Parts primed & ready for paint

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PROFESSIONAL MOTORCYCLE PAINTING & BODY WORK
Painting Pricing

*  The figures below are estimate pricing, not a guarantee of your final bill
* We do not offer estimates over the phone or via email.  See below for pricing examples
* Vehicle must be present for us to prepare the estimate - No exceptions
*  All estimates are +/- 20% of final, actual cost   
*  Our hourly rate is $120 per/hr as of November 1, 2020
* Newer motorcycle painting prices are higher due to additional labor & supplies
* Painting prices do NOT include mechanical repair of the vehicle or parts
* "Candy" or heavy flake paint jobs add up to $400 for materials + 1 to 2 hours of labor to any estimate noted below
We do not powdercoat
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 Estimate to Paint ONLY Vintage tank, side covers, fenders (no frame)  
 as of November 1, 2020
* Replace or reuse decals & emblems
* Decorative stripes & designs extra
* Removal of power coating adds 20% to 30% to the cost of labor
* Modern bikes are higher
* "Candy" or heavy flake paint jobs add up to $400 for materials + 1 to 2 
hours of labor to any estimate noted below

· Remove tank, side covers, fenders from bike = 2 hours labor
· Strip paint from all surfaces = 5 hours labor
· Repair dents / rust / putty = 1 to 4 hours labor (if applicable)
· Prime all parts = 5 hours labor
· Paint all parts = 5 hours labor
· Additional colors, striping, or detailing = 1 to 2 hours labor + parts/paints
· Replace decals & emblems = 1 hour labor
· Replace tank, side covers, fender on bike = 2 hours labor
· Parts: Paint supplies (primer, paint & clear coat) = $400 and up.  Multiple colors or striping may increase price.
· Hand buff = 2 hours labor (if desired)
· Parts: Decals & emblems (reuse or replace?) = $60 and up, as needed
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22 - 28  hrs labor x $120/hr = $2,640 to $3,360 + price of parts
Estimate to Paint entire Vintage bike include frame, gasoline tank, 2 side covers, 2 fenders.  Additional parts extra.
 as of November 1, 2020
* Replace or reuse decals & emblems
* Bike brought to us a whole unit (not in pieces)
* Removal of power coating adds 20% to 30% to the cost of labor
* Modern bikes are higher
* "Candy" or heavy flake paint jobs add up to $400 for materials + 1 to 2 
hours of labor to any estimate noted below

· Disassemble/remove all parts down to bare frame = 4 hours labor*
· Strip paint from all surfaces = 6 hours labor
· Repair dents / rust / putty = 1 to 4 hours labor (if applicable)
· Prime all parts = 6 hours labor
· Paint all parts = 6 hours labor
· Additional colors, striping, or detailing = 1 to 2 hours labor + parts/paint
· Replace decals & emblems = 1 hour labor
· Replace all parts on frame & return to operational status = 8 hours labor and up
· Parts: Paint supplies (primer, paint, clear coat) = $400 and up.  Multiple colors 
     or striping may increase price.
· Hand buff = 2 - 3 hours labor (if desired)
· Parts: Decals & emblems (reuse or replace?) = $65 and up, as needed
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33 - 38 hours labor x $120/hr = $3,960 to $4,560 + price of parts

* Disassembly & reassembly labor only covers standard work.  Extra labor (and parts, if applicable) will be charged to repair or replace damaged, worn, or missing parts.  
Sanding on a Benelli frame
Completed Paint & Clear coat on a Triumph Tank
1966 Honda 305 Dream CA77
1998 Suzuki GSXR 750 
2001 Triumph 1200 Daytona
1974 Ducati 860 GT
1974 Norton Commando 850 - custom seat paint job 
Before: plain black Corbin Smuggler Seat & Trunk
Sorry about crappy pic - we failed to snap a true "before" picture
The Corbin seat is for this Norton, as see
on our Home Page
Trunk was painted to match existing 
custom paint job
Before with old seat
1972 Triumph Bonneville T120R 
The inspiration for his paint job - The Michael Jordon Yamaha YZF as seen at the Barber Museum in Leeds, Alabama
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1978 Suzuki TS 250
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 We cleaned & sealed inside the tank
Honda Magna parts drying in the paint booth
To control workmanship, cost, and turn-around time, we do ALL work here in our shop - start to finish - mechanical, painting, polishing, upholstery, etc.  (Only re-chroming is done off-site.) 
This way, we can assure you of quality, consistent work.
Prepping a Ducati Tank for Hand-painted Stripes
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Click to be directed to painting pictures
Paint Preparation & Final Product
We insist on striping all parts to the bare metal & in using minimal putty to repair dings & dents.  We feel starting with a "blank canvas" allows for meticulous prep-work which leads to a high quality paint job.  Stripping away old paint primer and putty allows for close examination of the parts - particularly the frame & gasoline tank - to uncover otherwise hidden pin-hole sized damage, rust issues, or cracks hidden by paint. This is also a great time to consider sealing the inside of your gasoline tank so worry of rust or fiberglass "bubbling" are minimized.  A discount paint job isn't a bargain when poor prep work, questionable products, missed deadlines, or a lazy paint person* prevents you from obtaining the high quality, authentic-looking paint job your vintage bike deserves.  All patterns, schemes, lining, and graphics are fully researched, properly laid out, and professionally applied to produce beautiful, accurate results on your vintage motorcycle.  
Estimate to Paint ONLY Frame (no tank, no side covers, no fenders, no etc.)  
 as of November 1, 2020
* Removal of power coating adds 20% to 30% to the cost of labor
* Modern bikes are higher
* "Candy" or heavy flake paint jobs add up to $400 for materials + 1 to 2
 hours of labor to any estimate noted below

· Disassemble/remove all parts down to bare frame = 4 hours labor*
· Strip paint from frame = 2 hours labor
· Inspect frame & repair welds = 1 to 2 hours labor (if applicable)
· Prime frame = 1 hour labor
· Paint frame = .5 hour labor
· Clear coat frame = .5 hour labor
· Replace all parts on frame & return to operational status = 8 hours labor
· Parts: Paint supplies (primer, paint, clear coat) = $150 and up
· Parts: Decals & emblems (reuse or replace?) = $60 and up, as needed
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17–18 hrs labor x $120/hr = $2,040 to $2,160 + price of parts

* Disassembly & reassembly labor only covers standard work.  
Extra labor (and parts, if applicable) will be charged to repair or replace damaged, worn, or missing parts.  
Randy preparing a batch of primer before painting parts from 
 1970 Triumph TR6C Trophy 650 aka "Greenie"
"Why does it cost $xxx just to paint the frame?"  Here's why ...
Frame painting of a 1969 Royal Enfield Interceptor 750  
This is just what it takes to paint a motorcycle frame.  
I haven't added the pictures yet about what it takes to
re-assemble the bike.  
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Powder Coating

Removal of powder coating will add 20% to 30%
to the cost of labor

Why? Because powder coating is very difficult for us to remove and we often receive parts like this:  
A brake drum/wheel hub from a 1954 Triumph 5T SpeedTwin. 
Note the powercoating on the INSIDE of the brake drum. 
Not only is this a poor example of powder coating service, but it could have been extremely dangerous had the customer used the bike before bringing it to us.
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Wet sand & Final Buffing on a 1974 Honda XL 125 tank
Click here to see more pictures related to this project
1978 Yamaha DT175E
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 We cleaned/sealed inside the tank
1968 Triumph TR6R
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   This is the reason why all parts & pieces that come in for painting are thoroughly cleaned & stripped of all old paint before any painting begins.
     In picture 1, note the small hole at the bottom of this oil tank. When the oil tank arrived, it had years of oily residue on the top & bottom of the tank. Years of sludge had somewhat plugged the hole and prevented it from completely leaking though.
   In picture 2, you can see the light shinning though when you look in from the top of the tank. 
   In picture 3, the hole has been welded shut and sanded smooth. 
  For info of the service on this TR6R, click here.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
1974 Yamaha RD 250 with 350 Top end
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Custom rear tail light
Click to see the complete restoration & customizing of this 1974 Yamaha RD 250 with 350 Top end 
including 3 short videos of the bike
Repair of a Side Cover from 1972 Honda CB750 Four K2
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Click to see the complete restoration of this 1972 Honda CB750 Four K2 including short videos of the bike
Painting the components of a 1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000, a mix of plastic & metal parts
Paint estimates = 2 weeks to create 
Paint + cure time = 8 weeks
* "Lazy" paint job = not removing old paint, only priming & clear coating the front part but not the underside & not carefully inspecting each part before painting
1972 Triumph Bonneville T120V
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Removing layers of body putty & 
old paint
"Before" of the fenders, side covers, gasoline tank & oil tank
For more details about 
the restoration of this 1972 Triumph Bonneville T120V, including mechanical servicing and cosmetic work 
plus 
lots
more pictures, please 
CLICK HERE
Stripe layout
Painting of Triumph Gasoline Tank badges

1 hour of labor = $120

Shipping extra

Estimate to Paint Vintage Gasoline Tank  
 as of October 30, 2010
* Removal of power coating adds 20% to 30% to the cost of labor
* Modern bikes are higher
* Damage or repair to tank is extra
* "Candy" paint adds $150 to $250 to any paint job estimate

· Remove/re-install tank from bike (if applicable) = .5 to 1 hour labor*
· Strip old paint from gasoline tank = 1 hour labor
· Prime tank = 1 hour labor
· Paint gasoline tank = 1 hour labor per color
· Clear coat = .5 hour
· Hand painted stripes = 1 to 2 hours per color
· Parts: Paint supplies (primer, paint per color, clear coat) = $75+ for each item
· Hand polish = .5 hour labor (if desired)
· Parts: Decals & emblems (reuse or replace?) = $60 and up, as needed
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5.5 – 9 hrs labor x $90/hr = $660 to $1,080 + price of paint supplies and/or parts

* Disassembly & reassembly labor only covers standard work.  
Extra labor (and parts, if applicable) will be charged to repair or replace damaged, worn, or missing parts.  
 Directory of Painting Prices 


Website created and managed by RCSR.  Comments? Send to info@rcycle.com
This page was last updated on: November 17, 2020
Website, photographs & video content are the property of Randy's Cycle Service & Restoration & may not be used for any reason without prior, written permission.
All paint work is subject to a $180 
non-refundable Estimate Fee
Things that affect the pricing of a paint job:
1. Parts off the bike, or, will we be removing them?
2. Condition of the outside of gas tank - rust, damage, dents?
3. Condition of the inside of the tank?  If there is significant rust inside the tank, we will require & charge for cleaning and sealing the tank before painting. (2 - 3 hours labor + materials)  
4. Damage on the side covers or fenders? Cracks, dents, missing rubber grommets, broken tabs, etc.  We do some plastic repairs.
5. Any of the parts Powder Coated?  
6. What turn around time are you desiring?  We require at least 1 week of strictly "cure" time before shipping or pick-up
1970 Triumph Bonneville T120R
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Original tank was incorrectly striped, sealer was lifting & a bubble had formed at the center seam
Paint & inside sealer were burned away & re-sealed
After paint was removed, an old weld reveled holes in the center seam
Randy cut out the damaged area, created a new metal "patch" for the repair, and welded it in place
The paint was matched to the existing fenders were were painted several years ago
1975 Triumph Trident T160V
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This tank, though it appeared cosmetically "perfect", actually had crooked striping and the sealer inside was bubbling & was coming loose.  Both the paint & sealer were removed, the  
gas tank was sealed, then painted correctly.  

Click HERE to see all the service performed on this Trident
Sealer bubbling inside the gas tank
Tank was "baked" to burn away
the faulty sealer
In the paint booth for primer
Note the lack of symmetry in the scallops both horizontally & vertically
Painting the tank badges
When you want a paint job or restoration done correctly & to the highest standards, bring it to us, 
Randy's Cycle Service & Restoration 

Don't settle for amateur results
3 layers of color are applied
Clean & Seal Inside of Gas Tank - Click Here for Details
Clean & Seal Inside of Gas Tank - Click Here for Details
Clean & Seal Inside of Gas Tank - Click Here for Details
All paint work incurs $180 non-refundable Estimate Fee
$ Click here for Paint Pricing $
Paint of gas tank & 2 side covers from 1974 Honda CB750 Four K4 - Sunrise Flake Orange
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For the Honda CB750s, Randy hand stripes the gas tank - no decals
This paint job is a translucent orange over a silver flake base
SHIPPING PARTS TO US TO PAINT 

Contact us via email (info@rcycle.comBEFORE shipping. We don't accept all projects nor provides estimates via email or phone.    

When contacting us by email, include:
  * your full name + mailing address
  * daytime phone number
  * email address
  * year/make/model of the bike
  * what parts you want painted
  * condition of the parts - provide several pictures

When you receive the approval to ship the parts, include in the package:
  * $180 non-refundable estimate fee paid via check, PayPal, or call with credit card information.  If you approve the painting estimate, the $180 will be credited to the final invoice
  * Turn around time for estimate = 2 weeks.  Actual painting = 8 weeks. Total @ 10 weeks
Revitalize the Spirit & Beauty of your Classic Bike
HOME page of rcycle.com
We do not offer personalize price quotes until we have the parts in shop
We do not offer personalize price quotes until we have the parts in our shop
Paint estimates = 2 weeks to create
Paint + cure time = 8 weeks
Located in beautiful Central Virginia since 2001
8175 Black Walnut Run Road, Rhoadesville, VA 22542 USA

Service by Appointment ~ Closed Sun, Mon & Thur

The Mid-Atlantic Region Premier Restorer of 
Vintage Motorcycles from the 50s, 60s & 70s
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