes.

[BudMan]

I needed to paint a trunk. I was looking for paint to match the green on my 06'.
Both paint companies I went to said they thought they could get it pretty close.
I ended up buying a 1/2 pint from Color Rite.
Yes, it's 3 times what I would have paid for pretty close.
The green is a single base coat and clear.
It DOES look identical to factory paint.
My thinking was if I'm into this trunk for what's already a good chunk of change,
I didn't want $50 to make me have to say, Yeah, that color is pretty close.
That's not to say a good body shop could not have matched it.
But my wife's cousin was doing the painting for free and I was suppling the paint

[ponch]

Have gone to 3 different painters for estimates on painting my new Reckless fairing. They all want the factory codes for the candy cardinal red. They dont want Colorite's code or to order the paint from them. I cant find a color code anywhere. Tried online and the dealer. Anyone know what it is for the 07 Nomad? Apparantly the candy colors are really hard to match by the paint photo computer.
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt36/dudewest/Img_0066-small.jpg

Tell them you are paying them and if they like, you can buy the paint and they can apply it. Or, find another painter. I have never heard of such rubbish. Your money is green.

[minst7877]

Both of the reds on my 99 are 3 stage as are most of the reds that Kawasaki use.

DC

[blackdogbrian]

Maybe make up a list of the codes by year and post them in the tech section for easy reference. Just a thought as this comes up frequently.

DC

Sarge - if you were/are able to come up with a master list, I would appreciate it.
I'm getting ready to add a bunch of paint to my 05 blue and silver nomad (fairing, trunk, lowers etc). I'm considering that with the price of colorite, it might be more economical to repaint the whole thing a new colour.

But.... if you're able to get the codes to make it easier to match the paint - that would be easiest (and cheapest for a cheapskate like me!)

Cheers
B

[Chili]

Dropped off my tour pak and fairing at my buddies place who is going to paint it and he seemed less than excited as well. Seems my 01 the red is a multi stage as well and he had no idea who color rite was or how to make use of their codes other than ordering straight from them. He's going to make a few inquiries tomorrow before we commit to ordering from color rite.

If any one has codes for PPG etc for an 01 FI Nomad Luminous Vintage Red and Metallic Canyon Silver feel free to share them :)

[ponch]

Dropped off my tour pak and fairing at my buddies place who is going to paint it and he seemed less than excited as well. Seems my 01 the red is a multi stage as well and he had no idea who color rite was or how to make use of their codes other than ordering straight from them. He's going to make a few inquiries tomorrow before we commit to ordering from color rite.

If any one has codes for PPG etc for an 01 FI Nomad Luminous Vintage Red and Metallic Canyon Silver feel free to share them :)

I don't see what the big deal is, whether it is colorite or PPG. I scraped my saddle bag 2 weeks after I got it. The dealer used Colorite for the titanium. In fact there was no discussion of anything else.

[Chili]

My guess is most painters are reluctant to purchase from a reseller like color rite when they normally order direct from the supplier like Dupont or PPG. Not a big deal other than paying an inflated price for the added step in the sales process. He was less excited about how difficult the multi stage paints are to get a great match on. Likely if he painted bikes for a living he would already have used color rite in the past.

[voyager]

My painter colour matched it and used Dupont. Seems good to me.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee302/voyagerkbc/DSCF0839.jpg