Fast505

I have a '92 RB-1 in great condition that I'm thinking of repainting. However, I can't reconcile paying $400-500 for a paint job on a bike that's worth only about $400. Are there any reputable painting companies that will do the job for less but still use PPG and clear, and have the stickers? Or, do people think that the RB-1 is such a cult classic that it defies reasonable economics?

Thanks!

cuda2k

Southwest Framework's base price is around $300 with decals for a solid color. The cost of most paint is going up fast (being patrolium based), so a lot of painters can barely cover cost for the same price they were painting for not too long ago. Not sure what price Dr. Deltron would quote for the job, but he's here on the forums and a good option as well. There is a full list of painters in a sticky thread here in the forum you might want to check out as well for other options.

Fast505

Thanks - sounds like it's going to be $400+ to get back to original condition regardless. People need to make a living. I just need to decide if it's worthwhile for this frame.

vjp

It doesn't look like it needs a repaint. We are obsessed with "new" in North America and then pay a lot of money to go to Europe and gaga over all the patina on everything. Embrace the "Beausage"!!

Fast505

The picture is decieving. I used half a bottle of touch-up on it. The logos on the other side are well-worn/peeled. I can certainly get by w/o repainting, but where do you draw the line?

SingeDebile

as longs as the frame isnt rusting I think its fine... It just shows the bike is loved and ridden

afilado

VJP is right.

I have a '93 RB-1 that is just about perfect in all respects. It is a beauty. It has become a museum piece. I love it but am hesitant to get it dirty since I recently gave it a complete teardown cleaning, inspection and rebuild. Maybe in Spring....

A friend told me about a fellow who bought a new pickup truck about every two or three years. The first thing he would do is buy a roll of barbed wire and throw it in the truck bed to roll around for a couple of weeks. He said this relieved him of any protective feelings for his new vehicle. It could thereby become a useful vehicle for him.

What are you going to do with a $400 paint job? Feel better about riding the bike? You'll never recoup that investment any other way.

Sell me your RB-1; I'll ride it and save my pretty "new" one to look at.

Fast505

I ride this RB-1 all the time. I've decided to buy the decals and use a local painter if I can get it refiniished for around $300. I suppose I will feel better about riding the bike after a nice paint job. I certainly won't let it become a museum piece just because it's nice to look at.

USAZorro

If you've had to do extensive touch-ups already, I see no point in obsessing about retaining the originality of the bicycle. If you're not concerned about an authentic restoration, and want to do it on the cheap and quickly, shoot nlerner a PM - he has a contact.

If you want to fuss over specifications, be prepared to spend more, and quite likely wait a while. The better painters (and I include our own Dr. Deltron on this list) tend to have a lot of backlog - so unless you are willing to pay extra to expedite the job, it will take months - years to get the job done.

I'm sure there's some middle ground, but I haven't experienced it. Hopefully others here will get over obsessing on patina and send you some recommendations.

Good luck with things...

Bikedued

Hmm, never heard that one. He was inviting rust on trucks made before galvanized bed panels, etc. Spray in bed liners go a LONG way towards solving that problem. I had one put in before I picked up my truck. It's a 98 and gets used. No rust anywhere, spray in liners are really the best investment on a truck.,,,,BD

Dr.Deltron

Hey now, I resemble that comment!

Guess I better go spray the clear on this frame!

cuda2k

^ ^ ^ you taunt!

SoreFeet

Imagine the frame in a new silver, or perhaps a dark green shade...Powder coating is cheaper and better for the environment.

USAZorro

Dang! That looks years beyond pretty.

Hopefully you don't get in trouble for conspiracy to provide bike porn.