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Tips on How to Save Money on a Motorcycle Paint Job

Tips on How to Save Money on a Motorcycle Paint Job

A motorcycle paint job is one of the few things you can customize to make your two-wheeler look like new. The more money you spend on a motorcycle paint job, the more unique you can make the custom paint job. Luckily, there are several ways you can save money on a motorcycle paint job without compromising on the quality. Read this article to learn useful tips on how to save money on a motorcycle paint job.

1. Types of Motorcycle Paint Jobs

The three types of motorcycle paint jobs include custom, standard, and DIY paint jobs, with each differing in quality and versatility:

  • Custom Paint Job: A custom paint job is the most expensive option due to its high-quality paint, designs, and graphics. You will have to outsource your motorcycle paint job and pay additional costs for disassembly, repairs, painting, and reassembly. It also takes longer to finish a custom paint job.
  • Standard Paint Job: A standard paint job is a simple design with no fuel tank graphics and customization. You can hire a professional painter to do the design and outsource only some of the other procedures.
  • DIY (Do It Yourself) Paint Job: The DIY paint job is the cheapest option but can still offer high-quality imagery if done by a professional painter. Otherwise, you must have adequate skills and expertise to paint a motorcycle. If you have never painted a motorcycle before, you must first learn how to paint a motorcycle gas tank, frame, and plastic parts to ensure quality work.

To apply a DIY paint job, you must complete the following steps:

  • Disassemble the motorcycle parts
  • Fix any scratches
  • Sand the surfaces
  • Prepare a workspace
  • Paint the exterior
  • Apply the finish
  • Reassemble the motorcycle parts

2. Get Help From a Friend

It will help save time and money if you have motorcyclist friends with experience applying a paint job to help you customize your motorcycle.

3. Use Manually-Operated Tools

Having certain tools suited for applying paint can save you time and effort when changing your motorcycle’s look. For example, a dual-action polisher or sanding machine can help sand the surface.


If you do not have an air blower to remove dust, you can use a soft cloth to wipe the exterior. However, make sure to not do this vigorously to avoid scratching the paint. It is recommended you don’t use cheap products that can lower the quality of the paint job. However, there are affordable products that can help you accomplish an aesthetically-pleasing paint job. For example, you can buy a tack cloth that cost between $1-$5 to clean and remove dust from your motorcycle.

4. Take it Slow to Avoid Mistakes

When painting a motorcycle, there is no room for error. You must have absolute focus when performing every step as even the smallest mistake may require you to repeat the process from scratch. Fixing mistakes will require using more paint and other products which could put a dent in your budget.

5. Prepare a Workspace

To set up a workspace, you can use plastic sheets to cover the entire floor and every side of a small space and position an old table to place motorcycle parts on top when painting.

6. Use Older Equipment First

If you have experience painting motorcycles before, you might have leftover spray paints, primer, a clear coat, sanding paper, gloves, and other tools you can still use. You can use a raincoat to cover and protect yourself from harmful chemicals.

7. Avoid Outsourcing

If you are inexperienced, it is better to learn how to paint a motorcycle rather than outsource to save money. There are guides available online that provide step-by-step instructions teaching you how to paint a motorcycle.

8. Keep It Simple

If you have a tight budget, you can save money on a motorcycle paint job by keeping it simple. Rather than go for a custom paint job, do a DIY paint job instead.

9. Last Words

Most motorcyclists spend a lot of money getting motorcycles to paint jobs because they outsource. If you are working with a tight budget, the tips covered in this article can help you save a lot of money. However, you need to be skilled enough to paint your motorcycle yourself. Luckily, it is not impossible to paint a motorcycle yourself. You can easily learn the entire process on your own. But make sure to take the necessary safety precautions while painting.


With the money that was not spent on a motorcycle paint job, you can modify your motorcycle to improve its performance. If you love motorcycle touring, Viking Bags offers several motorcycle parts, including handlebars, backrests, sissy bars, fairings, crash bars, and seats to make long-distance rides more comfortable and fun. If you plan to go on a wilderness trip, Viking Bags also offers several luggage options, including sissy bar bags, motorcycle trunk bags, tank bags, and saddlebags.

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