If you are going to baby your bike, then a base coat / clear coat would be good. I painted my beach cruiser at work (body shop tech) and I hardly ever ride it because I don't want to mess the paint up. I've chipped it in two places, and both times were from transporting. I'm too lazy to pedal that heavy tank 10 miles to the boardwalk, and I'm too lazy to put it on the back of my car. It pretty much sits in my dining area.