So I got my paint today...

[XPS1210]

Last night I got bored and removed all the stickers on my zuma... So it no longer is branded a "SPORT SCOOTER"...

I also picked out a paint for it today....

It's by Mirage.... called "ICE" it's a black color with glitter in it that changes colors...

Not what I want but I don't have much of a choice as I can't find any rattle can paint that is clear with metalic flakes in it... so I can't do what I wanted to do...

Might try some creative painting with it but it won't be exactly what I wanted...

anyone have thoughts on the little rubber "YAMAHA" plugs on the front sides of the zuma... I can't see them being painted but don't want to have a dark blue yamaha plug there....

anyway, as I get time I'll be sanding and painting it...

[XPS1210]

MP-404 Ice Kit
Contains:
MP-100 Black Base Coat
MP-204 Ice Mid Coat
MP-300 Top Clear Coat


This is the color it says it'll look like... but I so don't see it coming out that light in the end... it'll be more of a dark color than that...

we'll see...

[XPS1210]

Then again... it might be... this is a hyabusa that is painted with the ICE and a green/gold...

The ICE part is pretty light.... It'll work though...

"I'm 54, I do electronic and computer related work in the Diagnostic Imaging department at a hospital.

These are pictures of my 2002 Suzuki Hayabusa, painted with ICE and Magenta-Gold Mirage paint kits. I am sure you are aware that is difficult to get good pictures on a full size motorcycle showing the beautiful Mirage paint range of colors in one picture. I am still working on that aspect of my photography of this bike. I have been waiting to get a single picture that "shows all" before sending this email to you, but I finally wanted to show this off and the pictures will just have to do. As you might imagine, when you walk around this bike in person it looks absolutely gorgeous.

This is a long story, but I thought you might be interested in how this paint job came together over 9 months from spring to fall of 2003.

Because the bike was in excellent condition, I did not want to paint the original components. I did want to do a custom paint scheme and started out planning on white or yellow paints. I purchased all plastic exterior panels and a fuel tank on Ebay from spring to summer 2003. Each part had some level of damage, cracks, dents, scratches and in two cases, even missing sections of plastic. I developed a new way of repairing the cracks by heat embedding stainless steel screen material into the plastic parts from the back side, then adding a layer of fiberglass re-inforced body repair compound over/into the embedded material. The result is stronger than original areas where the cracks were. The plastics and tank for this bike retail new for at least $4000. You can find unpainted aftermarket sets for about $2500. I had about $300 in all the parts combined, albeit with plenty of repair work to do before I could paint them. I'm guessing that if one were to buy the plastics from Suzuki and then paint them with House of Kolor or Dupont, etc., in color shift paints, the total cost from a professional shop would be $6000 or more. My finished project in Mirage and with the repaired parts, came in at about $600 or so, and this finished job looks excellent, no peach-skin, fish-eyes, runs, color mis-matches, dirt, etc..

While I was locating the parts, I was also learning (via WEB searches) about the color shift paints available, prices, etc., from the can kits like Mirage, to component products such as House of Kolor and the other major autopaint sources. I have limited experience with spray equipment doing auto finishing, about one project every two or three years, and lots of spray can background so either route was acceptible to me. My biggest concern for the color shift paints was two fold... it looked like even from a company like Inate (they kit and sell small quantities of House of Kolor paints to end users) I would probably end up buying more than I would need to use, and I would buy extremely expensive materials. I expected about $600 to $800 for the paint in a two part finish. I wouldn't dare start with less than I might need with a urethane or the project could get spoiled sitting while I ordered more supplies. With Mirage (and I did look at the Plasticote color shift kits too), I could get just what I needed and go back to the local stores and get more in a hurry if I needed (and that did happen - I came up short on the black base - what a surprise when that happened). The other concern I had was your WEB site subtly implies that Mirage is maybe not suited to larger projects like a full size bike since you only show small projects like helmets, fenders, bicycle frames, wheels, etc. Since getting good overlap, consistancy and flow matching from spray cans is often a challenge, it made sense to me that you might not promote large paint surface projects for Mirage paints. So I felt that going to the large panels and a tank might be asking for performance that Mirage might not have in cans and then I would have disappointing results. (not so!)

I had finally settled on the magenta-gold with a second color of green-blue when mid-spring I learned of your new ICE color, not on your WEB site (it wasn't listed there yet), but at (I think) the AutoBarn WEB site where they listed the part number and name but no information about appearance. It took a call to your consumer help line to be convinced I should wait for the ICE and have a look at it. Once I tested an ICE kit on some scraps and saw how it looks in sunlight I was sold on it. I also experimented with putting one or more coats of ICE over another Mirage color, and vice-versa, but decided against that (the effects were interesting though). I might add that ICE over a white Duplicolor base almost got the paint job for this project at one point - very neat looking too. Ultimately with a two color job, on cloudy days when the ICE is not "doing it's thing", the magenta-gold still performs it's tricks and holds the whole paint job together anyway. On sunny days, of course, it is simply a kaleidoscope of colors. Also about ICE - I don't think you promote this color as well as you could, it's performance is much more impressive than either the can lid suggests or anywhere else I have read about it in your literature or on your site. It is a well kept secret how great it looks!

In the meantime I was working on a paint scheme and had worked up a two color "melting" layout. This was to have a front color that was melting from "high speed" and flowing toward the back in a sort of streaking blobs. Hand drawings led to computer drawings and finally I made stencils and painted the front of a 1/25 scale toy Hayabusa to see the effect (see the picture). This paint scheme looks great and I am still thinking a lot about doing the whole project again with this unique scheme on another set of parts.

To be honest, I was still thinking about automotive two part enamels because of concern over the "small project" orientation of your WEB pages, when the ICE turned up. Since I could not tell for sure what product from House of Kolor or the others would be the same as the ICE, I finally determined to use the Mirage because I really wanted this new color on the bike. My last worry has been (and continues) that I don't have a fuel proof coating over the tank - so a gas spill might cause some real pain. I had talked with one of your reps about doing a two part overcoat but did not get enough guidance to settle on a brand name for the clear coat. So I am still taking the chance on that part of the project to date. While all the above was in the works, I also learned of a set of chrome-gold decals from the company "TapeWorks", original factory scheme lettering and graphics for the bike. I bought a set of these more or less on impulse and when they arrived they looked super but then I realized that they would not look appropriate with the custom "blob" paint scheme. So I ended up, after much agonizing about which scheme to do, with the Suzuki factory paint scheme in two tone, but with the Mirage paint.

After much sanding and prep work, the panels and tank were finally painted with Mirage kits in late August. Long prior to the day of painting (actually from early spring on - and several times at that) I experimented with each of the Mirage colors on scrap to see what the colors would do, how many coats were needed to get the full effect, dry times, etc., and my experiments with mixing layers of ICE with the other colors and so on. As an acid test I painted a damaged bike panel ahead of time so I could see it outdoors, positioned near the ground like it would be on the finished bike. >From the test scraps before I painted this test panel I had been extremely impressed and felt the bike would be fabulous when finished.

Surprisingly, when I took the Mirage painted magenta-gold full size side panel outdoors and put it vertical near the ground, like it would be on the bike, I was much less impressed. It seemed that during the couple days that I tried this, mid day and late day, with full sun in varying positions with and without clouds, the panel just didn't have enough pizzaz - it seemed very dark and less prone to the strong color shifts I expected from handling the small test panels. This panel had 5 full coats of the magenta-gold color over the black base and two clear coats - the same as I expected to do on the finished job. I was disappointed at this point, not sure that the lower part of the bike would look good at all with color-shift paint in any lighting. At one point after this experiment I almost decided not to go with a Mirage project and go back to regular color work, or perhaps the ICE over white = pearl look. After a bit more reflection though, I decided to move ahead with Mirage and hope for the best. Beside, by now I had purchased 8 magenta kits, 7 ICE kits and at least one each of the other color kits, and I didn't know what else to use that much paint on.

I painted the bike in my home garage, using a VOC paint mask and so on. I won't go into the details of how I got the dust out of the garage but it worked. There is only one or two dust particles detectable on the entire bike - it really came out super clean.

The end result has been breath taking. Everyone who sees the finish on my Hayabusa is blown away. It ended up with (over the gray primer) 3 coats black base, 5 coats of color and 5 to 8 coats of clear. The vinyl decal set was installed after 2 coats of clear, 24 hours of dry time and then I continued with 3 clear coats over everything and at least 2 more in the decal areas to reduce the edge effects on the decals. After a week I rubbed out the finish with a small power buffer and mostly by hand with Turtle Wax polishing compound and baby diapers. I have not put wax on this to date but it shines like glass.

And my concern about the lower part of the bike is long gone. The color shift does great on the lower parts, they do not look black in most any lighting and they hold their own with the rest of the finish on the bike. I'm not sure why my early experiment with the panel wasn't as impressive but I think it just needed everything together and on the bike to get the right angles and appearance into and out of the paint. I feel that I have a real show class paint job on this bike, with far less skill and cost than what is usually involved in getting this kind of look on a full size motorcycle. I think with practice and planning it is possible to use Mirage on a motorcycle sized job with superb results. I am looking forward to showing the bike off at motorcycle events around the midwest - whenever I can ride into one. By the way it is a work bike, during the summer I ride from home to the hospital where I work some 65 miles away, every possible day.

Now all I have to do is get the nerve to try this on my Saturn Vue...

If you happen to come through Northern Indiana some time, bring your camera and give me a call - I think you would be very impressed, and proud of "our" Mirage 'Busa.

Fantastic product!" Quoted from http://www.duplicolor.com/projects/consumer_projects/motorcycles/CP_busa.html

[marylandmark]

COOL!

I took all the stickers off of mine a while back-

looks like a shark (grey scoot).

I have been thinking of getting some custom paint as well-

the chicks I ride with have Metro's- one has the hibiscus flowers and one has the checkered flag. I was thinking something to make mine stand out as well (besides being louder and fast as h-e-double hockey sticks when I am done with my kit)

[XPS1210]

yeah... I did a small test area on the back of one of the panels.. and it's a darker color... so maybe in noon daylight it'll be a lighter color... who knows... will post pics when I'm done...

The hardest thing so far was figuring how to get the PLASTIC BLUE piece off the front... the part that has the side reflectors on it... What a pain!

anyway, I have the sides and tail piece all wet sanded and ready to paint... will get the light piece and front fender and hopefully the other piece done today and paint sometime thursday or so...

anyway...

[HIPPYHUNTER]

I have removed the warning labels and front little lighting stickers. I cant bring myself yet to remove the zuma side panel stickers yet. I will keep the data stickers on the knee space though. I used a hairdyer to help peel the stickers and labels off.

Since this forum is loaded w/ computer type folks it would be cool to have a Zuma template we could manipulate with colors / graphics.
Whadya say?
I am looking forward to getting some reflective "creative" stickers made to mess around with. :raf:

[florida derbi rocket]

someone on here has an Avatar with the Zuma sticker changing colors...that would look cool if they made some decal material that mimicked the "Flip-Flop or prismatic paint.

[XPS1210]

mirage paint... it's about $20 for a rattle can paint job and enough to cover the zuma...

looks okay if you get a good color... the ICE looks all sissy and such...

[gutter]

is that my avatar that I made your talking about? :) I'am thinking off my red flame stickers too, I don't know yet if I will or not my 9 year old son likes them.

[florida derbi rocket]

YEA!! Thanks Gutter..I thought a Zuma Flames but prismatic...as you Wheelie by the colors change....

[cstaup]

I'm working on a Rossi replica M1

Started with a blue 05 Zuma, striped the wheels and now I'm sourcing the graphics.

Chris

[Malisaw]

...

Not what I want but I don't have much of a choice as I can't find any rattle can paint that is clear with metalic flakes in it... so I can't do what I wanted to do...


Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?12661

That Ice kit looks neat!

[Frank the Tank]

what sucks about the zuma is that there is very little room to paint a decal. the back panels are ok, but if it was only a 1 seater and the front was a little larger on the sides, than it would b pretty good. the aerox is the best when it comes to painting because there is some much body to paint!

is rossi's bike yellow/black or was it changed to blue/yellow?

[ex-racer#2]

what sucks about the zuma is that there is very little room to paint a decal. the back panels are ok, but if it was only a 1 seater and the front was a little larger on the sides, than it would b pretty good. the aerox is the best when it comes to painting because there is some much body to paint!

is rossi's bike yellow/black or was it changed to blue/yellow?

2005- Blue /Yellow - Galouses sponsorship - The yellow /black was the commemorative US Yamaha colours from the seventies they had on at Laguna.


2006 - Yellow - Camel sponsorship.

(Blue / Yellow has traditionally been the Yamaha France colours)

[Andman007]

When you guys took the stickers off did it leave marks that you can see where they used to be. And did you guys use any special substances to take them off with?

[Zuma-Zuma]

Is ICE different than the "chameleon" paint? Walmart sells the chameleon in three seperate spray cans. You can also get any paint you want in a spray bomb. If you want a glass smooth finish, just rub it out. I've painted bikes and jetskiis using all kinds of paints. The base/clear comes out great. You can also add additives to the paint for other characteristics. If you buy paints for spray bombs, you can pick both the size and color of the flakes. I did a 'ski in green gel coat with HUGE flakes. Looked like a bass boat. I've also done a little car in white pearl, with a clear coat containing huge, color changing flakes. Looked like sparkly cotton candy. I thought about painting mine also, but I'm going to go with chameleon flames, the rest will stay silver. Another options is vinyl. Its cheap, and removeable.

[PreBug308]

Can you recommend a good paint/clear coat? I'm getting ready to re-paint my scoot to black, and need some advice. The red on there now was "automotive" paint, and doesn't look to sharp. The clear sucked too.

[Lennox]

Can you recommend a good paint/clear coat? I'm getting ready to re-paint my scoot to black, and need some advice. The red on there now was "automotive" paint, and doesn't look to sharp. The clear sucked too.
the finished product depends more on the person doing the painting, and not so much on the material used....:o

[XPS1210]

the "ICE" is a chameleon paint... by the same company that walmart sells.. However, it is rainbow color flake... and looked GAY IMO... so I went with flat black... looks much better....


I'm going to repaint my VW again, and probably will make it match the VW in chrome yellow... but we'll see what happens...

I might paint it something else rattle can, but not sure.. I have to get the couple body panels I need first before I paint it again... No since making it look "sharp" if I have cut panels on the body...

[Zuma-Zuma]

Lacquer is always an option. Spray on layers and layers, then just rub out the last one, or shoot it with a clear enamel. Your base coats will determine how dark or light the finish coat is, and may enhance the effects. As far as the product itself, go to a car parts store like Carquest or Napa. Any good paint like PPG or DuPont will work great, but just buy the complete system. That means primer/sealer, Base and Top coats. They will be compatible, and they can give you advice. The last one I did was complex. Mix the base coat, let it sit for 45 minutes. Spray it on. You must wait an hour before you can spray the clear coat on, so you mix the clear after spraying, and IT has to sit for 45 minutes. Once its done, wait 24 hours, and wet sand and buff. If you wait longer than that, the clear is way too hard, and won't rub that well. I've done them without rubbing also. They look good, but not perfect. They will also give curing instructions, and things like when you can wet sand and buff, when you can wax etc...Compatability with plastics is a big issue also. Sometimes basic solid colors look better in just an enamel. Clear coats give a white reflection in the sun. Enamels or Imrons give a colored reflection.

[no user name]

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I read somebody post that they used a hairdryer but I'm afraid it might warp the Vino plastic panels. And as far as the left over glue residue, I know of a product that is hard to comeby called Renuzit that usually was safe on most things (provided you're not smoking when you use it) , but not sure how it will react to this paint.
So, I too would like to hear from others' that have removed their warning stickers about how it was done....though without them there to warn me, I'm afraid that I might jump from my moving scooter!
--------------------



When you guys took the stickers off did it leave marks that you can see where they used to be. And did you guys use any special substances to take them off with?

[XPS1210]

nope, there is this stuff that I have from a professional paint store that is basically "bug and tar remover"...

I will see if I still have some.... if I do will post the name...

anyway, it is simply rubbed on and then washed off with car soap and water... left nothing behind...

however there was a warning on the bottle, that said to "don't use on plastics, possible explosion hazards"...

I used a little at a time and kept the bottle away in case it did light up due to "static electricity"....

If you don't use something to get the sticker off (the gummy backing) then it will leave residue and look like crap...

[Malisaw]

I went the hair dryer method (lightly) to get the stickers themselves off when I painted my Peugeot -- *not* holding the hairdryer 3" away and trying to melt it...just warm it up a little so it peels off. No harm to the paint, an hour in the Texas sun would be just as bad....

Next - I went over it with Goo-Gone (available just about anywhere, even over here on this rock off the coast of France).... Great stuff! If you don't have it in the house...get it..you'll find loads of uses for it!

http://www.googone.com/gg_images/GG3_big.gif

[GJZuma]

Goo Gone works great as well as Goof Off and Oops! Which are avaiable at the box stores. Test in an inconspicous area first though, I have removed the 'color' off the dash of my truck before. I think on hard plastics it would be fine. Any women in your house and you can try their finger nail polish remover.

[no user name]

Exactly! That looks horrible when the residue is left behind. May as well leave the stickers on rather than leave the glue behind. Someone already started peeling the stickers on mine and then apparently gave up so it's one part sticker and one part dirt stuck in glue...enough to make the OCD kick into high gear!

-------------------------------

If you don't use something to get the sticker off (the gummy backing) then it will leave residue and look like crap...

[bryeod]

I want to paint mine green with gold glitter like a bass boat.

GREEN FOR THE MONEY, GOLD FOR THE HONEY!

[no user name]

WORD! haha

---------------

I want to paint mine green with gold glitter like a bass boat.

GREEN FOR THE MONEY, GOLD FOR THE HONEY!

[Zuma-Zuma]

Use gel-coat!! A friend of mine (yes, he's into fishing) painted his motorcycle gelcoat red on the left, green on the right. One pin stripe down the middle. Looked like two seperate bikes. Had the port/starboard thing going a little overboard!!

[cyclemec]

Wd 40!!!!!!!!!

[Frank the Tank]

i used rubbing alcohol to remove the glue from some of the warning stickers
but i wouldnt recommend it. it took the shine away from some of the panels :(

[zumasterling]

Any of the goo remover products work just fine for residue removal, just follow it with a good spray polish if you wanna keep the existing paint looking sharp. I use Honda Polish which comes in an aerosal can and just sprays on and polish it with a nice fine cloth. That stuff works absolutely AMAZING, but of course it is a honda product. I am going to paint my scoot a bit different. I am going with a WWII bomber/fighter plane look. Olive drab green with white stars on the tails and one on the headlight fairing off to the side. Add a sharks mouth to the front and some tally marks (kill points, heehee) and you have a fairly intimidating scooter, however funny that is to say. I will also do the wheels in the green and paint the underside a light grey to complete the effect. I will also be painting the racks a semi-gloss black. It will all be rattle can and a very inexpensive but awesome touch up to my already scuffed up scooter. Now if I could only get my hands on a pair of mini chain fed machine guns....