For your idiot/bonehead file.... I almost dropped my NEW 599. One of the things I'm still getting used to is the kick stand. It's much "quicker" to pop up than the one that was on my '06 Shadow Spirt. I was moving my bike around in my garage. In the process, thought the kick stand was down, but I guess it had popped up. I began to lean the bike then realizing it was going to fall. I did catch it, but before I did, the back tail was scratched on a post. Scratched on the edge, just above the tail light.

Dang it. I know it's probably not a big deal, but it's NEW for crying out loud. (Yikes, the picture looks worse than what I was thinking..)

Update: I ordered the Color Rite primer and touch up pens. I'll let everyone know how that turns out.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8861/hpim0228ah6.jpg

Not really a good idea to be moving the bike around with the kickstand down.

Tonight, I tried to touch up the scratch with color rite touch up paint. First, I applied primer since the scratch was down to the plastic. Then I applied the touch up paint.

I'm not really satisfied. In good lighting, the scratch is more than the area that is missing the paint. Surrounding areas are dulled where the clearcoat and paint were worn down. The touch up paint covers the obvious scratch, but I did not paint over the other dulled areas.

The area is small, I guess I could continue to paint. Sand it down in a few days, and repaint, etc. Then apply clearcoat, which I wasn't planning on doing until today.

Or... maybe just take it to a paint/body shop? The area is so small, I wonder how much it will cost just to have someone do this who knows what they are doing. Can't be that much?

Ouch, that's frustrating.... Yet another lesson learned the hard way!

Tonight, I tried to touch up the scratch with color rite touch up paint. First, I applied primer since the scratch was down to the plastic. Then I applied the touch up paint.

I'm not really satisfied. In good lighting, the scratch is more than the area that is missing the paint. Surrounding areas are dulled where the clearcoat and paint were worn down. The touch up paint covers the obvious scratch, but I did not paint over the other dulled areas.

The area is small, I guess I could continue to paint. Sand it down in a few days, and repaint, etc), then apply clearcoat which I wasn't planning on doing until today.

Or... I may just take it to a paint shop. The area is so small, I wonder how much it will cost just to have someone do this who knows what they are doing. Can't be that much?

Sadly, it might run you upwards of $200 to get it done professionally. Getting just a small section painted and feathered out takes a tremendous amount of skill and you're going to pay for it.

maybe try to just buff out the dull areas with a cleaner wax or other type .... may be surprises what you can buff out yourself ......just an idea :D

Yep.. most aint shops will just respray the entire panel. Its not a matter of just painting that small area. Id bet $150-200 to get that done.

IMO, I would use the touch up, and then get an orbital buffer and buff the heck out of it. Like mech said, you'd be surprised what you can get out yourself. Ive gotten some pretty serious scratches out of some car paint before with some cleaner wax and some arm muscle.

Good luck! :banana

+1.
But hey, if you got the dough take it to a body shop and be done
with it. Or if you know somebody slip him sum cash under the table.
I, for one love side jobs!!

You could always search for the whole section... you never know.

Once in a while those come up on ebay for really cheap. Might be better off just waiting a bit and replacing the whole thing. I've seen a black one go for about $20 +$20 shipping. No way you'd get the paint touched up for that little. Unless you've got a friend who'll do it for cost (hehe).

Once in a while those come up on ebay for really cheap. Might be better off just waiting a bit and replacing the whole thing. I've seen a black one go for about $20 +$20 shipping. No way you'd get the paint touched up for that little. Unless you've got a friend who'll do it for cost (hehe).
After reading some of the replies... I may continue to work on the scratch myself. I guess I can always get it re-done or replaced at a later time (if I really screw it up). It doesn't have to be perfect, just better than it looks now.

I'm going to add another layer (or two) of touch-up over the scratch area. Then I'm going to wet sand to smooth out. Then... I'll see how that looks. If that looks reasonable, then I'll add the clearcoat and polish the heck out of it.

I hate to order the clearcoat from colorrite. Will have to pay shipping again.
:x

I hate to order the clearcoat from colorrite. Will have to pay shipping again.
Try going to a local auto parts store that mixes paint. If they know what they're doing, they can supply you with the appropriate type of clearcoat for that paint. I have a friend who manages a parts store, and he mixes paint. Should be a lot cheaper that way.