Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Uncle Joe · Guest

I have decided that when the time comes to repaint my Lincoln, its going to be two tone, but in modern colours.

The colours I have decided upon were used on a Yamaha Motorcycle in 2001. What I am looking for now is either a formula, or the two colour names. A phone call to the importer this morning got the answer ''take it to a refinisher to be optically measured.'' When I told them that I didnt have anything to take, apart from a bad photo, the answer was ''We cant help you unless you buy a bike in the correct colour, then we dont need to!''

Is this typical of importers everywhere, or just here?

Is there anyone on the forum that can help me get the info I need?

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

Pop into your local Car paint supply shop. They are very helpful and have paint swatches that you could look at.

Be prepared though, you will possibly see lots of different colours you would like
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Uncle Joe · Guest

Thats one thing that I tried, the trouble is, my paint dealer doesnt have them for bikes...it seems that whichever way I turn, I keep drawing a blank. Still, aren't problems one of the reasons we restore?

SloResto · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 36

Hey UJ - maybe try a panel beater/spray painter who specialises in bikes. They should have a list of paint codes for the Yamaha.

Otherwise if there is a Yamaha club they may be able to help out with colours/codes. Or even a Yamaha dealer may be able to help out.
Good luck!

Uncle Joe · Guest

The big Yamaha dealer in this area has refused to help! so did a smaller one! Refinishers here dont use colour chips anymore, they do an ocular measure of the paint. So without a sample, they cant help!

I did post on a Yamaha clinic yesterday, and did get an answer, from which i got the colour codes for both paints. The trouble is, I know that the answer is incorrect! I used to have a bike in the colour they gave, and it wasnt the same.

I think that my only option now is to do as suggested. Find a Yamaha club, and hopefully be able to persuade someone who owns a bike in that colour to get an ocular measure made. Its a long shot though.

Are Yamaha dealers in the UK more helpful, I wonder?

At least I did get one piece of satisfaction this morning. I managed to b*****k the importer! Laughing

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

Uncle Joe · Guest

It could be. What I have done in the meantime is mail Color Rite in the US and asked them. Lets just hope they answer. Its possible to purchase an aerosol from them, so this is the way I will go. Test first.

Old-Nail · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 853

What are the coloursin this scheme UJ? In simple terms i.e. Red/Black Black/yellow.

Uncle Joe · Guest

O-N, as they say, a picture is woorth a thousand words, so here is a picture of a bike in the correct colours. As soon as I saw it, I knew that they were the ones to use! I will enjoy reading your comments, good or bad! Very Happy

Old-Nail · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 853

I suppose if you get no joy with the actual paint match you should be able to find a close approximation that would work well together.

I can't think what the lighter shade might be, it's a difficult one to call.

Uncle Joe · Guest

I was told that the actual name of the colour is Border Brown. In reality its a kind of cross between beige/brown/gold. Being difficult to describe is in a way its appeal. IMHO, it does look good together with the wine red.

SloResto · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 36

I seem to vaguely recall old BSAs from the 50s and 60s having a similar colour.

It could be that Yamaha and and other bike makers are replicating colours from bygone years. But I guess this doen't help.

The other thought I had was if you can get a good hi-res image on photo paper then paint people may be able to get a close match on their colour spectrometers.

Take a few shade variations along and get them to make up a few samples and pick the closest one you like.

Uncle Joe · Guest

Naturally, this colour combination was only used on certain markets. So far I have only discovered Germany and Sweden. I've not been able to find out if it was the same in the UK. My old contacts arent around any more.

The photo I posted is the best one that I have...

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4119 Location: South Cheshire

UJ

Just about to go for a pint in our local, there is normally a guy there who works in a paint shop (wher they mix thier own) I'll see if he can help.

Dave

Uncle Joe · Guest

UK, if he can help, then that would be a big help. Possibly he would have access to the formulas I need?