Sorry for the new thread, but the original is a few pages back now.

I've decided I can live with the scratch at least for the time being. But as many suggested, I'm thinking I should at least cover the bare metal to help prevent further damage. Do we think a near enough color nail polish or silver Sharpie or something like that would be adequate. Or would a bottle of actual color-code matched touch-up be the way to go?

Beyond that, folks mentioned covering with a sticker or magnet. Seems a magnet would be less problematic later on in time. Are there specific things made for this kind of thing? Are we talking those refrigerator type business card magnet things?

Something like this doesn't seem quite right.

I have seen vehicles with magnet signs on the doors that once removed reveal small scratches/abrasions in the paint caused by dirt/dust that works in between the magnet and the metal combined with the vibration of the vehicle. Granted the magnet in your case would be much smaller but just sharing what I have seen.

I would think your ideas of a either a clear coat or matching color paint to protect the exposed metal is the way to go. Not sure of the longevity of nail polish so I would lean towards materials designed for vehicles.

A coat of nail polish then wax will cover it for six-months to a year. A touch-up with auto paint and wax will last much longer.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Thanks. Just saw this interesting option for paint color match vinyl wrap. For $50, I need to decide if it's worth a shot. Can't imagine it looking much worse than a screwed up touch-up paint job attempt.

I have had very good results with this product: [drcolorchip.com]

The problem would be finding the automotive equivalent of your paint color. Maybe taking your bike by an auto body shop, someone could make some good guesses.

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“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
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I too think your idea of color-coded touchup paint is a good one for a temp fix along with help from a friendly body shop. Those guys could probably find you a near-exact equivalent car color code. I used to watch the detail shop guys at a Cadillac dealership where I worked as a teen do touch ups that were nearly invisible. Seems their secret was multiple thin coats using pinstriping brushes, staying just inside the borders of the scratch. With several applications over several days, they'd build the paint until it was level with the original surface. The end result wasn't invisible, but easy to miss if you didn't know where to look.

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Thanks.

Well, the vinyl place wrote back "Thanks but we can't support small orders for motorcycles." No real surprise there.

And Markintosh, one of the first places I checked was Dr Color Chip as it seems like their method gets pretty good results. But when I asked about my color, their reply was "My paint technician said that nothing was found for YU8. If you have a color sample that you can send to us, he should be able to match it."

Well, I don't have a color sample I can send and I can only imagine what it would cost to have them custom match something.

The first one is the worst.



Do the best paint match you can, polish it out, and remember why you got the bike.

How about this?

[www.rvinyl.com]

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

btfc, you're exactly right. And that's exactly how I think about this.

That said, thanks Ombligo. I don't know how I never found that in my searches. I'll look into it.

-edit-

Well, that wrap is just that; a wrap. I don't see it as being used as a patch. And while it looks like a couple of their color options are close, I've discovered that close probably isn't going to work.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2022 02:32PM by wurm.

You should be able to go into an auto paint store with your bike where they can do a scan of the gas tank to determine the exact match formula. Then either buy some touchup paint from them or order from Dr Colorchip or similar.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

Well, I can order the exact color match from a couple of places online. I've been hesitant only because if the mere idea of touch-up won't work for this scratch, I'd rather spend $5 to find out than $35.

Keep in mind that matching the color code does not mean actually matching the color. Your tank will likely have faded and will be lighter than the touchup.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Quote
Ombligo
Keep in mind that matching the color code does not mean actually matching the color. Your tank will likely have faded and will be lighter than the touchup.

Yep. I know that going in. One of the reasons I'm strongly considering just ignoring it. Life's too short.

One of the reasons I'm strongly considering just ignoring it.


Do not do that, not just yet.

You have to do a permanent paint patch or that will rust.

It will also further damage the surrounding paint and get worse.

No vinyl is any sort of a fix.

You know nothing short of a proper repaint of the whole tank will make it look new again.

You know getting a 'color matched' can or bottle will possibly not match the original paint.

You know getting your paint matched and then getting a small batch will probably be the priciest option short of a proper repaint.

You've considered living with it as is, which is the worst possible option.

So what to do.


Pop for a touchup bottle of 'matching' top coat, and optionally, clear coat.

Mask off everything, then sand the afflicted area, prime it, then touch up, optionally add some clear coat.

Then buff smooth.

That should last many years before needing to do it again, if it ever comes to that.

Then ignore it.

No stickers, no wrap, no magnets.

You ride a bike, own it.

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all who would be called good
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Get a bottle of paint in fingernail polish size with a fingernail polish size brush. This is what I have for my car. Then find someone who does fingernails a lot (teen, wife, etc.) to apply the paint. You can first do the prep.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

I would talk to a few body shops. They may surprise you with their price and likely give you the pros and cons of various methods if their price is too high.

Pop for a touchup bottle of 'matching' top coat, and optionally, clear coat.

Mask off everything, then sand the afflicted area, prime it, then touch up, optionally add some clear coat.

Then buff smooth.

That should last many years before needing to do it again, if it ever comes to that.

Then ignore it.

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Dang it, RAM. You're making too much sense. In fact, that's pretty much what the President of ScratchesHappen replied when I asked him his professional opinion after sending him the picture.

If you use a brush there, the color will match but the finish won't match. You will leave brush marks on a highly visible repair next to the sprayed factory finish. I would do this with aerosol. If you know how to use an airbrush you can make a very good repair as the airbrush has a very small fan, like an inch in diameter. But you will need to sand it smooth, possibly use body filler, then prime, then paint. It's not a quick repair.

Aerosol cans will spray a larger fan, so you will have to spray through an aperture, like a cardboard with a hole cutout to manage the overspray. There are YouTube videos on the technique. Its a tricky repair. Or you could repaint the whole tank, which you'd rather not do. So, you have options, but they will require a good technique to get a good result. Of course, you can practice on test panel of foam core, etc. Good luck!

Which gets into the whole not trusting myself not to make it even worse.

My alternative solution...add flame decals!

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan