I have a 2000 klr650. The plastics are pretty faded, so I'm trying to decide whether I should take them off and paint them, or pay the almost $500 for new ones.
I've never painted anything automotive before, and I'd want it to look like the new ones I could buy.
Honestly you might lose your cheap bastard KLR owner card if you buy new ones.
I always think of things like this as a learning opportunity. The courts to paint them is almost nothing but your time. So even if you really screwed it up you can still buy new ones and not be in it for much more.
True. I have been nothing but cheap thus far, wouldn't want to break the mold.
That's a really great point that I hadn't considered. Might as well try to paint them, and if I somehow fuck it up beyond repair, I could still buy the new ones.
You can absolutely paint them such that they'll look good. Even with rattle cans.
Top coat with a pair of two part ("2K") clear coat. You can buy this at better auto parts stores, or online. You can get it in a rattle can - no spray gun necessary. Prep is everything. Prime and sand, sand, sand, sand. If you want it to be smooth, sand some more.