CB550 Candy Jade Green

scott s

scott s

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In the not too distant future, I want to have my CB550 repainted in Candy Jade Green.

I've seen this color come out wrong too many times; too yellow, too dark, too much candy, etc., etc. The paint is available from VMR and a couple of other vendors. I know it's all about the base coat and how thick/how many coats of the candy you put on, etc.

I emailed Precision Motorcycle Painting and, while they can nail the color, they're also VERY expensive....$1300-1600 for tank and side covers. I just can't swing that.

Does anyone have any experience with painting candy paints, the Jade Green specifically? Any tips, tricks, etc.? Even better, a shop near Charlotte, NC that could get this color right?




 
While not super close, get in touch with Morrel Roberts from Moe Colors. www.moecolors.com

The old Honda colors are tricky for sure. I got estimates locally for the old Sunrise Orange (for a 1975 CB550F) which is a silver base coat, metal flake, and then orange candy on top. Was looking at around $1000 for the tank and sidecovers and that was 10+ years ago.
 
For that price you may as well buy NOS stuff...

It will be impossible for the painter to match the OEM paint exactly if he does not have a NOS side cover or tank to compare to while he is applying the candy coats. If it were me I'd just take it to a reputable painter with some good reference photos and let him have a go. Even if it's not 100% exact at least the 3 parts will match each other and look "correct".
 
It's funny. So many customers cry about having to spend $1000 for a high quality paint job. Candy paint jobs are expensive because A - you have about $600 just in paint materials, B- it takes longer to actually paint than a regular paint job, and C - candies have to be done 100% perfect 100% thru the entire process or you will see every mistake you made. Meaning the parts have to be prepped perfect, no sand scratches, no pin holes, no chips, nothing. And each coat of material must be sprayed perfect, no dryness, no runs, no tiger stripes. Not to mention if you do spray candies wrong, you will see dark patches and streaks in the final paint job that will look like shit. I don't think I'd do a candy job for less than a $1000, maybe $800 for a good friend.
 
+!!! And that green is not all that dark, requiring that much more expertise to get a really perfect job. I am not a professional painter myself, but my old shop is still in business, and they won't touch a bike for less than a grand - candy or no. And it isn't even all that lucrative at that, as pro materials are so expensive! I may not be a pro painter, but I know where they sell the paint!
 
I recently paid $1,200 for a professional paint job; tank, side covers front fender. The paint is cheap, labor is the expensive part.
 
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