Powder Coating Forks Black

I want my forks to be black and question what is the best way of doing this.

The cheapest quick fx is the idea from Steve S to shrink use shrink wrap but that only does the top part of the forks.

Paint is an option but i'm concerned about it not being durable enough. Plus it might scratch off when re fitting.

Annodising is probably the best quality but most expensive and time consuming as the forks have to be stripped and I believe the laquer also has to be removed.

Had anyone tried powder coating? This could be more durable than annodisong but will the forks fit though the yolks aftewards.

If anyone has, or knows of anyone who blacked their forks, please can you let us know how you did it and if possible show us a photo.

Thanks in advance.

Dyna494 said:

Had anyone tried powder coating? This could be more durable than annodisong but will the forks fit though the yolks aftewards.

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My guess is not without a lot of effort. The depth of powder would have to be very thin to slip the forks back in. You would have to spread the triple tree clamps to mount them back on using the normal amount of coat. You'll also ned to completely dissasemble the forks because they will bead blast the varnish off to get the powder to stick. You can't coat the sliders at all. The seals wouldn't work anymore if you tried it. Trust me, you need the seals.

as i understand it, annodizing is the only way to go on the forks other than painting them, or as you say shrink fit vinyl on them.

Just checking through posts, R34ME had his forks powder coated black. Perhaps it was a really thin coat and/or the clamps wedged open when refitting. Again only the top part of the forks. I know the hard chrome plated sliders cant be done but what about the very bottom of the forks.

Dyna,
I used sign making vinyl on mine. The self adhesive type. I used a type that is somewhat stretchy, used for lettering emergency vehicles so as to go over rivets etc.

I took the forks out of the triple clamps and cut a piece large enough to cover the entire upper portion of the forks, leaving plenty on the top and bottom.

I then peeled the backing off only slightly for the length of the vinyl and started from top to bottom. Go slowly and work it with your fingers slightly stretching and removing the backing as you go until you have covered the entire upper of the fork. The vinyl is very thin and I easily slid the fork back into the triple clamp and clamped it just tight enough to hold it with the clamp actually clamping on the vinyl.

Then I used a razor (exacto) knife to trim the vinyl that was overrun at the bottom near the dust cover. Then using the triple clamp as a guide, cut around the outside of the fork at the bottom of the upper clamp and the top and bottom of the lower clamp. Then remove the fork and remove the vinyl pieces where the triple clamps actually clamp on the forks.

For the lowers I used a sanding sponge to scuff them and used caliper paint. Be sure to mask everything well and don't paint where the brake calipers actually seat on the fork lowers. I then made some front protectors, again from the same vinyl to put on the front where stones etc. may hit the lowers. Then if they get nicked up I can just heat them with a hair dryer and remove and replace them with new ones.

When you put the forks in for the final time, place the seam towards the inside rear and you never notice it.

Hope you can see all this in my pics., (no comments on how dirty the bike is please LOL).

I know this is lengthy but you can easily do it all in a day and mine as been in place for over 2 years now and still looks good.

Also the vinyl is so slick the bugs/grim, etc, are easy to remove.

Hope this helps,

Lonnie

I powder coated mine.

Triumph techs doubted getting them in the clamps afterwards, but it wasn't a problem. Just make sure they know not to scratch them.

in this picture is it jardine exhaust?with what did you paint it?heating problems?non?

Peter: If you meant the picture just above, those are Predator or Pred exhaust and are hand made custom exhaust made in California by our own travelguy, aka Sam! Heating problems? yea, they make you go faster! 8)

Native One

i ment lonzols bike!wanna paint my jardine black what paint stays on exhaust system and doesn`t burn it away in high temperature?any body know??

I use barbeque paint on mine, but it's not shiny.