Does anyone know (for sure) the factory paint code for a 1985 zl900 black???
I could use this info on the quick if anyone has it !
thanks
I could use this info on the quick if anyone has it !
thanks
Black factory paint code ???
- Thread starter Bacchus
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- paint code
golddrakul
Senior Member
Check the kawasaki site and look at ZL900 gas tanks; they have different numbers for the black and the red. I believe the suffix is the paint code; just don't remember what it is.
if the zl1000 is the same code, Furchin may be able to help ! i believe he has repainted one of his 1k's. CHRIS
jmac
Well-Known Member
I always thought black was black.I use GM 99A for anything that I paint black.PPG is like $50 a gallon,for base clear.A budy of mine just paid $150 for a quart of bmw tripple black(ppg base clear)for a bike he was painting.We held the painted fender,up next to my camaro,and was a dead match.If you are painting the whole bike,I realy don't think it matters.
Kawasaki-krazy
Senior Member
Black??????? nothing so common
Kawasaki call it 'Ebony'
KK
KK
Information posted is correct. BLACK is BLACK. Now if you go for the red colors that is a different story. Anyway just make sure the black has a high gloss or sheen and you should be good to go.
hate to disagree with my bro's but there about as many variations of black as there are grains of sand on the beach ! Im just going to have them color match to the black fuel bezel. problem solved.
zlMark
Cult Leader
Is the black fuel bezel unfinished shiny plastic? I would go with the above advice. I used to paint cars for a living and Black is Black you can't go wrong. Its a dull base w a clear coat. You can see the under side of the tank is not clear coated
the fuel bezel, I belive is the part whare the gas cap is located...no???
zlMark
Cult Leader
yea
golddrakul
Senior Member
MachIV is correct, unless the part has never been out of the factory package it will have oxidized to some degree.
When I used to work for a living [instead of playing with computers] I was also in the body and paint trade and ASE certified in both [as well as frame repair]. For many years, there was only 1 standard black, however, the paint manufacturers came along with new formulas that were supposedly "blacker than black". These were indeed a different point code.
This was followed by the base/clearcoat systems [yes, I was around for the single stage days
], which will give a different sheen. The downside of the base/clearcoat systems is that, while it is easier to get a shine it does not allow wet sanding and buffing to obtain the "depth" that the older systems would allow. This is perfectly acceptable for mass-produced vehicles, but custom vehicles are often painted with single stage so that the "orange-peel" can be wetsanded out and buffed to a deep finish.
Try this, go out and look at your car, chances are very good it is a base/clearcoat system. Find a really clear spot and shine it up, then look past the shine at the "orange peel" underneath. If your not sure what "orange peel" is, look to see if your reflection is distorted. Clear can make anything shine [which is one of the reasons the manufacturers use it, the other being cost savings], but if it doesn't give a smooth reflection you can shave from [my apologies to the ladies ;0] then it doesn't have "depth". Once you see it, chances are you won't want to settle for shiny.
All this being said, I doubt that which black paint you go with will have a major impact [though the red is very special], the system, application and final polishing will be more important.
When I used to work for a living [instead of playing with computers] I was also in the body and paint trade and ASE certified in both [as well as frame repair]. For many years, there was only 1 standard black, however, the paint manufacturers came along with new formulas that were supposedly "blacker than black". These were indeed a different point code.
This was followed by the base/clearcoat systems [yes, I was around for the single stage days
], which will give a different sheen. The downside of the base/clearcoat systems is that, while it is easier to get a shine it does not allow wet sanding and buffing to obtain the "depth" that the older systems would allow. This is perfectly acceptable for mass-produced vehicles, but custom vehicles are often painted with single stage so that the "orange-peel" can be wetsanded out and buffed to a deep finish. Try this, go out and look at your car, chances are very good it is a base/clearcoat system. Find a really clear spot and shine it up, then look past the shine at the "orange peel" underneath. If your not sure what "orange peel" is, look to see if your reflection is distorted. Clear can make anything shine [which is one of the reasons the manufacturers use it, the other being cost savings], but if it doesn't give a smooth reflection you can shave from [my apologies to the ladies ;0] then it doesn't have "depth". Once you see it, chances are you won't want to settle for shiny.
All this being said, I doubt that which black paint you go with will have a major impact [though the red is very special], the system, application and final polishing will be more important.
Unfortunately yeah... I have been to a few body shops now looking for someone to be able to match the luminous red paint colour. The best response I have gotten is that not only is the sun fading a major factor, but also that apparently you can't get automotive painters to respray vehicles in colours as old as the ones on these bikes. It seems they used a style of paint that isn't used anymore due to environmental factors or something like that. Still searching for as close a match as I can get on the red colour.....
Tmdoth, have you checked with colorrite yet? they are the authorized US dealer for paint colors from Kawasaki. I have bought from them twice and was well pleased. My color was for the '87 red which is a little different than what you need.
golddrakul
Senior Member
ColorRite does indeed have the Luminous Red; and they're mighty proud of it!! Price quote was around $400 [ouch!!]. But it is a beautiful color.
I believe the paint is a lacquer system, which is applied with a solvent [thinner] that evaporates into the atmosphere and is considered a pollutant. Because of this it is banned in most large city areas; it can only be sold in Chicago as a "specialty paint" for custom work, not for "production" repair work. It's interesting that the chain stores [Advance Auto, Meijers, etc] carry the base colors [silver, red, blue, white, and yes black] in lacquer, so it is still possible to get.
The reason the painters don't like to fool with it is labor; the current generation of clear coat paints are "spray it and forget it"; once the paint is applied they're done. Lacquer, on the other hand, requires at least buffing to bring out the shine, and really should be wet sanded prior to that. More work and insurance companies, as well as customers, don't want to pay extra if [too them] it's shiny either way.
I believe the paint is a lacquer system, which is applied with a solvent [thinner] that evaporates into the atmosphere and is considered a pollutant. Because of this it is banned in most large city areas; it can only be sold in Chicago as a "specialty paint" for custom work, not for "production" repair work. It's interesting that the chain stores [Advance Auto, Meijers, etc] carry the base colors [silver, red, blue, white, and yes black] in lacquer, so it is still possible to get.
The reason the painters don't like to fool with it is labor; the current generation of clear coat paints are "spray it and forget it"; once the paint is applied they're done. Lacquer, on the other hand, requires at least buffing to bring out the shine, and really should be wet sanded prior to that. More work and insurance companies, as well as customers, don't want to pay extra if [too them] it's shiny either way.
No I hadn't actually, I had heard that it was tried by someone else without success, and then reading on their site that they will match if you send in a part... well I don't have NOS parts, just nice looking ones. Thanks though for the heads up.
Golddrakkul:
ColorRite does indeed have the Luminous Red; and they're mighty proud of it!! Price quote was around $400 [ouch!!]. But it is a beautiful color.
I believe the paint is a lacquer system, which is applied with a solvent [thinner] that evaporates into the atmosphere and is considered a pollutant.
This is good news and I will have to look into just how much paint $400 gets me.. nice to have some left over for touch ups. As for the lacquer base.. that is what I was told before I believe.. hance why the bodyshops wouldn't touch it. I will need to check now to see if any of them are even willing to spray it if I buy some or if I will need to take it to a custom guy.
Thanks to both of you for your input on this... much appreciated.
Colorwrong dosen`t even come close on the newer ZRX paint.
Save your money,find a red you like as close as you can and spray it.
Try matching the underside of a sidecover as it gets less sun than
the rest.
No one will know the diff unless you have one parked next to it with
NOS bodywork.
Save your money,find a red you like as close as you can and spray it.
Try matching the underside of a sidecover as it gets less sun than
the rest.
No one will know the diff unless you have one parked next to it with
NOS bodywork.
I will have to check with the side panel. It is one of the few things I don't have off the bike. Are they also sprayed and clearcoated? or just painted? I would assume both in order to prevent them from having any edges that can start peeling..
Hellion
Senior Member
TM are you talking about the ZL1000 red or the ZL900 red? I myself am looking to find the ZL1000 Candy burgendy *Or so I was told it was called* to redo Hellion with when I get to that point. *which probably wont be for @ least another year yet.* Keep me updated on your findings please.
I was looking for the ZL900 luminous red. The burgundy red of the ZL1000 is the colour that Furchin mentioned earlier in the thread.. he is the one you need to get in contact with.