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Appreciate it. They are Amourbodies.
Custom paint!?
- Thread starter georgehitch18
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Appreciate it. They are Amourbodies.
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Always wanted to see a silver Panigale and I love it.
Please. . . a Ducati is the epitome of performance and taste in motorcycling. It's the motorcycling equivalent to a Ferrari or some other expensive Italian auto, correct? Do you see Ferrari's with custom paint jobs? Very seldom because it's a Ferrari and that speaks volumes. It always comes off (to me) as someone with more money than good taste.
You asked and that's my opinion.
You asked and that's my opinion.
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And what exactly is your point?
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Every bike should be red, otherwise you're white trash.
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Haha.
I hate red.
Even if I wasn't required to run that scheme, I would still change it to something different because I hate the red Ducati's.
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Actually he asked for some badass paint jobs. He didn't ask for anyone's opinion. I suppose someone should tell the GP and WSBK teams that their bikes look dumb.
Here's my current track setup. Bought used bodywork from a friend, so redid the graphics:
Attachments
Someone better tell Ducati racing
Also don't Ferrari's, pagonda's lambo's mcclaren et all come in different colors
Last edited:
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All Connecticut Cycle Refinishing Jobs
You all have seen me mention my good friend Sean Lezotte who is the sole owner, and sole employee of CCR, and IMHO is one of the absolute BEST Ducati Painters in the US - which he has more awards and trophies to show it as well. The attached pics (which will probably take up two threads here) are just a few of the jobs he has done for members here and the Org forum where he is also members of both. I even pulled this off one of his Posts to show what he has to say about some of them too. NOTHING was redacted in this either -they are his exact words.
If you would like an introduction to Sean from me via email feel free to PM me with your email address and I will gladly do so as this surely has some gains to it coming from a friend he's known for over 23 years now. The only thing he's done to my 1199 is the Carbon Front Fender - which USED to be the nasty matte DP CF. Granted this is a Pani thread but I figured Id toss up the "Other" Ducati bikes & one hot winning SV650 owned by Phil now (who bought it from me) which has the same Sharskinz Ducati 748R bodywork seen on my other pics too.
Here is the post from Sean on Org.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sean
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CT
Posts: 36
Here's the lowdown on these last three Panigale paint jobs. First off I'd just want to clarify something. I do not do "track" paint jobs. I've tried doing sub par work in the past and have had me ... handed to me. If I do a crappy budget $800 paint job and leave some sand fleas in it, a hanger here and there and some fingerprintz.....i just phucked myself. Go ask your engine builder to rebuild your engine and to save money... re-use the gaskets and rings. See where I'm coming from? Ultimately when your riding your bug sprayer down the track.... that smoke screen reflects on the engine builder.
I offer 2 levels of paint. Street quality and Show quality. My street quality is finished off to a higher standard than your factory Ducati show room paint. How can I say this? Easy. Ducati outsources their body panels to whom ever provides what they consider an acceptable finish on the panels for what they determine to be a reasonable price. Ducati does not sell paint jobs. They sell motorcycles. Consequently I do not sell motorcycles. I sell paint jobs. I love Ducati's and I realize they have to provide a "complete package" in a motorcycle. Having said that their paint jobs have gone steadily downhill since 1993-94 which was their last decent paint jobs they put on their bikes. I'm not slamming them but a fact is a fact. They have other considerations aside from pretty paint. They need to win races.
When a customer comes to me and wants a complete paint job and their choice includes red, I try my damnedest to switch them over to the "good" Ducati red of 1991-94. This is the slit your wrist and bleed out all over your bike red. True "Ferrari" red. The reason why these pics of the latest Pan came out looking pink is for several reasons. The primary reason is I suck ... at taking pics....and I'm only using a little Canon sure shot which reads this crazy bright red as being "overexposed" and makes it look pink. If I took pics of a regular Panigale bike.... ya know, the one with the fugly brick red paint on it, the pics would look fine.
So back to paint jobs. All my materials are the same between the Street Quality and the Show Quality paint jobs. All of my prep work is the same.....everything is the same except for what I do after the first application of 3 coats of high solids clear coat. With the street quality I then block sand all applicable areas with 1500 grit, machine compound and machine polish the pieces to a finish that is better than factory Ducati OEM finish (not hard to do actually).
The Show Quality finishes are taken a step further. After I clear them with 3 coats of high solids clear coat and let them air dry... I resand them with 600 grit and spray on two more coats of high solids clear coat. then i block sand every single millimetre that i can get a buffer too, with 1500 grit, machine compound and machine polish the pieces. This leaves the pieces with an absolute flat as glass mirror finish. You will feel no paint lines from either the striping or the air brushed lettering under the clear coat. these last two Tri-Colore Pans I did could win in the New York Motorcycle show. I'm saying this because I have won 1st prize in the NYMS so I know WTF that takes. Both these tri Colore' Pans have a radiant finish that is EXTREMELY durable. I guarantee all my paint work for AS LONG AS YOU OWN YOUR BIKE!!!!!!!!!! Stop and think about that for a minute. I have painted bikes back in the early 1990's that have tens of thousands of street miles on them and they're still looking great.
So just to recap, these jobs are NOT track paint jobs, the last pan took me 45 hours to complete. I'm extremely fortunate to have an expanding customer base of enthusiasts who can appreciate this level of work.....and more importantly can afford this level of work. My customers are by and large GREAT! Having said that some of these guys are crazier than .... -house ratz! I'm an old skool dope and if I'm gonna do a track day you'll see me solidly holding on to last place in a 1989 FZR 600 with a Krylon Special paint job... but that's just me. The idea of taking a beautiful 20K bike, tricking it out and then putting a stunning show quality paint job on it and putting it on the track..... well......I'll just STFU now.
I'll update my web site within a week or two. The thing is I've painted close to 4000 bikes since 1988. You'd crap if you saw the extreme exotica I've had my hands on. I've got photographs (pre digital camera age) of some rather amazing motorcycles. HARRIS framed Yamaha's......some of the absolute rarest of the rare bimotas...had some of my stuff in the AMA museum....bla, bla, bla....
A little secret is that I've been doing the paint work for some of the largest / most famous Italian bike shops in the US for years.....I just keep my trap shut about it. I've taken brand new bikes off of show room floors for a few dealers here in the N.E. and have painted them. There's a level of trust that something like that involves, as you would imagine. I've stretched tanks back in the very early 90's when the composite rage took off and have had my stuff on the cover of Easy Riders, Big Twin, Cycle....and many others. I've built armoured limo's for 7 years back in the 80's so I've gotten a pretty solid back ground in Fab /CAD and stuff like that....the flip side is I've got phucked over by so many ....... editors / writers of magazines over the years I lost count. I just don't have a heroin addiction and a TV show (yet).
You all have seen me mention my good friend Sean Lezotte who is the sole owner, and sole employee of CCR, and IMHO is one of the absolute BEST Ducati Painters in the US - which he has more awards and trophies to show it as well. The attached pics (which will probably take up two threads here) are just a few of the jobs he has done for members here and the Org forum where he is also members of both. I even pulled this off one of his Posts to show what he has to say about some of them too. NOTHING was redacted in this either -they are his exact words.
If you would like an introduction to Sean from me via email feel free to PM me with your email address and I will gladly do so as this surely has some gains to it coming from a friend he's known for over 23 years now. The only thing he's done to my 1199 is the Carbon Front Fender - which USED to be the nasty matte DP CF. Granted this is a Pani thread but I figured Id toss up the "Other" Ducati bikes & one hot winning SV650 owned by Phil now (who bought it from me) which has the same Sharskinz Ducati 748R bodywork seen on my other pics too.
Here is the post from Sean on Org.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sean
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CT
Posts: 36
Here's the lowdown on these last three Panigale paint jobs. First off I'd just want to clarify something. I do not do "track" paint jobs. I've tried doing sub par work in the past and have had me ... handed to me. If I do a crappy budget $800 paint job and leave some sand fleas in it, a hanger here and there and some fingerprintz.....i just phucked myself. Go ask your engine builder to rebuild your engine and to save money... re-use the gaskets and rings. See where I'm coming from? Ultimately when your riding your bug sprayer down the track.... that smoke screen reflects on the engine builder.
I offer 2 levels of paint. Street quality and Show quality. My street quality is finished off to a higher standard than your factory Ducati show room paint. How can I say this? Easy. Ducati outsources their body panels to whom ever provides what they consider an acceptable finish on the panels for what they determine to be a reasonable price. Ducati does not sell paint jobs. They sell motorcycles. Consequently I do not sell motorcycles. I sell paint jobs. I love Ducati's and I realize they have to provide a "complete package" in a motorcycle. Having said that their paint jobs have gone steadily downhill since 1993-94 which was their last decent paint jobs they put on their bikes. I'm not slamming them but a fact is a fact. They have other considerations aside from pretty paint. They need to win races.
When a customer comes to me and wants a complete paint job and their choice includes red, I try my damnedest to switch them over to the "good" Ducati red of 1991-94. This is the slit your wrist and bleed out all over your bike red. True "Ferrari" red. The reason why these pics of the latest Pan came out looking pink is for several reasons. The primary reason is I suck ... at taking pics....and I'm only using a little Canon sure shot which reads this crazy bright red as being "overexposed" and makes it look pink. If I took pics of a regular Panigale bike.... ya know, the one with the fugly brick red paint on it, the pics would look fine.
So back to paint jobs. All my materials are the same between the Street Quality and the Show Quality paint jobs. All of my prep work is the same.....everything is the same except for what I do after the first application of 3 coats of high solids clear coat. With the street quality I then block sand all applicable areas with 1500 grit, machine compound and machine polish the pieces to a finish that is better than factory Ducati OEM finish (not hard to do actually).
The Show Quality finishes are taken a step further. After I clear them with 3 coats of high solids clear coat and let them air dry... I resand them with 600 grit and spray on two more coats of high solids clear coat. then i block sand every single millimetre that i can get a buffer too, with 1500 grit, machine compound and machine polish the pieces. This leaves the pieces with an absolute flat as glass mirror finish. You will feel no paint lines from either the striping or the air brushed lettering under the clear coat. these last two Tri-Colore Pans I did could win in the New York Motorcycle show. I'm saying this because I have won 1st prize in the NYMS so I know WTF that takes. Both these tri Colore' Pans have a radiant finish that is EXTREMELY durable. I guarantee all my paint work for AS LONG AS YOU OWN YOUR BIKE!!!!!!!!!! Stop and think about that for a minute. I have painted bikes back in the early 1990's that have tens of thousands of street miles on them and they're still looking great.
So just to recap, these jobs are NOT track paint jobs, the last pan took me 45 hours to complete. I'm extremely fortunate to have an expanding customer base of enthusiasts who can appreciate this level of work.....and more importantly can afford this level of work. My customers are by and large GREAT! Having said that some of these guys are crazier than .... -house ratz! I'm an old skool dope and if I'm gonna do a track day you'll see me solidly holding on to last place in a 1989 FZR 600 with a Krylon Special paint job... but that's just me. The idea of taking a beautiful 20K bike, tricking it out and then putting a stunning show quality paint job on it and putting it on the track..... well......I'll just STFU now.
I'll update my web site within a week or two. The thing is I've painted close to 4000 bikes since 1988. You'd crap if you saw the extreme exotica I've had my hands on. I've got photographs (pre digital camera age) of some rather amazing motorcycles. HARRIS framed Yamaha's......some of the absolute rarest of the rare bimotas...had some of my stuff in the AMA museum....bla, bla, bla....
A little secret is that I've been doing the paint work for some of the largest / most famous Italian bike shops in the US for years.....I just keep my trap shut about it. I've taken brand new bikes off of show room floors for a few dealers here in the N.E. and have painted them. There's a level of trust that something like that involves, as you would imagine. I've stretched tanks back in the very early 90's when the composite rage took off and have had my stuff on the cover of Easy Riders, Big Twin, Cycle....and many others. I've built armoured limo's for 7 years back in the 80's so I've gotten a pretty solid back ground in Fab /CAD and stuff like that....the flip side is I've got phucked over by so many ....... editors / writers of magazines over the years I lost count. I just don't have a heroin addiction and a TV show (yet).
Attachments
. . . on those two cars
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- NOVA
Ccr pics continued...............
All Logos, writing, numerals, etc are ABSOLUTELY NOT DECALS!!
All of the above type characters are ALL hand painted stencils - NOTHING is a sticker applied and then clear coated whatsoever!
And NO- its not as expensive as you would think!
I would have to let Sean speak about each photo but there are a few that were owned by a mathematical wizard who had all those numbers painted into his tank and side fairings. Apparently every number done has signifiant meaning to him - hence the "Custom Paintwork" label. He will never replicate a paint job so therefore whatever you get is truly one in a million!
All Logos, writing, numerals, etc are ABSOLUTELY NOT DECALS!!
All of the above type characters are ALL hand painted stencils - NOTHING is a sticker applied and then clear coated whatsoever!
And NO- its not as expensive as you would think!
I would have to let Sean speak about each photo but there are a few that were owned by a mathematical wizard who had all those numbers painted into his tank and side fairings. Apparently every number done has signifiant meaning to him - hence the "Custom Paintwork" label. He will never replicate a paint job so therefore whatever you get is truly one in a million!
Attachments
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2012
- Messages
- 3,310
- Location
- NOVA
Ccr other pics
CONTINUED FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.......................
First 6-7 of these are actually my bikes with me on them. Back in the day of course. lol .
More photos and stories can be found on CCR Website or Facebook Page.
Custom Motorcycle Paint | Connecticut Cycle Refinishing
Custom Motorcycle Paint | Connecticut Cycle Refinishing
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Motorcycle-Paint-CCR-Connecticut-Cycle-Refinishing/117621654933979
Just thought Id share a tiny bit of the Best in The Biz with you guys!
As stated, Id be happy to hook you up with him unless you would rather just reach out yourself.
**He is also a HUGE proponent of Sharskinz and can articulate exactly why to you as well. And its NOT just a fave brand since he doesnt carry ANY bodywork-but you can always have it shipped directly to him though!
As stated on his Org thread:
.some company in Italy. The customer bought them through ferracci. They are actually very thick and durable. They are not the lightest stuff out there though. In my opinion they resemble the factory hand laid stuff that was on the Honda VFR1000R of yesteryear. They do have kev reinforcements in areas. I'm not a huge fan of having the big seam down the top center of the tail section......but this stuff can take a beating. One of the reasons why I chose to run the lines as I did on the tail section as well as lettering placement was to take your eye away from the seam. They are "reasonably" flexible but no where near the flexibility of Sharkskinz, which is my personal fave. They are also no where near as brittle as catalyst.
CONTINUED FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.......................
First 6-7 of these are actually my bikes with me on them. Back in the day of course. lol .
More photos and stories can be found on CCR Website or Facebook Page.
Custom Motorcycle Paint | Connecticut Cycle Refinishing
Custom Motorcycle Paint | Connecticut Cycle Refinishing
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Motorcycle-Paint-CCR-Connecticut-Cycle-Refinishing/117621654933979
Just thought Id share a tiny bit of the Best in The Biz with you guys!
As stated, Id be happy to hook you up with him unless you would rather just reach out yourself.
**He is also a HUGE proponent of Sharskinz and can articulate exactly why to you as well. And its NOT just a fave brand since he doesnt carry ANY bodywork-but you can always have it shipped directly to him though!
As stated on his Org thread:
.some company in Italy. The customer bought them through ferracci. They are actually very thick and durable. They are not the lightest stuff out there though. In my opinion they resemble the factory hand laid stuff that was on the Honda VFR1000R of yesteryear. They do have kev reinforcements in areas. I'm not a huge fan of having the big seam down the top center of the tail section......but this stuff can take a beating. One of the reasons why I chose to run the lines as I did on the tail section as well as lettering placement was to take your eye away from the seam. They are "reasonably" flexible but no where near the flexibility of Sharkskinz, which is my personal fave. They are also no where near as brittle as catalyst.
Attachments
Last edited:
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