Original Frame colour

[nairb]

It would seem that the frame and some bits on my re5m has been repainted/powder coated in the past.  The frame has a gloss black finish, as does most of the non chrome parts.  Some of the smaller parts have suffered/gone rusty over the years...... the engine mounting brackets are poor.

So I am wondering what was the original finish on the frame.  I have a couple of suzuki gt750/550 and these frames are not gloss but may have been when new.  And are now just faded.  But they look more of a satin black.

I know there are endless shades of black...... but was the frame on the re5 really gloss black.  I am going to get most of the smaller frame parts powder coated..... if the frame is the wrong finish then I might (maybe might) have everything redone.  I am not much of a fan of powder coating but there does seem to be places that can give a finish that "looks" like stove enamel or paint.

Ta
Nairb

[wayne]

I've been restoring my GT/GS bike frames to Satin Black.

However.........

Some years back I bought a very original A model with 4,000 miles on it. Stored indoors its whole life, most of it in impeccable conditions.

The frame looked satin. But giving it a thorough clean, I removed a couple of those triangular black engine mounting brackets. While the sides you could see (ie most exposed to light) looked satin, the inside surface of the plates were gloss black.

From this I suspect that the whole frames were probably once gloss black and they fade to a satin finish.

[nairb]

I presume the re5 is the same as the gt750... All parts are gloss except the top yoke and handlebar clamps which are satin black.
I agree that the bikes may have been gloss when new but both my gt550's & gt750 look almost satin now. And an cb550 frame I had powder coated in gloss black looks too good. Too bright and new. I think a slight matt black almost fits better. I think I will have the small parts powder coated black and leave the rest as is.

[wayne]

The top yoke on my 8000 klm RE5M that I bought in 1980 was gloss. All my GT750 mates reckoned it must have been repainted. No way, I bought it from the original owner who parked it in less than 12 months of ownership and hadn't touched it 'til I bought it in '80. They're not the same as the GT.

[timpa136]

It is a little funny the things I remember.I remember the early bikes dripping chain oil from the oiler.

I also remember my rep noticing I wax my frame. Paint will oxidize just like car paint on the body.

Tim

[nairb]

Interestingly the top yoke on my re5 is gloss black.... so it could actually be right. I assumed it had been resprayed. The bike had been off the road since 1982.... stuffed in a barn with dozens of other interesting bikes.

So, in its shortish life on the road (1975-82) did it get a complete re-paint??. Its missing the headstock label which in the UK is usually a sign that the frame has been powder coated or repainted.

If the top yoke is supposed to be gloss black then I may as well leave it alone.

Edit.

Looking at the pics in the thread "New RE5- reference photos." it looks like the Front fork cover (p/n 51871-37000) is satin black... mine was rough and has been polished back to metal... Was this also gloss black? or the mythical satin.

Edit2.

It seems that the p/n for the top yoke is 51311-31700-019 with the last 3 digits giving the paint code which is gloss black.  Its a shame Suzuki dont give these paint code for other items like the exhaust covers and Front fork cover and the radiator etc.  But that would make life too easy