I hear a lot of people talking about getting their motorcycles' frames and other parts powdercoated. I know that powdercoating has industrial benefits (fewer emissions, greater operational efficiencies, etc..) over paint, but for the regular motorcycle owner, what are the advantages? In terms of color, durability, fade resistance, repairability – things important to me – is powdercoating really any better than a good paint job? If so, what are the keys to getting good quality powdercoating?

Powdercoating originally gained popularity among motorcycle builders as a frame coloring because of its exceptional toughness and durability. It has a much higher resistance to cracking and chipping than regular paint, making it ideal for that application. The front downtubes of motorcycle frames are constantly pelted with stones, grit and other road grime kicked up by the front tire, and the bottom tubes are subject to even more damage because they live so close to the ground.

Powdercoating also is generally applied in thicker coats than paint, which can help hide small imperfections in the base metal. And as far as fade resistance is concerned, any differences between paint and powdercoat are more dependent on the type and quality of the materials used than on the two processes themselves.

But there are disadvantages, and one is color. There are far fewer color choices available in powdercoat than there are with spray paint. And metallic color formulations sometimes create problems with the electrostatic process used to apply the powder.

Another is gloss: It's much harder – and often impossible – to obtain the same kind of show-bike shine with powdercoating than it is with spray-paint. Due to the rather large particle size of powdercoat materials, the smoothest surface finish is achieved with a thick coat – which might not be suitable for all components, particularly those that have to fit together snugly or flex ever so slightly. Thinner applications of powdercoat, however, tend to have an orange-peel finish. So to get the smoothest result, the person applying the powdercoat much pay close attention and monitor the process carefully; even then, the outcome usually cannot equal spray painting for sheer gloss.

There's also a heat factor. Once the powder is electrostatically applied, the part has to be baled in an oven at a temperature in the neighborhood of 205 degrees Celsius, and some components can't endure that kind of heat. What's more, touch-up is, at best, more difficult than with paint and impossible at worst. Often, the only course of action is to completely strip the paint-damaged part and powdercoat it all over again.

If there are any 'keys' to obtaining top-quality powdercoat work, they are simply to have it done by an outfit with a proven tract record. If a powdercoater specializes in industrial work where smoothness and shine are not top priorities, you probably won't get the glossy result you're after. But if the shop routinely does work for custom motorcycle and car builders and restorers, your chances of getting an attractive finish are very good.