Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Does any anyone know what color Red I need for my 1980 CR250 that is as close to factory as I can get?

RAL 3020

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80 CR250Ra
80 CR250Ra
78 CR250R
80 CR80
82 Bultaco Sherpa 340
78 Bultaco Pursang 250 MK12
76 Bultaco Frontera 370 MK10
76 Bultaco Alpina 250
73 Bultaco Lobito 125 MK6
76 Suzuki RM125A
90 Kawasaki KX250

Check out the thread called "'79 CR250 Engine photos"....

...I have used RAL 3020 and it is a little deeper red than a perfect match for Tahitian Red. However it does match the available replica plastic I had. This thread suggests a slightly different recipe.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

Can I get this Ral 2030 at any paint store like dupont or PPG? Do they not make the Tahitian Red anymore?

ral 3020 is a standart color code, every paintshop can help you with it.

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80 CR250Ra
80 CR250Ra
78 CR250R
80 CR80
82 Bultaco Sherpa 340
78 Bultaco Pursang 250 MK12
76 Bultaco Frontera 370 MK10
76 Bultaco Alpina 250
73 Bultaco Lobito 125 MK6
76 Suzuki RM125A
90 Kawasaki KX250

Call color rite and tell them you need Honda Tahatian Red. It's geourgous! Check out my 1979 Honda CR 250 on this site in bike of the month.

Regards,

Dan Troesken

Well, I have went to the local PPG store, and the Dupont store, and no one can help me with the RAL 3020 color, they cant find any match for the code. Has anyone painted there bike with Dupont paint? If so, does anyone have the paint code off the paint can?

The reason the PPG and Dupont paint folks weren't very helpful is because neither
company stocks an RAL 3020 color paint. RAL colors are used extensively in other
countries, but are not readily available in the U.S., especially in automotive type
paint.

If you want to paint your bike with "Traffic Red" (RAL 3020), you can buy rattle
cans from this site http://www.aerosolexpress.com/shop/index.php?cPath=67
for about $4 a can plus international shipping.

If you want to use Dupont or PPG paint, you will need to get a color chip like
the one in the pic below and take it to the dealer of your choice and have it
color matched. Both companies have very sophisticated equipment that will
do that and print out the "recipe" using their paint. You can then use the
recipe to have paint mixed for a one or two stage process.

I recommend you visit your local powdercoat shop for an RAL 3020 chip, they
should have several and be glad to loan you one.

dogger

[img][/img]

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1973 CR250M
1979 CR250R
1993 CR250R
2008 CR500R
2009 CR250R

I dropped my 80 frame and swingarm off at the powdercoaters yesterday and went with the tiger drylac RAL 3020, close enough for me. I gave him the tahitian red formula from Dogger (3oz. powder express soda red/13oz. tiger drylac RAL 3020), he wondered about mixing the two powders, he called his tiger drylac rep. who recommended against it.
How well does mixing it work?, the concern was splotchy effect from two powders not mixing thoroughly?
I'll have my frame back next week so I can start the restoration.........

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I have too many....
my wife thinks I should join motorcycles anonymous.......

I understand your powdercoater's concern about mixing powders.
I here the same thing from the various manufacturer reps. The
problem with what they are saying is when you order a custom
color from Tiger Drylac or Dupont etc., they gladly mix THEIR
powders together to come up with the custom color you want
then charge you many hundreds of dollars for the effort.

I can tell you from personal experience you won't have any problems
with color consistency as long as the two powders are compatible
and are thoroughly mixed.

I looked at the Tahitian Red powder coat color match as a challenge.
To arrive at the final color for my project, I coated dozens of sample
panels with different powder combos and ratios checking for ompatability
(color consistency). I then had the samples that passed, tested with a
spectral analyzer and compared to a NOS "Tahitian Red" side panel to find
a match. This is the same thing the manufacturers would do when you
order a custom powder, that's why it cost an arm and leg.

To see the results, check out my thread "79 CR250 progress pictures".
Look at the last pic, the closeup of the Tahitian Red painted tank and
see if you notice a color difference between the tank and steering
head (where the light is the same on both).

None of this is all that important at this point because the RAL 3020
you are using is super close to Tahitian Red and your frame will look
"like a million bucks" when you get it back, and that's all that really
matters.

Post some pics when you get a chance so we can see how it turns out.

dogger

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1973 CR250M
1979 CR250R
1993 CR250R
2008 CR500R
2009 CR250R

I'd be interested to know what plastic you are using. I found the (then) Vintage Factory (now) VMR Racing stuff to be a little deeper red than Tahitian Red, hence going the RAL 3020 red. I also took a tank in and eye-balled the RAL 3020 chip against the underside and it was close. Not being a paint expert I am wondering if - and by how much - the original paint changes over the years when exposed to the sunlight. I have a NOS rear engine mount that is a much brighter and glossy red than any frame that has passed through my hands. And it appears a very different color than the NOS clutch cover I have, but I put that down to the matt finish on the latter. Bottom line, when I do my 2nd "best" frame I am going to persuade Olympic Powdercoating to make up your recipe....

All the best.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

The plastic I used was a NOS side panel that I removed from an air tight
factory sealed plastic bag that was in a sealed cardboard box. The panel
had never been out of it’s wrapping before and was pristine. Unfortunately,
the side panels belong to someone else who wouldn’t part with them even
after I offered to mow his lawn for a year, so I will be restoring the ones I
have instead.

If you are interested, I can gin up another sample plate of the Tahitian Red and
send it to you for closer examination. If you like what you see, I have several
pounds of the powder (a pound is more than enough to do your frame, swingarm
and engine mounts). You can take the powder to your powdercoater and by pass
the powder mixing debate. I have already started working on a powder match for
Flash Red using the same procedure I used for the Tahitian.

I’m also working on a single stage matte finish powder for the engine. I used
a two step process on mine (color + matte clear) which works fine but causes
a thicker coating and requires more time and powder. Once I get the correct
satin/matte finish, I will mix up batches of Black and Tahitian Red which should
cover any Honda engine up to ’91.

Your Service Honda 500 looks bass-ass, I'm jealous. Here is a picture of my '97
"rip-your-arms-off-open-class-intimidator" taken the day I sold it. I wish I had
kept it now, scary but fun.

dogger

[img][/img]

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1973 CR250M
1979 CR250R
1993 CR250R
2008 CR500R
2009 CR250R

I'd love to work out an arrangement where I get a frame and engine fresh with the right color. If you need them for analysis, you are welcome to borrow the engine mount and clutch cover. My thinking is to sell-off as much of my parts inventory and fund raising my race bike to the next level of preparation. I need to get the bike ready for the historic class at the Adelanto GP and then after I can plan out what to do next.

You should use one of your aluminum-framed CR250Rs as a donor for a CR500R-AF project! Check out http://www.bannedcr500riders.com...

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

check out here :- colorrite.com

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