Powder Coating your Motorcycle Parts

Powder coating the metal parts on your motorcycle is a great way of protecting them from the elements – but it can be time consuming, especially if you intend to doing the frame, swingarm or subframe. The most obvious problem is that you have to completely strip the motorcycle – which means you'll have to know how to put it all back together again too.

For smaller items, it's radically easier. Items like rearsets, wheels, brake calipers and the sidestand can all be done with relatively little inconvenience (beyond immobilizing your motorcycle).

It's important to choose the right coater too. Your local industrial estate hero might be great at gates and benches, but do you really want him powder coating your motorcycle part? We'd recommend you look for a power coating company which has some experience with motorcycle or automotive parts. You will have less chance that your stuff comes back with bits of blasting grit in the coat, threads full of powder, or crucial holes and bearing seats coated.

The coating powder is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin". The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint.

Power coating can transform the look of an old motorcycle and it's just about second to none at fighting off the ravages of mother-nature. When you consider you can get a frame and pair of wheels powder coated for a few thousand Baht it's hardly what you'd call expensive either. We'd recommend it.